Sannoiwa Rocks showcase beauty, destructive power of Japan’s northeastern coast

The Sannoiwa Rocks form a striking silhouette offshore along the Sanriku coast.

Seeing the Sannoiwa Rocks makes a great reason to take an excursion along the Sanriku coast in Japan’s Iwate prefecture. The largest of the Sannoiwa formations is Otoko-iwa, or Male Rock, which towers nearly 165 feet above the water, accompanied by Onna-iwa, or Female Rock, and Taiko-iwa, or Drum Rock. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes) Along the rugged Pacific coast of Japan’s Iwate prefecture, three enormous rock formations rise from the sea at Sannoiwa, one of the most distinctive sights along the Sanriku coast. The largest — Otoko-iwa, or Male Rock — towers nearly 165 feet above the water, accompanied by Onna-iwa, or Female Rock, and Taiko-iwa, or Drum Rock. Visitors to the Sannoiwa Rocks in Iwate prefecture, Japan, can follow a walking path with several vantage points of the formations and surrounding coastline.

(Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes) Together, the Sannoiwa Rocks form a striking silhouette offshore, particularly at sunrise, when the formations stand against the morning light. Visitors can follow a walking path with several vantage points overlooking the formations and surrounding coastline. The scenery changes dramatically with the seasons, from thick summer greenery to snow-covered winter landscapes. During the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami, a boulder estimated to weigh more than 200 tons was swept nearly 100 feet inland at Sannoiwa. (Aaron Kidd/Stars and Stripes) The area also