The Oki Islands offer tourist attractions such as Matsushima, sightseeing events such as the Sominshoji, and local delicacies such as yakuzen cuisine.
The Oki Islands refer to the islands on the northern side of the Shimane Peninsula. Although currently positioned as a part of Shimane Prefecture, at that time they were independent as Oki Province. The four main islands are Chiburi Island, Nakanoshima, Nishinoshima, and Shimago. However, there are a total of 180 islands, both large and small.
The history of the Oki Islands is very old, and there are traces of human habitation as early as the Jomon period. There are also records of active exchanges with the mainland since that time, and stone and earthenware artifacts have been excavated.
The area is also known as a place of exile, and there are records of many historical figures who were exiled there. For example, there are records that the emperors Go-Toba and Go-Daigo, who were at the height of their glory at the time, were exiled to the island. The island has a very long history and is often mentioned in records.
Today, Oki has regular boats for sightseeing and cruises near the island are available. There are also cave tours, and visitors can enjoy the Otohime Goten, Takimi no Iwaya, and Meien no Iwaya. These are so good that they are touted as a major tourism industry in the Oki Islands and are no less than the "Grotta Azulra" of the Caribbean islands. It can be said that you should see them at least once.
Two recommended gourmet foods to enjoy in Oki are "yakimeshi chazuke" (grilled rice with green tea) and "yakuzen ryori" (medicinal herbal dishes). These are traditional dishes that have been handed down in Oki since ancient times.
Yakimeshi chazuke" usually refers to grilled rice balls. In other words, it is a style of eating grilled rice balls as if they were chazuke. In this Oki version, it is served coated with a specialty seasoning known as kojo-yu miso.
The kojo-yu miso is used without crushing the koji, giving it a unique plump texture. Of course, it also goes well with rice. You can also arrange the flavor by adding condiments in a style typical of chazuke. It is definitely worth trying when visiting Oki.
Furthermore, Oki is surrounded by the sea, and it goes without saying that you can also enjoy fresh seafood. Please be sure to taste the bounty of the sea as well.
Yakimeshi Chazuke is a traditional local dish enjoyed in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. In the Oki region, grilled rice balls, which are commonly known as “yaki-onigiri” in Japan, are traditionally called “yakimeshi.” This is where the name of the dish comes from. The dish consists of a fra...»
Oki Soba is a traditional noodle dish that has been enjoyed for generations in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. Unlike many types of Japanese soba, Oki Soba is made with 100% buckwheat flour, without wheat flour or other binding ingredients. Another distinctive feature is its rich broth made f...»
Kanshimame-zuke is a traditional local specialty of Ama Town in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. It is made with fresh Japanese flying squid, or surume-ika, caught in the Sea of Japan and seasoned with a distinctive liver-infused soy sauce marinade made using the squid’s own liver. In Ama Tow...»
Oki Matsuba Snow Crab is one of the most celebrated winter seafood specialties of the Oki Islands in Shimane Prefecture. The waters surrounding the islands are rich in plankton and support a wide variety of marine life, making this area one of Japan's productive fishing grounds. Male Matsuba snow c...»
Shimane Rock Oysters are a prized seafood specialty grown in the rich waters surrounding the Oki Islands in Shimane Prefecture. Unlike the common Pacific oyster, which is generally associated with the winter season, rock oysters are known for being at their best from spring through summer. Some Oki...»
Oki Beef is a premium brand of Japanese Black beef produced in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. Only cattle born and raised in the Oki Islands that meet strict quality standards can be sold under the Oki Beef name. Raised amid the islands’ rich natural environment, the beef is known for its be...»
An Island Shaped by Volcanoes and the Sea Nishinoshima Town is located in Oki District, Shimane Prefecture, on Nishinoshima Island in the Oki Islands, a remote archipelago in the Sea of Japan. The Oki Islands are broadly divided into two areas: Dogo, the largest island, and Dozen, the group of thre...»
A Natural Landmark of the Oki Islands Kuniga Coast is one of the most spectacular natural landscapes in the Oki Islands. Located on the northwestern coast of Nishinoshima Island in Shimane Prefecture, the coastline faces the Sea of Japan and is characterized by dramatic cliffs, unusual rock formati...»
The Matengai Cliffs are spectacular sea cliffs located in Urago, Nishinoshima Town, Oki District, Shimane Prefecture. Rising dramatically above the Sea of Japan, they are one of the most iconic natural attractions of the Oki Islands. The cliffs are part of the Oki UNESCO Global Geopark and Daisen-O...»
Akekure-no-Iwaya is a spectacular sea cave along the Kuniga Coast on Nishinoshima Island in the Oki Islands, Shimane Prefecture. Created by the erosion of volcanic rock over countless years, this remarkable natural tunnel offers one of the most mysterious and thrilling experiences on the coast. The...»
