Dark Japan: Tojinbo Cliffs
The beautiful landmark is a unique tourist destination.
Cover photo: Tojinbo Cliffs at sunset, with Oshima (Island) in the distance, Mikuni Town, Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, Japan (2022). Photo by Danny With Love.
CONTENT WARNING: This article covers topics of death, suicide, and murder.
Fukui’s Tojinbo Cliffs
Nestled against the Sea of Japan, the Tojinbo Cliffs (東尋坊) are one of the top attractions in Fukui Prefecture. The dramatic rock formations are equally beautiful and unsettling amidst the sea’s crashing waves. Known for its natural wonder and association with death, the landmark has become an iconic dark tourism destination in Japan, drawing a record 1.4 million visitors in 2019.
Tojinbo’s Geology
As part of the Echizen-Kaga Coast Quasi-National Park (designated in 1968), Tojinbo features unique pillar-shaped cliffs. The geological formation dates back millions of years, shaped by volcanic activity.
Pyroxene-andesite magma intruded into surrounding rock and cooled into columnar joints. Over time, relentless waves from the Sea of Japan eroded softer material, exposing the hexagonal columns seen today. Stretching for one kilometer (0.62 miles), the scale and quality of the formation make Tojinbo Cliffs a rare and valuable natural phenomenon.
The Legend of Tojinbo
According to local legend, Tojinbo is named after a powerful and violent Heian-era Buddhist monk from the local temple Heisenji in modern-day Katsuyama. Under the guise of a party, Tojinbo’s fellow monks brought him to the Mikuni Coast and ultimately pushed drunk Tojinbo off the cliffs to his death.
In more recent retellings, it’s said that Tojinbo was fighting with a fellow monk over a beautiful woman when he fell — reframing his death as tragic romance.
Tojinbo in Japanese Pop Culture
Thanks to its dramatic scenery, Tojinbo frequently appears in Japanese pop culture, inspiring a variety of murder-mystery tales. It was a recurring setting in Tuesday Suspense Theater (火曜サスペンス劇場), a long-running NIPPON TV drama that aired from 1981 to 2005.
Perhaps the most famous example comes from award-winning author Kyotaro Nishimura (西村 京太郎). In the 49th installment of his detective series, Inspector Totsugawa Runs Through Hokuriku (十津川警部 北陸を走る) — published in 1998 and adapted for television by TBS in 2013 — a mysterious phone call leads the titular protagonist to a corpse at the cliffs.
Tojinbo Suicide Spot & the Work of Yukio Shige
Sadly, Tojinbo’s reputation for death is not limited to fiction. The cliffs are known as one of Japan’s most famous suicide spots — cited as the second-most popular in the nation. Some 830 bodies have been discovered at the cliffs over the last four decades and it’s estimated that 120 people visit every year intending to end their lives, burdened by family, work, or personal troubles.
Retired police officer Yukio Shige (茂幸雄) spends his days patrolling the area to help distressed visitors. In 2004, he founded the nonprofit organization Heartwarming Essays Editorial Office (心に響く文集・編集局) which runs Kokoro ni Hibiku Oroshi Mochi (心に響くおろしも), a combination counseling center and sweets shop.
“No one really wants to die. Everyone wants someone to call out to them,” observes Shige. Near the cliffs, visitors will find telephone booths stocked with coins, religious texts, and positive messages.
Shige says the group has saved over 840 lives. Local newspaper Fukui Shimbun publishes tales of his interventions under the recurring column Facing the Desire to Die (「死にたい」と向き合って). His valiant efforts have also been documented in 2016 films Gatekeeper (命の番人) and The Round (La Ronde).
Tojinbo Dark Tourism
Although Tojinbo is promoted as a natural wonder, its macabre reputation is an open secret. In 2019, the cliffs were the site of a horrific murder staged as suicide, highlighting the area’s deathly connotation. Such incidents raise concerns over “dark tourism” — visiting or profiting from places associated with death, crime, and tragedy.
