# Cape Kamui

> A narrow headland at the north-west tip of the Shakotan Peninsula where the 770 m Charenka path runs along a ridge to a lighthouse, with the 41 m Kamui Rock offshore and water the local name calls Shakotan blue. Allow about an hour from the car park and back, and expect the gate to close when the wind picks up.

- Prefecture: Hokkaido
- Type: Landmark
- Address: Shakotan, Hokkaido, Japan
- Closed: The path beyond the Women-Prohibited Gate closes in strong wind and in winter. From October 5, 2026 until early April 2027 it is shut for fence repairs; the car park trail and viewing plaza stay open.
- Hours note: Hours change by month: 8:00 to 17:30 in April and August to October, 8:00 to 18:00 in May and July, 8:00 to 18:30 in June, 8:00 to 16:30 in November and 10:00 to 15:00 from December to March. Last entry through the gate on the national road is one hour before closing.
- Official site: https://www.town.shakotan.lg.jp/topics/storyid-post_372.html

The Charenka path is narrow, about 770 m long, and follows the spine of the cape with the sea dropping away on both sides, so on a windy day you feel why the staff shut the gate. It starts at the Women-Prohibited Gate. From 1691 the Matsumae domain barred Japanese women from going past this cape, most likely to protect the herring fishery, though the local legend blames Charenka, an Ainu chief's daughter who threw herself into the sea when Minamoto no Yoshitsune left her, and turned into Kamui Rock. That rock, about 41 m tall, stands roughly 400 m off the tip. The ban ended in 1855. Kamui means god in Ainu. On a clear summer day the water below is the colour people here call Shakotan blue. Shakotan town says to allow about an hour from the car park to the tip and back, with no shade and a few climbs on the way. The lighthouse, first lit in 1888, is at the end. Hours change month by month and last entry through the road gate is an hour before closing, so arriving late in the afternoon can mean a locked gate.

## FAQ

### How long does the walk to the tip of Cape Kamui take?

Shakotan town says to allow about an hour from the car park to the tip and back. The Charenka path itself is about 770 m along a narrow ridge, with no shade and some ups and downs.

### Why is the gate sometimes closed?

The Women-Prohibited Gate, where the path starts, is closed in strong wind and other bad weather, and the path beyond it closes in winter. It has also been closed for bear sightings and trail work, so check the Shakotan town notices on the day.

### What time does Cape Kamui close?

It depends on the month, from 18:30 in June to 15:00 between December and March. Entry through the national road gate stops an hour before closing, which in August to October means 16:30.

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Source: Cape Kamui — Japan Voyage