Akao Observatory is a popular scenic viewpoint in Urago, Nishinoshima Town, Oki District, Shimane Prefecture. Located at the end of the Akao Skyline, it offers sweeping views of the Kuniga Coast, one of the most spectacular natural landscapes in the Oki Islands. The observatory is part of an area w...»
Takuhi Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located on the slopes of Mount Takuhi, the highest mountain in the Dozen area of the Oki Islands, Shimane Prefecture. The mountain rises 452 meters above sea level, and the shrine has long been revered as a guardian of safe sea voyages. For centuries, sailo...»
Yurahime Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Urago, Nishinoshima Town, in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. Revered by local people for centuries, it is one of the most important shrines in the region and is traditionally regarded as the Ichinomiya, or highest-ranking shrine, of the f...»
Hinamajihime-no-Mikoto Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine in Nishinoshima Town, in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. Its name appears in ancient Japanese records, reflecting a history of worship that reaches back more than a thousand years. The shrine is listed as a Shikinai-sha, one of the sh...»
Make-no-Mikoto Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Uga, Nishinoshima Town, in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. Long cherished by local residents, the shrine has served as an important place of worship for generations and remains closely connected to everyday life in the community. T...»
Oyama Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Nishinoshima Town in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. It is a particularly fascinating place for experiencing the ancient tradition of nature worship that has been preserved in the Oki Islands. Unlike many Japanese shrines, where the main bu...»
The Deyanna Festival, also known as the “Deyanna Festival” or “Festival of Sacred Brewing,” is a rare traditional Shinto ritual held at Mimiura Shrine in Beppu, Nishinoshima Town, in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. The ceremony is also known as a saké-brewing ritual, in which sacred rice win...»
The Funabiki Canal is an artificial waterway located in Mita, Nishinoshima Town, in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. It connects the open waters of the Sea of Japan with Urago Bay, the sheltered inland sea of the Dozen Islands. The canal is approximately 340 meters long, 12 meters wide, and 3...»
Shara-bune Spirit Boats are part of a traditional Bon festival ceremony that has been preserved in the Mita and Urago districts of Nishinoshima Town in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. The ceremony takes place early in the morning on August 16, when the spirits of ancestors who have been welco...»
Tsutenkyo Bridge is one of the most spectacular natural landmarks along the Kuniga Coast on Nishinoshima Island in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. This magnificent rock arch was created over thousands of years by the powerful waves of the Sea of Japan. The formation was originally a sea cave...»
Sotohama Beach is one of the most popular beaches on Nishinoshima Island in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. It is also a particularly valuable natural sandy beach, as beaches of this kind are relatively rare throughout the Oki Islands. Located beyond the Funabiki Canal, the beach stretches f...»
Oki Dengaku and Niwa-no-Mai are traditional folk performing arts passed down through generations in the Mita and Urago districts of Nishinoshima Town in the Oki Islands, Shimane Prefecture. Deeply rooted in local history and religious traditions, these performances have traditionally been held as pr...»
Chibu Village is the only village municipality in Shimane Prefecture. Located at the southernmost end of the Oki Islands in the Sea of Japan, the village consists mainly of the inhabited island of Chiburijima, along with several uninhabited islands including Kamishima, Asashima, Shimazushima, and Oh...»
Chibu Red Cliff is a spectacular series of towering sea cliffs along the western coast of Chibu Village in the Oki Islands, Shimane Prefecture. Also known as “Akakabe” or “Akadaki,” the cliffs are distinguished by their vivid reddish-brown rock surfaces. Rising approximately 50 to 200 meters above ...»
Mount Akahage is a 325-meter-high mountain in Chibu Village, Shimane Prefecture, and the highest point on Chiburijima Island in the Oki Islands. As its name suggests, the mountain is characterized by broad grasslands with very few trees and gently rolling terrain. The mountain has historically been...»
Shimazu Island is a small, uninhabited island belonging to Chibu Village in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. Located just off the eastern side of Chiburijima, the island stretches approximately 1 km from north to south and 500 meters from east to west. Although small in size, Shimazu Island b...»
Watasu Shrine stands quietly on Shimazushima, an uninhabited island belonging to Chibu Village in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. From Chiburijima, visitors can cross the Omatsu Bridge and follow a nature-rich walking trail to reach the shrine. Surrounded by the peaceful scenery of the islan...»
Omatsu Bridge is a pedestrian-only bridge measuring approximately 50 meters in length that connects Chiburijima with Shimazushima, an uninhabited island in Chibu Village in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. The bridge forms a gentle, elegant arch that blends beautifully with the surrounding la...»
A Beautiful Coastline on Shimazushima Watasu Beach is a beautiful seaside destination on Shimazushima, an uninhabited island located off the eastern side of Chiburijima in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. From Chiburijima, visitors can cross Omatsu Bridge on foot to reach the island. Beyond ...»
A Historic Shrine at the Heart of Chibu Village Amasashihiko-no-Mikoto Shrine, also known as Ichinomiya Shrine, is a historic Shinto shrine located in the Kori district of Chibu Village in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. Standing on a small hill surrounded by peaceful nature, the shrine can ...»