Dark tourism is not a new phenomenon — consider Pompeii, Auschwitz, or Hiroshima — but it’s a fast-growing topic thanks to social media. In 2017, American YouTuber Logan Paul sparked international outrage after filming and posting the body of an apparent suicide victim in Aokigahara Forest (青木ヶ原樹海), Japan’s most famous suicide spot.
Filmmaker Blaise Perrin, director of The Round, says Shige’s lifesaving work has faced local skepticism: “The economic system there [around Tojinbo] is based on suicide, which benefits various people like undertakers, the tourism industry, hotels in the area… and nobody wants that to change.”
While dark tourism is not inherently unethical, experts such as tourism scholar Dr. Hayley Stainton stress the importance of context, respect, and empathy.
Dark tourism can inspire personal reflection, strengthen the local economy, and support community efforts toward healing. Furthermore, it’s vital to recognize suicide as a societal issue rather than an individual failing and to encourage open discussions about mental health.
I hope visitors will enjoy Tojinbo’s natural beauty and support Shige’s suicide prevention efforts by stopping at his center.
Visiting Tojinbo Cliffs
The cliffs are open to the public without barriers, allowing visitors to walk and climb freely. As the rocks can be slippery, please exercise extreme caution, especially in windy and wet conditions. Accidental deaths have occurred.
For panoramic views, visit Tojinbo Tower, but the best perspectives are from sea level. Tojinbo Sightseeing Cruise operates boat tours around the cliffs and nearby Oshima (Island). Note: tours are conducted entirely in Japanese. Please check their official website for updates as tours may be cancelled or departure points may change depending on weather.
Tojinbo is especially beautiful at sunset, but note that most shops close at 17:00 (5:00 PM) so I recommend preparing a bento for those planning to stay into the evening.
Tojinbo Redevelopment News
Walking around Tojinbo Shopping Street, it’s clear the area has seen better days. The street appears rather dated, with many closed storefronts. Tojinbo Tower opened in 1964!
Visitor numbers have begun to rise again thanks to the 2024 Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train) extension, but tourists have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. In response, Sakai City has announced a redevelopment project that will create a new tourist facility with a viewing deck, dining space, and modern rest area. It will be completed by 2028 at the earliest.
Tojinbo Access
Tojinbo is located in Mikuni Town, Sakai City. From Fukui Station, take the Echizen Railway to Mikuni Minato Station and then transfer to the Keifuku Bus service — about a 1.5 hour journey. I recommend staying at nearby hot spring town Awara Onsen, which offers a direct bus connection.
Tojinbo Frequently Asked Questions
-
Tojinbo is a popular suicide spot due to a combination of factors including its dangerous height, easy access, and pop culture notoriety.
-
The Tojinbo Cliffs are in Mikuni Town, Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, along the Sea of Japan. Park of the Echizen-Kaga Coast Quasi-National Park, it’s a top attraction in the Hokuriku region.
-
From Fukui Station, take Echizen Railway to Mikuni Station, then a short bus ride to Tojinbo. Visitors from Awara Onsen can take a direct bus. Planning transportation ahead is essential for a day trip.
-
Yukio Shige is a retired police officer who patrols Tojinbo Cliffs to prevent suicides. He founded the nonprofit Heartwarming Essays Editorial Office, which operates Kokoro ni Hibiku Oroshi Mochi, a counseling center and sweets shop. Shige’s lifesaving efforts have been widely covered in international news and documentaries.
-
Yes, Tojinbo offers a rare seascape with convenient tourist infrastructure, making it an enjoyable visit. Tourists can also relax at nearby hot springs town Awara Onsen and Mikuni Sunset Beach.
Fukui Reporter Disclosure
As part of the Fukui Reporter program, I am tasked with participating in local events and publicly promoting the prefecture. This is a volunteer position that allows me free entrance to a selection of spots throughout the area. The opinions I share are my own.
