The Muroto Triangle – Ehime AJET

Justin Dobbs

2025-2026 MIKAN BLOG Editor

Justin is a second year JET based on the edge of Ehime in Shikokuchuo. Coming from a writing/communications background in suburban Georgia, he is excited to write about the JET experience in a place with such amazing natural beauty. “It hasn’t been very long since coming here, but the kindness of the people and seemingly endless places to discover in Shikoku make it the perfect canvas for storytelling.” Justin enjoys hiking, cycling, coffee, and getting lost exploring the island.

Triangles, they are both the most stable shape and perhaps the most mysterious one. They can be seen as a symbol for the Illuminati, a powerful force in The Legend of Zelda series, a dangerous sea passage in Bermuda, and much more. This shape has an uncanny way of being connected to the strange, curious, and spiritual. That’s why it might be surprising to know that Shikoku has its very own three-sided enigma in what this article is dubbing the Muroto Triangle – a place unlike anywhere else on the island.

Muroto is remote. Located on the rightmost tip of Kochi Prefecture down a winding coastal road, it takes an hour and a half drive from Kochi City just to reach it. Sandwiched between stunningly steep cliffs and small fishing towns on the left, and sweeping ocean views with dark, jagged outcroppings on the right, the route is unexpectedly beautiful if not rugged. It’s not just the road either. Combined with the sudden disappearance of usual comforts like convenience stores, supermarkets, and even gas stations, the sense of remoteness increases with every kilometer. Even the flora and fauna become noticeably more subtropical. Camellias with bright red and yellow petals burst on the hillsides while palm trees sway against the ocean breeze. For Ehime JETs, it is easily one the furthest and most unique places in Shikoku to visit. So, what actually is the Muroto Triangle?

Connected at three points, the triangle starts at Muroto City, goes right to the Global Geopark Center, and follows the coast down to the cape itself. While this is the anchor, the surrounding peninsula, including nearby towns like Aki, shares in the area’s mysterious charm. At first, this relatively small part of Shikoku may not seem like anything more than a peculiar point on the map. Much like the Iya Valley in Tokushima Prefecture it doesn’t exactly stand out as anything worth more than a passing glance. However, as with the other more famous triangles, there are more than just three sides to the story.

Specifically, Muroto is old. While just about everywhere in Shikoku has a deep history of some kind, this part of the island feels especially like a living time capsule. Seemingly untouched by modern society the places, landscape, and people all point to the past. Chief among these is undoubtably the cape. Proudly designated as a UNESCO World Geopark, Cape Muroto shines with a dazzling display of dark lava rocks dramatically jutting out from the crashing waves. Thousands of these sharp stones are littered across the black pebble beach, creating a striking contrast with the sparkling blue sea and the clear sky. It’s a powerful feeling. Standing atop a boulder on the very edge of the island and looking…out. Like reaching the climax of an adventure movie reaching this remote place is an unforgettable experience.

Since time immemorial these rocks have been the cape’s most defining feature. Long ago they were deep at the bottom of the sea. However, due to tectonic movement, violent earthquakes, and ancient volcanic activity the land has been forced to the surface. In fact, Muroto hasn’t stopped changing. Every year the land continues to rise by a few centimeters, making it perhaps the most active geological location in Shikoku. This is due to the subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate under the Eurasian Plate. The constant motion of these two oceanic giants is responsible for creating both the cape itself, and the infamous Nankai Trough out in the depths. Factoring in all the tsunamis and typhoons that have also shaped the landscape over the centuries, it remains in constant geological flux. However, it’s not just the time-worn rocks people come to see. For many, it is a much more spiritual experience.

In a place as remote as Cape Muroto it’s surprising that anything historically significant other than the Earth’s violent movement took place. And yet, roughly around 800 A.D. in Mikurodo Cave something did. That is where Kobo Daishi Kukai (弘法大師空海) the founder of Shingon “true word” Buddhism supposedly gained enlightenment. As one of the most beloved and influential monks in Japanese history, Kukai’s impact was immense. So much so that the entirety of this person’s achievements is well beyond the scope of this article. Most notably for Shikoku, however, is that he helped establish the famous Shikoku Henro, which consists of 88 specially designated temples. Each year innumerous numbers of people put on the signature white robes and make the 1,400km pilgrimage around the island to visit them all. For many, this is seen as way to better connect with Kukai’s teachings, to attain personal growth, and possibly to reach enlightenment themselves. He is so beloved by the locals that there is a giant 20-meter tall white statue of him overlooking the ocean at the nearby Raiei Temple (来影寺). Its enormous size and raw sense of power reflects his cultural contribution to both Shikoku and Japan as a whole.

