When visiting Shodoshima in November, I was looking forward to Kankakei the most.
As I rode the ropeway up the mountain, I realized the scenery below was even more beautiful than I had imagined. Many of the maple leaves in the valley had already turned red, mixed with yellow and green trees. Together with Kankakei's strangely shaped rock formations, the scenery had a lot of depth. As the ropeway slowly climbed, the view kept changing from different angles.
Once I reached the top, the weather was great, and I could see the Seto Inland Sea directly from the observation deck. The mountains covered in maple leaves were in front of me, with the blue sea and small islands farther away. It felt different from the view I had just seen from the ropeway.
At the top, there's also a place where you can throw small clay discs. I bought a little kawarake and threw it toward an iron ring in the valley. It's said to ward off evil and bring good fortune. It was my first time, so I don't know if I succeeded, but everyone just kept throwing them, and it was unexpectedly fun.
Afterward, I walked around the area for a while. It was already a little cold up on the mountain in November, and there were quite a few fallen leaves on the ground. There really isn't anything complicated to do at Kankakei—just ride the ropeway, look at the maple leaves and the sea, and take a leisurely walk—but I actually found that very relaxing.
If you happen to visit Shodoshima in November, I think Kankakei is worth a visit. It's especially beautiful during the fall foliage season.
