On Okushiri, a long history of settlement, coastal rituals, beech forest and activities in clear waters come together. When planning your trip, you can choose different focuses: history and remembrance, natural forests, hiking or water sports. You can explore the island by rental car or bicycle; on foot, the Okushiri Island Footpath trails are also an option. The themes you choose to focus on give your trip its own character.

An island with a long history

People have lived on Okushiri since the early Jōmon period, about 8,000 years ago. Numerous valuable archaeological sites and finds have been discovered on the island. This long history of settlement adds a historical perspective to the natural and coastal themes: Okushiri can be explored not only through its landscapes and water activities, but also through traces of early human settlement. The approximate date reaches far back in time, while the archaeological finds make the connection to the island tangible.

Sainokawara: Remembrance by the water

The Sainokawara Festival is held every June as a memorial ceremony at Sainokawara. Many people come there to pray, and lanterns are also set afloat on the water. The ritual gives the place a special cultural significance. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the event dates for your travel year.

Sainokawara Park is located in the area of Inaho Cape at the northern end of Okushiri Island and is also set up as a campsite. The site combines an outdoor stay with a place of remembrance, which is the reason for the June festival.

Miyazu Benten Shrine and its 164 steps

Miyazu Benten Shrine also tells of the relationship between islanders and the sea: the shrine dates back to a structure built in 1831 for prayers for a good catch. It stands at the tip of a steep cape jutting out into the sea. There are 164 steps leading up to the shrine, and from there you can see Hokkaido, Japan’s main island. Its date of origin, purpose as a place of prayer and location on the cape make it a distinct cultural point of interest on the island. The number of steps also gives you a clear sense of the climb.

Beech forest and walking trails

The Okushiri Island Beech Forest Biotic Community Protection Forest protects and manages natural forests characterized by beech trees and home to regionally distinctive biological communities. This brings the forest’s distinctive nature into focus alongside the coast. Beech trees define the forest, while the communities living there give it ecological significance that extends beyond individual tree species.

For hiking, the Okushiri Island Footpath includes three routes on Okushiri Island. Together with the option of exploring the island by rental car or bicycle, this offers different ways to discover the island: on foot along a hiking route or in a rented vehicle.

The clear “Okushiri Blue”

The sea around Okushiri Island is known as “Okushiri Blue.” Activities such as sea kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are available there; visibility in the clear water extends to a depth of 25 metres. Alongside hiking and forest experiences, you can also choose activities on the water.

When making your selection, you can weigh up the different focuses: the island’s early history and memorial ceremony, beech forest and hiking trails, or activities on the sea. Rental cars and bicycles are other ways to explore Okushiri. This lets you plan around the topics that interest you most, without combining cultural sites, nature and the sea into a single itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Asahikawa, Kamifurano, Teshikaga, Ashoro District, Tomakomai, Sorachi District, Oshidomari, Minamifurano.

For the main travel overview: Hokkaido.