There is a legend that long ago Emperor Wu of Han visited and the shrine maidens danced for him. Although the word “island” is in the name (Butaijima means Stage Island), this 60m tall flat rock formation which rises into the sky like a stage is actually on land. It has been the subject of many paintings and was called by this name as far back as the Edo Period. It is thought that Butaijima Rocks was basaltic wave-cut terrace, formed by volcanic activity and then eroded by waves, before rising out of the water.
