亀老山展望公園, Hilltop park in Imabari, Japan
亀老山展望公園 (Kamerou-zan Tenbo Koen) is a hilltop park at the southern tip of Oshima island, within the city of Imabari. A built-in observatory overlooks the Seto Inland Sea, its scattered islands, and the Kurushima Strait just below.
The area around the hill was historically important for sea traffic passing through the Kurushima Strait, known for its strong currents. The park in its current form was developed alongside the opening of the Nishiseto Expressway, known as the Shimanami Kaido, in the late 1990s.
The observatory is especially popular at sunset, when the bridge and islands take on warm colors. Photographing the scene has become a ritual for visitors, and cameras come out well before the light fades.
The park is open at all hours and there is no entry fee; parking is also free and accessible to wheelchair users. The road leading up is steep, so cyclists should be prepared for a serious climb.
The observatory was designed by architect Kengo Kuma with the stated goal of creating a building that cannot be seen. The structure disappears into the hillside, so the view itself becomes the only thing the visitor notices.
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