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Oga Peninsula driving guide: Kanpuzan, Cape Nyudo, Godzilla Rock and map

Drive around the Oga Peninsula from Funakoshi via Kanpuzan, the Namahage Museum, Cape Nyudo, Oga Aquarium GAO, Godzilla Rock and Unosaki Coast, with a route map, opening seasons, winter roads, access and fuel.

Edited by Drive Scape Japan · Updated: · Sources verified:

Where the Oga Peninsula area is (Akita)
First drive

From Funakoshi via Kanpuzan Revolving Observatory, the Namahage Museum, Cape Nyudo, Oga Aquarium GAO, Godzilla Rock and Unosaki Coast to Oga Station: about 81 km and 1 hour 25 minutes of driving.

Current opening seasons

Nyudosaki Lighthouse tours run through 8 November 2026. Kanpuzan Revolving Observatory operates until early December. Sightseeing boats at Monzen and Cape Nyudo are suspended for fiscal 2026.

Winter roads

No section in Oga City is on the prefecture's closure list for this winter (as of 30 October). The summit end of the Kanpuzan Panorama Line can be impassable because of snow.

As of 2 November 2026.

Driving time

From Sendai Station
about 3 h 20 min260 km
From Akita Stationif you rent a car on arrival
about 30 min34 km

Times to Oga General Tourist Information Center, calculated from map data without traffic.

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The Oga Peninsula is the area of Oga City that juts into the Sea of Japan from western Akita Prefecture. From Funakoshi at the neck of the peninsula, you climb Kanpuzan and pass Shinzan, home of the Namahage Museum, before reaching Cape Nyudo at the north-west tip. From there the road passes Toga Bay and follows the coast through Monzen and Unosaki Coast to Michi-no-Eki Oga, a roadside station in front of Oga Station.

This guide follows a one-day circuit of the peninsula, with roads and places to stop listed below.

Map of the Oga Peninsula

  • Views and nature
  • Roadside stations
  1. 1Oga General Tourist Information Center
  2. 2Kanpuzan Revolving Observatory
  3. 3Namahage Museum
  4. 4Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum
  5. 5Shinzan Shrine
  6. 6Cape Nyudo and Nyudosaki Lighthouse
  7. 7Hachibodai
  8. 8Oga Aquarium GAO
  9. 9Toga Bay
  10. 10Godzilla Rock (Shiosezaki)
  11. 11Akagami Shrine Goshado
  12. 12Unosaki Coast
  13. 13Takinogashira
  14. 14Michi-no-Eki Oga
  15. 15Michi-no-Eki Tenno
  16. 16Michi-no-Eki Showa
  17. 17Michi-no-Eki Ogata

Line: 1 → 2 → 3 → 6 → 7 → 8 → 10 → 12 → 14

The line follows the full-day route from Funakoshi around Cape Nyudo to Oga Station below. Numbers mark the stops: green for scenery and nature, blue for roadside stations. Tap a marker to see its name.

Recommended drives

First visit: Funakoshi around Cape Nyudo to Oga Station in a day

From Oga General Tourist Information Center, climb to Kanpuzan Revolving Observatory. Stop at the Namahage Museum, then follow the Namahage Line to Cape Nyudo. Pass Hachibodai and descend to Oga Aquarium GAO, then head south on the Oga Shiokaze Kaido. Stop at Godzilla Rock and Unosaki Coast and continue to Michi-no-Eki Oga.

The route is about 81 km, with around 1 hour 25 minutes of driving. Distance and time are calculated from map data and exclude traffic.

The quick road and the coast road

Two roads run from the Akita side to Toga. The Namahage Line is fairly straight and wide, and it is the faster choice. The coast road through Monzen takes longer but passes Godzilla Rock and Unosaki Coast.

Godzilla Rock cannot be seen from the road

Godzilla Rock stands on the shore at Shiosezaki in Monzen and is not visible from the road. The car park is an open area below the road on the left after Tateyama Tunnel. From there, walk about three minutes further on.

Roads you can drive

Road What to expect Length and cost Hours and restrictions
Akita Expressway, Showa-Oga-Hanto IC Entry from Kitakami JCT on the Tohoku Expressway. About 20 minutes from the IC to Oga Tolled —
National Route 7 Entry from the Akita and Noshiro sides — —
National Route 101 From Funakoshi to Wakimoto. The junction by Wakimoto fire station is the turn for Kanpuzan — Roundabout trial at the Namahage Line junction through 30 November
Kanpuzan Panorama Line (Prefectural Route 55) From Wakimoto over Tsumagoi Pass to the summit of Kanpuzan — From around the Tsumagoi Pass car park to the summit, snow can block the road in winter
Namahage Line Crosses the centre of Oga from south-east to north-west, with changes in elevation — —
Prefectural Route 121 Passes Hachibodai. About ten minutes from the aquarium towards Cape Nyudo — —
Oga Shiokaze Kaido, Prefectural Route 59 West-coast road from Cape Nyudo past Toga Bay to Monzen — —

Places to stop

Views and nature

Numbers match the map.

