A Day Trip with Your Dog in Sasebo: Kaze to Hoshi no Hiroba, Mt. Eboshi, Harbor Strolls, and Yumihari-dake Observatory

On this day, I loaded Elmo, our French Bulldog, into the car and headed toward Sasebo for a morning drive. Armed with only a few bits of rough information—”apparently there’s a massive plaza on a mountain” and “there’s a park where you can walk along the harbor”—our group, consisting of my wife, my mother-in-law, and me, set off for Sasebo.

Our itinerary for this dog-friendly drive was:

• Kaze to Hoshi no Hiroba (Eboshidake Garden)
• The area around Mt. Eboshi Observatory
• Sasebo Seaside Park
• Yumihari-dake Observatory

It was a perfect course that took us from an expansive mountaintop plaza to a harbor-side park, and finally to a breathtaking panoramic observatory.

Our first stop, “Kaze to Hoshi no Hiroba” (Plaza of Wind and Stars), is a grassy field located near the summit of Mt. Eboshi, the highest peak in Sasebo City. It’s well-known as a nature-watching spot where you can also enjoy birdwatching.

In the back seat, Elmo was his usual self, alternating between staring out the window and dozing off. I felt a mix of excitement and a little nervousness about the mountain roads as our drive began.

Kaze to Hoshi no Hiroba (Eboshidake Garden): A Massive, Private Stroll on a Giant Lawn

The drive up the mountain was a bit of a nail-biter. The signs were somewhat confusing, and as we wound through the curves, I found myself thinking, “Are we actually on the right path?” Elmo, however, didn’t share my concerns—he was far too busy sniffing the air coming through the window.

When we finally arrived at the Kaze to Hoshi no Hiroba parking lot, my first thought was:

“Wait, the parking lot is huge, but… isn’t this plaza way too big?”

The scale was simply immense. Beyond a parking lot that fits about 40 cars, a vast carpet of grass stretched out before us. Even under the cloudy sky, the sheer size was overwhelming.

Moreover, because it was quite overcast, the sky looked rather moody. There wasn’t a soul in sight, making us wonder if we had the whole place to ourselves. The only other person we saw was someone walking a Golden Retriever far in the distance. For an outing with Elmo, this was actually the perfect situation.

Elmo, still on his leash, trotted across the grass, busy with his “inspections”:

• Sniffing every inch of the ground
• Occasionally looking back at me with a face that said, “This place is huge, isn’t it?”
• Squinting and pausing whenever a strong gust of wind blew by

He was incredibly cute.

The edge of the plaza is dotted with gazebos and benches, making it feel like a fantastic spot for a picnic on a sunny day. Although the clouds made the sky a bit dim, it actually added to the silence, giving us a wonderful, cozy sense of being “just us and Elmo on top of the mountain.”

Mt. Eboshi Observatory: Feeling the Mountain Ridges and Intense Winds

The Mt. Eboshi Observatory is just a short distance from Kaze to Hoshi no Hiroba. There is a parking area and an observation space just a quick walk from the plaza, so we made sure to stop by.

Mt. Eboshi stands at 568 meters and is an iconic mountain often referred to as “Sasebo Fuji.” The area near the summit is designated as part of the Saikai National Park, offering a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountain ranges.

…However, on this day, the wind was incredible. The moment we stepped onto the observation deck, we were hit with a blast of air.

“Is the wind even stronger here than at the plaza? And it’s freezing!”

Elmo’s ears were flapping and fluttering in the wind, which gave us all a good laugh.

As for the view, you can see the distant mountains, but rather than a “spectacular panoramic vista,” it felt more like a place to “experience the winter mountain air and wind with your whole body.” After walking around for a bit, Elmo seemed to lose his enthusiasm due to the wind and decided to just sit down right at my feet.

It was a cute moment in its own right, but we decided not to push our luck and cut the summit visit short to head to our next spot.

(Note: Nearby, there is also “Dog Run Eboshi,” a registration-based dog park that seems great for dogs who really need to burn off energy.)