Shoyo-ji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple of the Toji-ha branch of Shingon Buddhism, located in Chibu Village in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. Set on a small mountain surrounded by the rich natural landscape of Chiburijima, the temple offers a peaceful atmosphere where visitors can expe...»
“Kurashi no Shimizu,” a Spring Loved by the Island Community Kawai Spring Water is a famous natural spring located at the foot of Shoyo-ji Temple on Chiburijima in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. Selected as one of the 100 Famous Waters of Shimane, the spring has long been an important sourc...»
Ama Town is an island municipality in Oki District, Shimane Prefecture, located in the Dozen area of the Oki Islands in the Sea of Japan. Centered on Nakanoshima Island, Ama is a unique “one island, one municipality” community where rich natural surroundings and distinctive island traditions continu...»
Oki Shrine stands on Nakanoshima Island in Ama Town, Shimane Prefecture, surrounded by the beautiful natural landscape of the Oki Islands. Dedicated to Emperor Go-Toba, the shrine is one of the most important places associated with the island's history and spiritual culture. Although the present sh...»
Ama Town Gotoba-in Museum is a local history museum in Ama Town, Shimane Prefecture, dedicated primarily to the life and legacy of Emperor Gotoba, who was exiled to the Oki Islands during the Kamakura period. Through historical documents, cultural artifacts, archaeological discoveries, and materials...»
Uzuka-no-Mikoto Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine in Ama Town on Nakanoshima Island in the Oki Islands, Shimane Prefecture. Surrounded by peaceful rice fields and set against a small, densely wooded hill, the shrine has a quiet and sacred atmosphere. From summer into autumn, the white torii gate s...»
Tengawa Water is a clear, abundant spring on Nakanoshima Island in Ama Town, part of the Oki Islands in Shimane Prefecture. Located within Daisen-Oki National Park, the spring flows quietly in a lush natural setting and has long been valued by local residents as both a source of water and a sacred p...»
Oki Dozen Kagura is a traditional form of Japanese sacred performing art that has been passed down for generations on the three islands of the Dozen region of the Oki Islands: Nishinoshima, Nakanoshima, and Chiburijima in Shimane Prefecture. Closely connected with the religious beliefs and everyday...»
A White Lighthouse at the Southernmost Point of Ama Town Kirogasaki Lighthouse stands at the southernmost point of Ama Town on Nakanoshima Island in the Oki Islands, Shimane Prefecture. Surrounded by dramatic coastal scenery, the brilliant white lighthouse stands out beautifully against the blue sk...»
Jokyu Kaido Kinnyamonya Center is a multipurpose facility located beside Hishiura Port in Ama Town, on Nakanoshima Island in the Oki Islands, Shimane Prefecture. As the main ferry and high-speed boat gateway to the town, the center welcomes visitors arriving on the island and serves as an ideal star...»
Shima-ja Joshiki Shop is a friendly local shop located inside the Jokyu Kaido Kinnyamonya Center beside Hishiura Port in Ama Town, Shimane Prefecture. Located at the main gateway to Nakanoshima Island, it is a welcoming place where visitors and local residents naturally come together. The shop is o...»
Underwater Observation Boat “Amanbo” is a popular semi-submersible sightseeing boat operating from Hishiura Port in Ama Town, on Nakanoshima Island in the Oki Islands, Shimane Prefecture. The boat offers a unique way to experience the waters around Ama Town, including the famous Saburo-iwa Rocks, f...»
Yabigawa Kappa Sightseeing Boat is a popular sightseeing cruise in Okinoshima Town on Dogo Island, the largest island in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. The boat gently cruises around the waters near Saigo Port, the main gateway to Dogo, offering visitors a chance to experience the area's nat...»
Nakamura Beach is one of the beautiful seaside destinations on Dogo Island in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. The beach is known for its exceptionally clear blue water, broad white-sand shoreline, and pine trees growing along the coast, creating a classic Japanese landscape known as “hakusha ...»
Yana Pine Grove and Traditional Boathouses is a picturesque coastal attraction in the Tsuma area of Okinoshima Town, in Japan's Oki Islands. The combination of a white sandy beach, a lush pine forest, and rows of traditional wooden boathouses creates a peaceful landscape that offers a glimpse into t...»
Sasaki Family Residence is a historic wooden house in Okinoshima Town, Shimane Prefecture, and is recognized as one of the most valuable examples of traditional residential architecture in the Oki Islands. Built in 1836, during the late Edo period, it was the home of the Sasaki family, who served fo...»
Okinoshima Town is located on Dogo, the largest island in the Oki Islands, approximately 80 kilometers north of the Shimane Peninsula in the Sea of Japan. As part of Oki District in Shimane Prefecture, the town is known for its spectacular natural landscapes, long history, and distinctive island cul...»