No. Place Parking What to know
1 Oga General Tourist Information Center 57 small and 2 large vehicles Has a 15 m Namahage statue. 09:00–17:00, open daily
2 Kanpuzan Revolving Observatory Large car park just below the observatory One rotation takes about 13 minutes. 08:30–17:00, ¥550. Operates until early December. No lift
3 Namahage Museum — More than 100 figures and 150 Namahage masks. 08:30–17:00, open all year, ¥660
4 Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum Free Re-enactment of the New Year's Eve Namahage ritual, about 20 minutes. Combined ticket with the Namahage Museum ¥1,100
5 Shinzan Shrine A little beyond the Namahage Museum About 70 stone steps from the Nio Gate to the worship hall
6 Cape Nyudo and Nyudosaki Lighthouse — North-west tip of the peninsula, on the 40th parallel north. Lighthouse tours ¥300, through 8 November in 2026
7 Hachibodai — Views of Toga Bay, Ichinomegata and Ninomegata
8 Oga Aquarium GAO — Adults ¥1,300. 09:00–16:00 in November (last entry 15:00). Next closing day 19 November
9 Toga Bay — A sandy beach runs beside the aquarium. The bay formed in an explosion crater
10 Godzilla Rock (Shiosezaki) About three minutes' walk from the Shiosezaki car park About 25 minutes from Funakawa towards Monzen
11 Akagami Shrine Goshado Partway up the slope past Monzen fishing port About 25 minutes' climb on uneven stone steps from the car park
12 Unosaki Coast — 1.5 km of coastline. At low tide you can walk about 200 m out across the rocks
13 Takinogashira — Visits to the water source 10:00–15:00, with permission from the water-treatment office. Free water-filling station beside the road

Roadside stations

No. Roadside station Parking What to know
14 Michi-no-Eki Oga 150 ordinary cars Local products hall 09:00–17:00
15 Michi-no-Eki Tenno 582 ordinary cars Katagami City. 09:00–18:00 (shorter in winter). Closed 31 December
16 Michi-no-Eki Showa 200 ordinary cars Katagami City. 09:00–18:00. Closed 31 December–1 January
17 Michi-no-Eki Ogata 94 ordinary cars Ogata Village. 08:00–18:00 (shorter in winter). Closed 1–2 January

Best seasons and crowds

Season Highlights and cautions
Mid-to-late July Golden-rayed lilies on Kanpuzan (usual timing)
Summer Many motorcycles line up at the Cape Nyudo car park
Through 8 November Nyudosaki Lighthouse tours (2026)
November–February Oga Aquarium GAO closes at 16:00
Early December–mid-March Kanpuzan Revolving Observatory is closed
December–March Six Namahage re-enactments a day at Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum
February Namahage Sedo Festival at Shinzan Shrine

Sunset in Akita is at 16:38 on 1 November and 16:24 on 15 November.

Busy places and times

  • At sunset, many photographers and visitors gather at Godzilla Rock.
  • In summer, many motorcycles line up at the Cape Nyudo car park.
  • On holidays, cars queue to collect water at the Takinogashira filling station.

Roads and restrictions checked on 2 November 2026

  • As of 30 October, no section in Oga City is scheduled to close this winter. Weather can still cause road closures.
  • In December 2024, the road to the Kanpuzan Panorama Line summit car park was cleared of snow and open on Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00–15:00.
  • A roundabout trial is running through 30 November at the junction of Route 101 and the Namahage Line in Funakawaminato-Niiyama.
  • The Oga Peninsula sightseeing boat at Monzen and the glass-bottom boat at Cape Nyudo are suspended for fiscal 2026.

Getting there and fuel

Starting point Approximate drive
Akita Station About 30 km and 40 minutes to Oga General Tourist Information Center
Akita Airport About 50 km and one hour to Oga General Tourist Information Center
Showa-Oga-Hanto IC About 20 minutes to Oga
Akita Port (ferry) About 30 minutes to Oga
Noshiro City About 40 km and 50 minutes to Oga General Tourist Information Center
Morioka City About 220 km and three hours to Oga on Route 46

ENEOS Funakoshi station (07:00–19:00) is at Funakoshi, at the neck of the peninsula. ENEOS Oga Namahage station (Monday–Saturday 07:00–19:00; Sundays and holidays 07:00–18:00) is near Oga Station. Refuel at one of them before heading round the west coast.

If you don't have a car

Use the Akita rental-car listings to find a pickup location. Before booking, check the driving-permit requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Where should I drive with one day on the Oga Peninsula?

From Funakoshi, climb to Kanpuzan Revolving Observatory, then stop at the Namahage Museum and Cape Nyudo. Continue from Oga Aquarium GAO along the coast past Unosaki Coast to Oga Station. The route is about 81 km, with around 1 hour 25 minutes of driving.

Can I go up Nyudosaki Lighthouse?

Yes. Tours cost ¥300 for junior-high age and above and run through 8 November in 2026. Current hours are 09:00–12:00 and 13:00–16:00, with last entry 20 minutes before closing.

Can I take a sightseeing boat at Cape Nyudo or Monzen?

Not in fiscal 2026. Both the Oga Peninsula sightseeing boat at Monzen and the glass-bottom boat at Cape Nyudo are suspended.

Can I drive up Kanpuzan in winter?

In December 2024, the road to the summit car park was cleared of snow and open on Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00–15:00. The revolving observatory operates from mid-March to early December.

Where do I park for Godzilla Rock?

Use the Shiosezaki car park, an open area below the road on the left after Tateyama Tunnel. From there, Godzilla Rock is about three minutes' walk.

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Sources & verification

Last verified: 2026-11-02

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