About 3,000 years ago, andesite lava flowed westward from a crater on Mt. Chōkai, reaching the sea between Kosagawa and Mega and forming this coast.

The lava flow was around 60 m thick in the area around the coast; you can see this thickness from the observation point. The lava flow is also clearly identifiable in aerial photographs because of its well-preserved terrain.

The former road to Mt. Misaki is said to be steeper than the road to Mt. Hakone (Kanagawa Prefecture) and was known as the most difficult road on the Sea of Japan coast. This history is reflected in place names such as “Jigokudani” (hell valley), “Komanakase” (crying piece), and “Kutsukake” (shoe rest). In the Edo period (1603–1868), the famous poet Matsuo Bashō and cartographer Inō Tadataka also passed through this area.

The current walking trail is about 1.5 km long.