Visit the Oki Islands

18/10/2024

Oki’s traditional sumo was recently featured on NHK WORLD!
Okinoshima Town has a sister-city relationship with Poland, where sumo is also popular.
To commemorate this event, sumo wrestlers from Poland were invited to participate in the traditional sumo celebration.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20241016210312599/
Check it out!

＃sumo

14/08/2024

It is the week of Obon and we have been seeing a lot of homecomers and visitors on the islands! The ferries are probably jam-packed!

We have just uploaded a couple new articles on to our website; majority of them are about getting around the islands using the public bus there, and one of them, is about Oki Traditional Sumo, which is going to be held on 14 – 15 September, 2024.
Make sure to check them out and use them to help you plan your island escape!

1. Oki Traditional Sumo: 1200 years of history and characteristics
https://visit-okiislands.e-oki.net/features/11292/

2. How to Catch a Bus in the Oki Islands
https://visit-okiislands.e-oki.net/features/10923/

3. Half Day Trip in Okinoshima Town (Fuse Area) by Bus and Hiking
https://visit-okiislands.e-oki.net/features/11094/

4. One Day Trip in Okinoshima Town (Tsudo and Tsuma) by Bus and Hiking
https://visit-okiislands.e-oki.net/features/10874/

5. Takuhi Shrine Hiking Trip by Bus
https://visit-okiislands.e-oki.net/features/10458/

6. Journey to the Summit of Chibu by Bus and Hiking
https://visit-okiislands.e-oki.net/features/11252/

7. Visit the Highlights of Chibu: Mt. Akahage and Sekiheki (Red Cliff)
https://visit-okiislands.e-oki.net/features/11142/

04/08/2024

Hatsumi Coffee

Nestled quietly in the Tsuma area, about a 15-minute drive from Saigo Port, Hatsumi Coffee is a charming old house café. Enjoy homemade cookies, steamed bread, and drinks by the owner at very reasonable prices. One of the rooms in the house is used as a café space, making it easy to lose track of time and stay longer than planned.

Business Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 9 AM - 4 PM
Closed
Wednesday, Sunday

Menu
Coffee (Hot) - 300 yen
Coffee (Iced) - 400 yen
Café au lait - 400 yen
Tea - 400 yen
Seasonal Juice - from 300 yen
Steamed Bread - 100 yen per bag
Cookies - 100 yen per bag

★Please order at least one drink per person.
★Information as of August 2024. Menu items and prices may change.

23/07/2024

🎉 Join us for the Kinnyamonya Festival on August 31st! 🎉

Experience the biggest event in Ama Town, where locals and visitors dance to the traditional folk song “Kinnyamonya,” holding shamoji rice spoons. The festival takes place at Hishiura Port, with food stalls offering delicious local specialties.

At the MC's signal, dancers gather and parade around the venue, creating a rhythmic sound with the clapping of wooden shamoji spoons. Dance with your group or join the “Tobiiri” group, where everyone is welcome to show off their best Kinnyamonya moves! The evening ends with a spectacular fireworks display lighting up the night sky over Hishiura Port.

Program:

3:00 PM: Opening Ceremony & Mochi Tossing
3:30 PM: Island Stage Events
5:00 PM: Raffle
7:00 PM: Kinnyamonya Parade
8:00 PM: Fireworks
*Please note that the schedule is subject to change.

02/07/2024

We are still in the midst of the rainy season over here on the islands but the beach corner is just around the corner! 🏖
Check out the dates for the 2024 season, safety tips and notes on essential etiquette; because not all beaches are the same.

Stay cool and sea you soon! 😎

Article here
↓↓↓↓

Splash your summer away here on the Oki Islands! One of the most popular summer activities on the Oki Islands is, of course, going to the beach! Diving into the cool summer sea is so enjoyable after a long (or short) day out under the summer sun. Here in Oki, we have a good collection of beaches whe...

