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This gorgeous view is one of the must-see spots in Toyama. Here’s why it’s so special and how to visit Onnaiwa Rock.
How pretty is this….
Article by Helen Foster. Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. See our Affiliate Disclosure.
I know, very pretty, right? So here’s what you need to know to see it yourself.
Where is Onnaiwa Rock?
It’s located off the Amaharashi Coast in Japan’s Noto Peninsula Quasi-National Park. The closest main towns are Himi and Takaoka – the nearest cities are Toyama and Kanazawa.
It’s marked on Google Maps as Onnaiwa (Woman Rock) – you’ll also see it referred to as Meiwa Rock.
If you’re coming here by train, the closest station to get out and photograph it is Amaharashi on the Himi line, which runs between Takoaka station and Himi, further north.
From here, you can take a short coastal path and head to an area marked on the map as the photo spot for the Onna Rock and the Tatayama Mountain range. You’ll see people standing on it in one of the pictures below.
Why is This View So Special?
It was once thought that there were three places in the world where you could take a photograph of a 3,000-metre-high mountain range with the sea in the foreground. However, according to the Amaharashi Coast tourism board, that number has been disputed and reduced to one place. Here.
The mountains in question are the Tatayama Mountain range. These are actually 100km away from this viewpoint, but if the air is clear, they appear to be just across the bay, and the sight of snow-capped peaks behind the beautiful, isolated rock and trees is stunning.
You can just see them poking out of the side in the photo above; they are clearer in the portrait shot.
Why Is the Rock Called Woman Rock?
It is said that it resembles a woman holding a child. Personally, I can’t see it but…
There’s a second, very similar-looking rock with trees on, a bit further south, called Oiwa. This is known as ‘man rock’ as it stands fast while being battered by the waves.
When Should You Visit?
There are two key factors to consider here: the time of year and the time of day.
Best Time of Year to Visit
The Tateyama mountains have snow on them between October and May – that’s when you’re going to get the best pictures. They are also clearest in autumn and winter; apparently, Spring can bring dust that clouds the view, which makes me even luckier, as I took my photo in May.
It’s also said that the air is clearest after rain, so if it rains during your trip, you’ll want to hotfoot it to the seafront.
The Best Time of Day
The trains on this line aren’t always super frequent – so, if you do only want to spend a short time here to take a photo, make sure you time your journey at a point when the trains connect to where you want to go next relatively quickly.
Trains are most frequent early morning, meaning before 10.00 am, you’ll find a connecting train about every 40 minutes at this time. In the middle of the day, they might be 90 minutes apart; they get a bit more frequent again around evening rush hour.
Your exact timings will depend on whether you’re carrying on to see Himi (our one-day guide to Himi is here if you are) or returning to Takaoka after your photo shoot, but you can check the times via Navitime or JR West.
If you do get stuck with less-than-favourable transit times, there is a restaurant, Amaharashi Syokodou, near the station where you can grab a drink, snack, or meal. It’s open from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm on weekdays and 7:00 am to 4:30 pm on weekends.
There is also a Tourist Information Office at the station, which, according to reviews, offers luggage storage. However, the hours can be erratic, so be cautious when using this service – check and double-check the time you want to pick things back up. You might be better off leaving luggage at Takaoka or sending it on to your next destination via luggage shipping.
Can You Take Sunset or Sunrise Pictures?
Handily for transport, the sun seems to set behind the rock – so, sunset works. This is a stock picture, so you can see what it might look like.
If You Don’t Have Time to Get Off the Train
Confession time. All of my pictures were taken from the train going to and from Himi!
Due to a very un-Japanese train delay, my plan to arrive at Amaharashi at 8:01, get off, take pictures, and then head back to Himi on either the 8:28 or 9:01 train failed – I actually didn’t pull into Amaharashi until 9:05.
By this point, the trains were about to start operating on their less frequent schedule, and I had a jam-packed day, so I couldn’t make getting out to take the picture work – but, look, you can see it all from the train!
If you do this, the view is better on the way from Amaharashi to Takaoka, as you have a better chance of getting the famous mountains in the picture. The train windows open slightly at the top, allowing you to take photos without glare.
When I took the train both ways, it was empty, making it easy to move around. But if you want to try to grab the best seats from the start, you’ll need to sit on the right-hand side of the train leaving Takaoka and the left-hand side when leaving Himi.
If you’re trying to take pics from Takaoka, start paying attention after Etchu Kokobu. If you’re coming from Himi, get ready to snap after Amaharashi.
And that’s it – my guide to where to find one of Japan’s prettiest views.
Who Writes This Blog?
My name is Helen Foster, and I’m a journalist and author. My travel articles have appeared in publications including The Australian, Escape, RAC Horizons, Jetstar Magazine, Sainsbury’s Magazine, and more.
I’ve traveled to Japan eight times before – solo and with my partner and visited over 25 towns and cities. My last visit was November 2024 so, everything here is pretty up to date.
