The blossoms of Mt. Sekizen are also known as the feathered robe of a heavenly maiden
Iwagi Island is just one of several located in the Seto Inland Sea.
Geographically, it sits just east of Ikuchi Island and right in the middle of the Shimanami Kaido,
an expressway about 70 km long that connects Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture with Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture.
The view from Mt. Sekizen, the highest peak of the island, is a truly spectacular sight.
During the cherry blossom season, 3,000 cherry trees bloom throughout the island and are known as ‘Tennyo no Hagoromo’, or the feathered robe of a heavenly maiden.
The blue of the Seto Inland Sea along with the greenery of the trees and the cherry blossoms in the mountains create a beautiful contrast, charming those who visit.
So, where is Iwagi Island?
Iwagi Island is part of several that make up Kamijima town in Ehime Prefecture.
Floating in the Seto Inland Sea, this small island has an area of 11.49 km2 and a total population of about 2,000 people.
It’s only accessible by ferries departing from Habu Port on Innoshima Island, or Sunoe Port on Ikuchi Island.
With its local speciality being lemons, it’s also known as the ‘Island of Green Lemons’.
Mt. Sekizen stands sits in the centre of the island with an altitude of 369.8 meters, and is a famous spot for cherry blossoms.
Around 3000 cherry trees are in full bloom during the cherry blossom season, including the Yoshino, Oshima and Yamazakura varieties.
A path of cherry trees to the mountain top
You can arrive on the shore of Iwagi Island by taking a ferry from either Innoshima Island or Ikuchi Island.
Both of these ports provide access to two different ports on Iwagi Island, but since it’s about 1 km to the trailhead of Mt. Sekizen from either,
it doesn’t matter which you choose.
This time, let’s look at the route from Nagae Port which can be accessed from Habu Port on Innoshima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture.
The fare is 290 yen each way and it takes about 6 minutes.
When you set foot on the island during cherry blossom season, although there are many other tourists who come to see the cherry blossoms of Mt. Sekizen,
you can still enjoy the pleasant sea breeze and the relaxed island atmosphere.
To get to the trailhead leading up Mt. Sekizen, head from Nagae Port straight along Prefectural Road 174 which stretches towards the central area of the island.
Since there are no sign posts along the way, it’s also a good idea to check Google Maps as you go.
After walking for about 1 km, you’ll see the North Iwagi Meeting House, which is the trailhead of Mt. Sekizen.
Turn left at the trailhead and it’s about another 4 km to the top from there.
Beautiful cherry blossoms bloom from the entrance of the mountain trail, creating an actual path of cherry blossoms.
The mountain trail is generally a narrow path, but it’s paved and has a gentle uphill slope.
Enjoy a pleasant hike while looking at the cherry blossoms which bloom on either side of the road.
Even when walking, you can reach the top in as quickly as 1 hour since it’s just 4 km from the trailhed to the mountain top.
It’s also nice to take your time climbing while looking at the cherry blossoms along the mountain path.
View the stunning Seto Inland Sea and a belt of cherry blossoms from the observation deck on the summit
There’s an observatory at the top of Mt. Sekizen which overlooks the entire island.
Looking down from here, the mountain trail you climb up now becomes a trail of cherry blossoms stretching outwards.
It’s this magnificent sight from Mt. Sekizen that is said to be the feathered robe of a heavenly maiden.
The beautiful blue of the Seto Inland Sea, the pink of the cherry blossom and the greenery of nature create the best landscape,
and you can enjoy a panoramic view with beautiful scenery all around, wherever you look.
No matter where you point your camera along the way, it makes for a perfect picture,
but the view from the mountain top observatory is particularly exceptional.
It's best to walk
One point to take note of with regards to enjoying the cherry blossoms of Mt. Sekizen is that because
the mountain trail is crowded during cherry blossom season, cars and bicycles are one-way.
This means you end up taking a bit of a roundabout route, as the descent uses a different road to the climb up.
Also, the mountain trail itself is narrow so it’s not really recommended to go up there by car.
There is a free parking lot at the trailhead, so it’s best to park there and then walk.
During the cherry blossom season, there will also be a Cherry Blossom Festival with events such as Japanese taiko drumming and local product markets,
as well as citrus and hot lemon refreshments.
Please enjoy these festivities, too!
JAPAN Travel Concierge
Qlip 