28/06/2024

Today, I’d like to introduce a charming café and variety store called "Kuragedo," located just a 5-minute walk from the Nishinoshima island ferry terminal. "Kurage" means jellyfish in Japanese. Since it is written with the Chinese characters for "sea" and "moon," their logo probably represents an image of the moon and waves.
This establishment has been renovated from an old elementary school building and houses an antique shop. The store offers an interesting selection of unique goods, antiques, and pottery made in the "Takuhigama" from a local pottery studio on Nishinoshima island.
The recommended item is the homemade cheesecake, which has a rich flavor that pairs perfectly with coffee. The shortbread made with rice flour and seaweed salt is also delightful with its gentle taste.
 
Instagram: 
OPEN:10:00 AM~4:00 PM
Closed day: Thursday ＆ Friday
 
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Sightseeing spots, festivals, etc.
Sending out a frame of Oki 🌏
For a list of posts, visit ➡︎
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#島根3696

22/06/2024

The rainy season has finally arrived.
While the sunlit vistas of the Oki Islands are breathtaking, the rainy days have their own charm.
I recently watched a film set in a serene rural town surrounded by marshlands, and I captured a moment that evokes its beautiful landscapes. Here’s today’s photo.

20/06/2024

🎇Notice of Fireworks Festival 🎆
DATE: 11 August, SUN
Food Stalls : From 7:00 PM
Fireworks : From 8:00 PM
Location : Around Saigo Port(Okinoshima Town Ferry Terminal)

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Sightseeing spots, festivals, etc.
Sending out a frame of Oki 🌏
For a list of posts, visit ➡︎
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We are pleased to announce the annual Fireworks Festival, a summer tradition in Okinoshima Town.
This year, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Okinoshima Town’s merger, we are truly spectacular. Many food stalls will be set up, so please come and enjoy the festivals!

18/06/2024

Mt. Takuhi is the tallest mountain in Nishinoshima Town and in all Dōzen Islands (452 m).⛰

Close to its summit is Takuhi Shrine, which is partially built inside a cave! Takuhi Shrine has been designated Important Cultural Property of Japan. This shrine is dedicated to the deity of safe sea voyages. ⛩🗾

The beautiful hike up to the shrine takes about 15 minutes from the car park.

#隠岐にいり

10/06/2024

Today we’d like to share a Chez Sawa restaurant in Chibu  Village. This French restaurant is in a traditional Japanese house and is hard to find. It is a nice hideaway old Japanese house. Chea SAWA is also a farm-to-kitchen restaurant; the herbs and vegetables are harvested in their garden, they foster chickens, and all the seafood is locally fished.
 
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Sightseeing spots, festivals, etc.
Sending out a frame of Oki 🌏
For a list of posts, visit ➡︎
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07/06/2024

Tonight, we would like to share 's X post.
Quoting what she said, it felt like she had been walking in heaven or the afterlife all this time. That's a very poetic expression.　
S/he is active as a painter in Japan.
Thank you for letting us to share your post @ !

#隠岐にいり

18/05/2024

Today, we would like to share with you a photo posted by ayame at X.
This beautiful photo went viral. Thank you ayame san for letting us to share your photo!

Instagram:
X:

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Sightseeing spots, festivals, etc.
Sending out a frame of Oki 🌏
For a list of posts, visit ➡︎
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#隠岐にいり

09/05/2024

The Mizuwakasu Shrine Festival was held on May 3.
At this festival, the “Yama-hiki-shinji, a ritual to pray for good health, is carried out.A large festival float symbolizing a mythical Chinese mountain of eternal youth and decorated with a crane and a tortoise (symbols of longevity) is pulled around the shrine grounds by adults and children from the area.
After the ritual, Kagura Shinto Dances, Shishi-mai（Lion Dance）, and horseback archery are performed. Each of these is characterized by a style that has been handed down on the island from long ago.
The weather was beautiful on the festival day, and many people came to watch.