Sasebo Seaside Park: A Relaxed Harbor Stroll Past Whale and Anchor Monuments

After experiencing the cold mountain winds, we headed straight down to the coast. Our next stop was “Sasebo Seaside Park,” a park developed right next to the harbor behind the Kujirase Wharf.

This park features:

• A whale monument
• A large anchor sculpture
• A promenade and benches overlooking the harbor

It offers a classic view characteristic of the port city of Sasebo.

We parked the car and took a leisurely stroll through the park with Elmo. Perhaps because we had just been under the cloudy mountain sky, the open view of the harbor and the scent of the sea suddenly made me feel like, “Ah, we’re really on a trip.”

Elmo thoroughly enjoyed the harbor walk:

• Sniffing under the whale sculpture
• Exploring around the base of the anchor
• Occasionally staring out at the sea (likely enjoying the scents carried by the sea breeze)

There are some small eateries around the park, so it seems like a great place to grab a light meal and then continue your walk. It’s also featured on travel sites as a popular spot for dog owners to enjoy a harbor stroll in Sasebo. The atmosphere felt less like a tourist trap and more like a place where locals come for a casual walk—the perfect size for a relaxed outing with Elmo.

Yumihari-dake Observatory: A Breathtaking View of Sasebo and Contrails

The grand finale of our day was the “Yumihari-dake Observatory.” It was even more stunning than I had imagined and was undoubtedly the highlight of the drive. (The photos used here were taken on a different, sunny day.)

Located at the 364-meter summit of Mt. Yumihari, this observatory offers a panoramic view in three directions:

• West: The Goto-nada Sea and the Kujukushima Islands
• South: The winding inlets of Sasebo Port
• East: The cityscape of Sasebo

It is highly recommended by Sasebo’s official tourism site as a top scenic spot for both day and night, and it has even been selected as one of the “Top 100 Night Views in Japan.”

The area around the observatory is quite spacious, making it perfect for walking a dog. We did a full loop while taking in the scenery with Elmo.

On this day, the several contrails stretching across the sky were particularly striking. Seeing the white lines layered over the sprawling city below made the sky look like a scene from a movie. While Elmo was more interested in checking the scents at his feet than the view (haha), just having him sit beside me made me incredibly happy, thinking, “I’m getting to see this view together with Elmo.”

The observatory building is clean and well-maintained, and I felt that this spot alone is worth a dog-friendly drive. The daytime view is spectacular, but it’s the kind of place that makes you want to come back for the night view and the starry sky.

Mountain Breezes and Harbor Winds—The Ultimate Sasebo Dog-Friendly Drive

This Sasebo driving excursion was a “best of both worlds” course, covering both the mountains and the sea:

• A nearly private stroll on the massive lawn of Kaze to Hoshi no Hiroba under a cloudy sky.
• Feeling the strong winds and crisp mountain air at the nearby Mt. Eboshi Observatory.
• A harbor walk at Sasebo Seaside Park, admiring the whale and anchor monuments.
• A final, breathtaking view of Sasebo and the contrails at Yumihari-dake Observatory.

While the weather wasn’t perfectly sunny—in fact, it was cloudy, windy, and a bit chilly—that actually meant there were fewer people, which was a stroke of luck that allowed us to walk with Elmo at our own pace.

• If you want a vast lawn for a relaxed walk: Kaze to Hoshi no Hiroba
• If you want a harbor-town vibe: Sasebo Seaside Park
• If you want to see the entire city of Sasebo: Yumihari-dake Observatory

Visiting these three as a set really makes you appreciate how Sasebo has it all—mountains, sea, and city.

Elmo, having soaked up the mountain and harbor breezes with his whole body, was out like a light once we got home. Watching his sleeping face, I thought to myself, “I want to take him on this drive again when the season changes.”

For anyone planning a drive toward Sasebo with their dog, I highly recommend this “Kaze to Hoshi no Hiroba → Harbor Walk → Yumihari-dake” course.