Kaneishi Castle Tsushima: Izuhara Walking Guide

Izuhara has a relatively limited number of

sightseeing spots that you can easily reach on foot.

By the time I arrived in Izuhara after coming through Hitakatsu Port,

it was already getting close to 3:00 PM.

So instead of venturing too far,

I decided to take a relaxed stroll around the must-visit spots

right near my accommodation.

Kaneishi Castle & Princess Deokhye Marriage Memorial Monument

Admission: Free / Open year-round

The ruins of Kaneishi Castle are one of the easiest

historical sites to check out in Izuhara.

There are clear signs along the way,

and you'll spot the Tsushima Museum on your right.

Just a heads-up: admission to the Tsushima Museum is 550 yen (~$3),

but you can get a combo ticket covering the museum,

the Kaneishi Castle Garden, and Banshouin Temple for 900 yen (~$6).

I couldn't visit because of my tight schedule,

but if you have plenty of time, buying the combo pass

to see the Tsushima Museum, Banshouin Temple, and Kaneishi Castle Garden would be a great option.

The East Gate (Yaguramon) of Kaneishi Castle

is a super popular photo spot where everyone stops for a picture.

Honestly, this beautiful gate is even more famous than the actual castle ruins.

If you walk a little further inside,

you'll find the Princess Deokhye Marriage Memorial Monument.

It was built to commemorate the marriage of Joseon's last princess,

Princess Deokhye, to the descendant of the Lord of Tsushima.

I walked past the monument and ventured a bit deeper.

Since the tour groups had already left, it was incredibly peaceful—

perfect for a quiet, relaxing stroll through the park.

Tucked away past the monument

is the Former Kaneishi Castle Garden and its ticket booth.

Admission is 310 yen (~$2), but unfortunately,

the ticket booth was closed when I arrived.

Peeking in from the entrance, the garden looked beautifully manicured,

but honestly, I'm not sure it's worth paying 310 yen (~$2)

just to walk through.

Following the path,

I headed towards Banshouin Temple.

It might look far on the map,

but it's actually less than a 5-minute walk from the East Gate!

Admission: Adults 300 yen (~$2), High School Students 200 yen (~$1), Elementary/Middle School Students 100 yen (~$1)

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Banshouin Temple is the historic burial ground of the So clan,

the successive rulers of Tsushima.

Since this clan is closely tied to Princess Deokhye's husband,

it's a great spot to pair with your visit

to the Kaneishi Castle ruins.

Climbing up these stone steps, known as Hyakuganki,

leads to a scenic area that is supposed to be absolutely beautiful.

Unfortunately, this place was also closed when I visited,

so I couldn't go inside.

Eguchi Soy Sauce Factory

Hours: 08:30 ~ 17:30

Closed Sat & Sun / Credit Cards Accepted

Next on our itinerary was the Eguchi Soy Sauce Factory.

Famous as a traditional brewery with over a century of history,

it's just a 10-minute walk from the Kaneishi Castle Ruins,

making them the perfect pair to explore together.

As you step inside,

you'll be greeted by rows of different artisanal soy sauces.

The variety was so mind-blowing that I had a bit of decision paralysis,

but luckily, they had their top 3 best-sellers clearly marked!

On the opposite shelves, they also had local Tsushima sake on display.

The local sake, Shiratake,

had its award-winning history displayed, which made me incredibly curious about its flavor profile.

If you're a sake lover, bringing a bottle home would make a fantastic souvenir!

They even had a dedicated tasting corner

where you can sample different soy sauces and dressings.

With intriguing flavors like ginger soy sauce and green laver (seaweed) soy sauce,

it's hard to imagine the taste just by the name—so I naturally had to try them myself.

The ginger soy sauce offered a subtle ginger aroma with a clean finish,

while the green laver soy sauce had such a rich seaweed aroma that I immediately knew

it would make the ultimate topping for a simple bowl of hot egg-rice.

Each bottle of the ginger and green laver soy sauce was priced at 734 yen (approx. $5),

and they actually offer a 10% discount if you purchase 2 bottles!

Since you can taste-test and pick exactly what suits your palate,

I ended up grabbing several bottles as gifts for friends.

The shop also sells a unique Tsushima specialty

called soy sauce ice cream!

Priced at 600 yen (approx. $4) per cup,

it's a bit on the pricier side for ice cream, but because

it's so rare, I couldn't resist. The sweet-and-salty combination was surprisingly fun

and definitely worth a try for the unique experience!

I heard they also sell soy sauce pudding,

but unfortunately, it was completely sold out when I visited, so I couldn't taste it.

I bought several bottles of soy sauce, but I ended up gifting them all

before I could even take photos for the blog! 🥹

By the time I realized,

the only bottle left for me was the green laver soy sauce...

The 150ml bottles are compact and easy to pack, and the price is so reasonable

that it makes for a fantastic souvenir. Give them a taste, and if you find a winner,

definitely bring a bottle back!

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If you're expecting flashy, grand tourist attractions, you might feel a bit underwhelmed.

But if you fall for the quiet, peaceful charm of a small Japanese town,

this is a wonderful, easy-going walking route around Izuhara.

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It's highly recommended for anyone traveling Tsushima without a rental car

or staying overnight in Izuhara!

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