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Sightseeing spots, festivals, etc.
Sending out a frame of Oki 🌏
For a list of posts, visit ➡︎
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#隠岐にいり

26/04/2024

🎉🎉EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT🎉🎉

"Chiburijima Island Walk & Cruise"

Come and join us for a half-day tour, where you will explore the eastern side of the island on foot and from the sea! The tour starts at Kurii Port, and after visiting Watatsu Shrine, located on the uninhabited Shimazushima Island, participants will then get on the sightseeing boat for an enjoyable cruise to Sekiheki (Red Cliff).

Here are the details:

Date: 25 May (Saturday)

Time: 11:00am - 3:00pm

Participation Fee: JPY 5000 per adult, JPY 3000 per child (primary school student)
*Transportation costs to and from Chiburijima Island are not included.

Special Bento Box Lunch: JPY 1,100 (if you are interested, please place an order)

Itinerary:
11:00 Start at Kurii Port. Kawai Guardian Deity Water Spring, Amasashihiko-no-Mikoto (Ikku) Shrine
12:10 Arrive at Chiburi Terrace (Lunch)
12:40 Leave Chiburi Terrace
13:10 Arrive at Shimazushima Island
14:00 Sightseeing cruise to Sekiheki
14:40 Arrive at Kurii Port

The tour will be cancelled in case of bad weather.
The decision will be made the day before the tour and participants will be contacted by phone.
If the sightseeing boat has to be cancelled due to weather conditions, a bus will take you to Mt. Akahage as an alternative.

Don't miss the opportunity to take in the scenery of Sekiheki, a designated national place of scenie beauty and natural monument, from the sea!

For more information or enquiries, contact Island Tourism Association :
TEL: 08514-8-2272 / Mail: [email protected]

Reservation form: https://forms.gle/2JBphocJwedKybHG6
Reservation deadline: 18 May (Saturday), 5:00 PM

We hope to see you there!😄

17/04/2024

"Be at one with the sky and sea while glamping in Nakanoshima Island, part of a UNESCO Global Geopark!"
Are you a nature lover? TADAYOI Ama Glamping might be the perfect place for you to stay during your adventures in the Oki Islands!
We invite everyone to check out the newest article from the "Japan's Local Treasures" article series published by Japan National Tourism Organization.
https://www.japan.travel/en/japans-local-treasures/glamping-remote-oki-islands-2023/

Be at one with the sky and sea while glamping in Nakanoshima Island, part of a UNESCO Global Geopark

12/04/2024

New Promotion Video! Immerse in Nature on the Hidden Isles | Coexistence

The deep connections that exist here between nature and the daily lives of people on the Oki Islands have inspired the theme of this video—”Coexistence”.
We would like to sincerely thank all who have been involved in creating this video! We hope that it conveys the spirit of the islands to our international friends and inspires more people to visit these “hidden isles”.

Located approximately 60 km north of the border between the prefectures of Shimane and Tottori (Japan), the Oki Islands encompass approximately 180 islands in total, including 4 inhabited islands.
The environment surrounding the Oki Islands, including marine life, fisheries, and diverse human activities, is recognized as the Oki Islands UNESCO Global Geopark.

The Oki Islands, with their rich history and culture, have many such traditions which have been passed down through generations. Uniquely Oki, the traditions and culture of the islands have been preserved and inherited by the islanders with pride. There are more than 100—big and small—shrines and temples here with numerous hyperlocal festivals organized throughout the year.

*About Renge-e-mai Dances which appear throughout the video:
Held every year on 21 April at Oki Kokubun-ji Temple, these traditional dances are designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan. Renge-e-mai Dances are a collection of Buddhist dances (seven are performed nowadays) and each dance tells a story. Dancers are dressed in colourful costumes and the masks they wear are believed to have South East Asian roots.

Produced by Shimane Prefecture in Japan
©Shimane Prefecture

Immerse in nature and admire the beautiful scenery sculpted by the Earth. The unique history and culture of the Oki Islands (Japan) have been shaped by the e...

09/04/2024

Event Announcement: Kuniga Biraki Festa and Kuniga Biraki SNS Campaign 2024

The cherry blossoms on the islands are blooming merrily🌸; spring is here on the Oki Islands!
Which also means it’s that time of the year again – Kuniga Biraki Festa🎉!

