Cape Erimo

A cape in the central-southern part of Hokkaido's Hidaka Mountains jutting out into the Pacific Ocean. It is located in Erimo Town under the jurisdiction of the Hidaka Subprefectural Bureau. On the eastern side, three coastal terraces have developed, with elevations of 90-80 meters, 60-40 meters, and around 20 meters. On the southwestern side, the middle terrace faces the sea and forms a sea cliff. The tip of the cape extends from this to a cliff, and offshore, the sea terrace extends to a reef several kilometers long. This is where the warm and cold currents meet, and it is considered a difficult place to navigate, especially from May to August, when sea fog occurs frequently. A lighthouse was opened in 1889 (Meiji 22), and its foghorn once aroused the traveler's enthusiasm. The area around the cape is a good fishing spot and is known as a producer of Hidaka kelp. In addition, the fishing village of Erimo is located on the low terrace on the eastern side, and there are many facilities such as inns and campsites nearby, making it particularly lively in the summer. In 1981, it was designated as part of the Hidaka Mountains Erimo Quasi-National Park, and the dense fog, rough waves around the cape, and Hyakuninhama Beach, known for the tragic story of a shipwreck at the end of the Edo period, all add to the northern atmosphere.

[Ichiro Kashimura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

北海道中南部、日高(ひだか)山脈の末端が太平洋に突出した岬。日高振興局管内のえりも町にある。東側は標高90～80メートル、60～40メートル、20メートル前後の3段の海岸段丘が発達し、南西側は中位段丘が海に臨み海食崖(がい)となっている。岬突端はこの延長で断崖となり、沖合いには海食台が延びて数キロメートルの岩礁が続く。寒暖両流の合流する所で、とくに5～8月には海霧の発生が多く航海の難所とされ、1889年（明治22）に灯台が開設されて、かつてはその霧笛が観光客の旅情をそそった。岬付近は好漁場で日高昆布の産地として知られる。また、東側の低位段丘面には襟裳の漁村があり、付近には旅館やキャンプ場などの施設も多く、夏季はとくににぎわう。1981年（昭和56）日高山脈襟裳国定公園に指定され、濃霧と岬の荒波のほか、幕末の遭難悲話で知られる百人浜などが北国の印象を強める。

［柏村一郎］

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