Kono Shrine sits at the northern tip of the bay, just above where the cable car arrives at Kasamatsu Park. It is one of the oldest shrines in the Tango region, with records going back to the 9th century, and it is dedicated to the deities of the sea and safe travel — fitting for a place built around a peninsula stretching into a bay.
The shrine's forest setting is serene, with towering cedar trees and a traditional vermilion gate. From the shrine grounds you get good views of the northern end of the sandbar and the mouth of the bay. It's worth spending a few minutes here before or after taking in the matanozoki viewpoint just below.