Organised by Nishinoshima Tourism Association, Kuniga Biraki Festa is a series of events held in Nishinoshima Town in April. Kuniga Biraki, which literally means “the opening of Kuniga” in Japanese, announces the beginning of the tourism season in Nishinoshima Town, and here is the lineup for 2024:

1. Yozakura: Cherry Blossoms Illuminated at Night🌸
The cherry blossom season is late this year, but we’re in the midst of it right now! If you’re around these few days, don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the experience at:
-Yurahime Shrine (Uragō area)
-Kuroki-gosho Imperial Residence Site (Beppu area)
-Mita Hachiman Shrine (near Beppu Port)
The lights will be on from 6:30pm to 9pm daily. If your accommodation facility is located near the above locations, make sure to go and immerse yourself in the tranquillity and magical atmosphere.
*The streets on the island are quite dark at night, so a torch/flashlight 🔦 (the one on your smartphone will do) will come in handy.
*Please be considerate of the residents near the cherry blossom sites when visiting, and try to keep noise to a minimum.

2. Kuniga Clean Up🧹
The annual spring coastal cleanup event at Kuniga Coast is going to be held on 14 April (Sunday). Gloves and drinks will be provided by the organizer, so all you have to bring is your hat, sunscreen and shades! The cleanup event will start at 9:00am and volunteers are required to check in by 8:50am, at the pavilion at Kuniga Bay. If you are not sure where to go, just follow the other local volunteers!
There’s also a special offer after the cleanup event. There will be a short, 30-minute Kuniga Sightseeing Cruise🛥, and participants of the cleanup event get to go on it for FREE😎!
*If you are planning to go to the event by bus, please alight at “Yura-shako” (bus terminal) and continue to Kuniga Bay on foot.

3. Sunset Café 🌅
This outdoor café at Kuniga Bay Car Park is going to be held on 20 April (Saturday), from 5:30pm to 7:00pm. Other than complimentary tea and coffee☕, and delicious homemade baked goods provided by a local group, there will also be some food stalls selling snacks and drinks! Fingers crossed the weather is going to be perfect for everyone to enjoy the magical hour at Kuniga Coast!
A complimentary shuttle (taxi) service will be available on that day. If you are planning to grab a drink at the Sunset Café or go for one after, please use the shuttle service.
*Reservations are required for the shuttle service. Please contact Nishinoshima Tourism Association by 18 April (Thursday). Check out the flyer for the schedule.

Together with Kuniga Biraki Festa, there’s also the Kuniga Biraki SNS Campaign! Post on your socials and get a gift; what a deal! Here’s how to do it:
1. Visit Nishinoshima Town and go to Kuniga Coast.
2. Capture the moment at Kuniga Coast (pictures or videos) 📷
3. Post on your public social media account, with hashtags such as
4. Go to the office of Nishinoshima Tourism Assocation, and show their staff you have followed their socials and posted on yours.
5. Get your gift🎁! The squid printed on the souvenirs is called Kacchan, and it is the official mascot of Nishinoshima Town.

Share with us and your friends the beauty of Kuniga Coast, and see you there at the Kuniga Biraki Festa events😁!

06/04/2024

Discover the Oki Islands With a Local Guide
Today we highlight one of our guides, David, who lives in Chibu Village (Chiburijima Island). Read the interview and get to know David!
https://visit-okiislands.e-oki.net/features/9077/

The tour guides on the Oki Islands, each with their unique expertise, are all professionals. A tour with them will take you on a journey through time of the Oki Islands.
The local guides will ensure that travelers who came all the way here will go home with a better understanding of the islands. From the overwhelming dynamism of the Earth to the small daily rituals passed down generations, there are many things that one simply cannot understand merely by looking. By joining a guided tour, the scenery in front of you becomes more vivid, and details become more visible.

Visit Japan International

“The name of the island sounds similar to the world-famous Japanese animation studio; it feels somewhat nostalgic and fantasy-like.”