Of the temples Kukai helped to establish, numbers 24, 25, and 26 can be found in the Muroto area with Number 24 Hotsumisakiji Temple being especially stunning. Built atop the mountain directly above the cape and nestled in a subtropical forest, it’s an incredibly serene, if not slightly tough place to reach due to the steep drive/hike. However, it is well worth the effort. A beautiful temple in its own right, Hotsumisakiji features a pleasant nature walk letting visitors appreciate both the lush vegetation, and the intricate structures themselves. Even more impressive is the Cape Muroto Lighthouse that calls it home. This industrial-style lighthouse from the Meiji era offers nearly 360-degrees of unobstructed ocean views. Directly overlooking over the geopark and high enough to see the curve of the horizon, it’s the perfect place to appreciate the raw geological power on display. As impressive as all this is, though, not all sides of triangle are quite as ancient and serious. Some are just a bit silly.

What do ALTs and fish have in common?

They both work in schools!

What, too cheesy? The staff at the Muroto Schoolhouse Aquarium wouldn’t think so. To them it’s not just a bad pun; it’s their everyday lives. On the eastern coast of Muroto 20 minutes up from the tip sits an aquarium unlike any other. Formally known as Shiina Elementary School, class was last in session way back in 2005. It was unfortunately abandoned due to low enrollment and left to decay for the next 13 years. However, in 2018 a brand-new batch of “students” were finally enrolled when it was repurposed into the coast-side aquatic center that it is today. While it’s certainly smaller than the average city aquarium, it is no less impressive by the way it incorporates elements from the school itself into the displays.

Lobsters have turned hallway sinks into homes, and sea turtles swim laps around the pool. There is even a tiny golden fish in charge of the defibrillators in case of emergency. From manta rays, eels, angel fish, and more, this diverse student body seems more at home here than the human alumnae ever did. Like any good school though, there still are plenty of ways to learn. The entire second floor is filled with unique specimens like preserved sharks, whale bones, and taxidermized animals. All these let visitors enjoy the aquatic creatures while getting a deeper insight into their biology and their roles in the local ecosystem.

At first glance the Muroto Schoolhouse Aquarium does seem somewhat like an odd joke that went a bit too far. Not nearly as ancient as the rocks, or as historically relevant as the temples, this unique attraction is very much a tonal shift for the area. However, do a little homework and it all starts to make sense. In a place so rooted in the past, the aquarium highlights the importance of the present. Many of the aquatic creatures have been donated by local fishermen or have been raised directly in cape, offering a detailed look at the abundant biodiversity of Muroto. It shows just how alive this far corner of the world is and highlights the need to preserve the beautiful ecosystem that has developed over the millennia. What better way to learn about all of that than by going to school?

Unfortunately, that preservation might not be so easy. By the same force that created Cape Muroto and its curious triangle, it could also be destroyed (at least partly). As mentioned earlier, the subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate is what caused the cape to rise in the first place. Inversely, it has also created the deep ocean trench known as the Nankai Trough. Featured in scientific journals, news articles, and morning talk shows, this deep-sea feature has become more talked about in Japan in recent years than most celebrities. The reason for all this fame (or infamy) is simple – earthquakes. More specifically, the trough has a history of generating powerful earthquakes which lead to even more powerful tsunamis due to the pressure created by the plates.

Currently, the Japanese government estimates that the probability of another mega-quake happening in the trough within the next 30 years is 80%. While that is a fairly wide range of time, it is still important to be aware of evacuation points when visiting just in case something were to happen. In fact, every few kilometers down the coastal road to Cape Muroto there are estimated tsunami inundation zone signs and evacuation towers. These indicate that the area is susceptible to tsunami waves/flooding and proper precaution should be taken. For more information about disaster preparedness in Kochi, the Kochi AJET website is an amazingly detailed resource that’s worth checking out. As scary as some of that information can be though, it shouldn’t stop anyone from going down to the triangle. With the right know-how it is still a safe and unbelievably pristine part of the island that beckons ALTs from any prefecture to come explore.

So, what is the Muroto Triangle? A geological mystery? An ancient memorial? A peculiar shape at the edge of the world? Maybe all three. Like any good triangle, its strength comes from the connection between its sides. Whatever it is though, the sheer untouched natural beauty on display combined with its remoteness and spiritual significance more than make its secrets worth uncovering. For many it really is just an odd shape on the map, but for those looking to get a truly intimate look at the island we call home, there’s perhaps no better place than the Muroto Triangle.

Hey everyone! Thanks for checking out this month’s travel article. It was an amazing experience getting to visit one of Shikoku’s most remote regions and sharing that here. If there is a story, experience, or idea you’d like to share please reach out to us at themikanblog@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you!

Best, Justin