Dōzen Caldera There are three islands Nakanoshima Island in this caldera: was the Dōzen Caldera formed? United Nations Oki Islands Educational, Scientific and UNESCO English Nishinoshima Cultural Organization Global Geopark Dozen Islands Nakanoshima Chiburijima Island of Rich Land and History The Do¯zen Islands were formed by volcanic activity 6.3-5.3 million years ago, resulting in many geological structures and rock formations typical of a 1. Saburō-iwa Rocks 3. Utsuka-no-mikoto Shrine 1) Eruption 2) Formation 3) Mt. Takuhi 4) Flooding Nishinoshima Island volcanic origin. This landscape consists of a large volcanic These three rocks look like three This shrine is dedicated to (6.3 Million of Caldera Eruption of Caldera depression (caldera), which has filled with seawater to become a Years Ago) (5.4 Million brothers standing in a row in the Utsuka-no-mikoto, the deity of calm inland sea. sea north-east of Hishiura Port. On bountiful harvests, maritime safety Years Ago) GEOPARK the top of these sea-eroded basalt and safe childbirth, and is one of the rocks are small groves of green four most important shrines in the Unique Landscape Created by trees that resemble bonsai trees. Oki Islands. Utsuka-no-mikoto has You can see them from the Oki been worshipped by the people of Kisen Ferry Line, the AMANBOW Underwater Viewing Boat, Oki since ancient times. According to the creation myth of the the Dōzen Caldera and the Sea of Japan Recommended Course or on a sea kayak tour. Akiya Coast, this deity fought a battle of strength against the deity of Ōyama Shrine in order to marry the deity of Hinamachi-hime Shrine (Hinamachi-hime-no-mikoto) in 1. Kuroki Imperial Residence Site 1-1. Hekifū-kan Museum Do¯zen Islands 2. Yakumo Square Nishinoshima. This site is located at the peak of This museum near the Kurogi A walk around the charming 4. Akiya Coast Mt. Tennō, which ofers a beautiful Imperial Residence Site features Kurī Port → Mt. Akahage → Sekiheki Clif → Ikku Shrine → Shōyō-ji Temple Hishiura Port will lead you to this view over Beppu Port. It is said that materials about Emperor Godaigo, → Guardian Deity Spring Group → Himemiya Shrine → Kurī Port square named after Lafcadio Hearn Splashes of bright red on the steep Emperor Godaigo resided here for who was exiled to the Oki Islands (Yakumo Koizumi), a famous clif face contrast beautifully with the more than a year before he and is said to have lived in international author who became a blue sea along this coast, named so escaped from the islands. The Nishinoshima before escaping back Hishiura Port → Yakumo Square → Oki Shrine → Mt. Kinkōji → Akiya Coast Japanese citizen. Hearn visited the after a legend in which a deity from → Tengawa-no-mizu Spring → Miho Shrine → Kirogasaki Cape → Hishiura Port Nishinoshima (Hinamachi-hime-no Emperor was exiled to the Oki to the mainland. Poetry written by Oki Islands on vacation with his GLOBAL -mikoto) gave birth here. The Islands during the Genkō Era in 1332 after failing to the emperor that depict the scenery from Mt. Tennō are also wife in 1892 and wrote about it in his book ‘Glimpses of overthrow the Kamakura Shōgunate (military regime). surrounding geological features on display here. Opening Hours: 9:00 - 16:00, April - October, Unfamiliar Japan – From Hoki to Oki'. During their vacation, were said to have been created by this legendary event. You Nearby are other historical sites and the Hekifū-kan Closed: Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday) Beppu Port Kurogi Imperial Residence Site Mt. Takuhi Yurahime Shrine the beautiful and mirror-like Hishiura Bay attracted his Museum. → → → can see scoria, volcanic projectiles and other volcanic matter Entry: Adult ￥300, High-School/University Student ￥200, → Onimai Lookout → Akao Lookout → Tsūtenkyō Arch → Matengai Clif → Beppu Port attention and he named it Kagami-ga-ura (Mirror Inlet). along the trail on the coast. At the end of the trail you can see Elementary/Junior High School Student ￥150 a small heart-shaped hole in the rock, which was created by 2. Nishinoshima Furusato-kan Museum erosion. This museum features many interesting displays about the 5. Mt. Kinkō-ji Temple history, nature and culture of After a quarrel, Ono-no-Takamura, Nishinoshima. A visit here will give the vice-envoy to T'ang China, you a deeper understanding of the feigned illness to avoid boarding island. Opening Hours: 9:00 - 16:00, the boat that was headed towards April - October, Closed: Monday (or T'ang. This avoidance of duty Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday) Entry: Adult ￥300, Ferry incurred the anger of Emperor Saga Fast Ferry High-School/University Student ￥200, Elementary/Junior who exiled him to Toyoda in Ama UNESCO High School Student ￥150 Town in 838. While Ono-no-Takamura was on the island, he Saburō-iwa Rocks retired to the Rokusha-gongen of Mt. Kinkō-ji Temple where 3. Mita Dam 434.6 Mimi-ura Beach he prayed for his reinstatement to the capital and carved 1 Buddhist statues. Around this dam you can see lake Mimiura Campground sediments from around 18 million Kurogi Imperial Residence Site 6. Oki Shrine years ago, the oldest rock in the 1 3 Uzuka-no-mikoto Shrine Dōzen Islands. For many years, this Hekifu-kan Museum This shrine was built in April 1939 easily workable green-colored rock 5 Kuniga Coast 1-1 to deify Emperor Gotoba on the (known as Mita Rock) was mined 4 Funabiki Canal Mt.Tsuno Akiya Coast Swimming Beach 700th anniversary of his death. The from here and used as a building Kuniga Coast 126.2 4 Akiya Coast emperor was exiled to Oki after material. The Mita Dam is also a popular place for watching 6 Akiya Coast Campground losing the Jōkyu Rebellion in 1221. Sightseeing Boat Tour It is said that he lived on Oki until frefies in early summer. Soto hama Beach Beppu Port Hishiura Port he passed away 19 years later in Matengai Clif Rainbow Beach Mt. Kinkō-ji Temple February 1239. 4. Funabiki Canal 5 Tsu¯tenkyō Arch Mt.Yugi Yakumo Square ISLANDS This narrow 340m long canal cuts 224.0 6-1. Ama Town Museum of Local History and Culture through central Nishinoshima. Before the canal was made, the Uragō 2 This museum contains records Akao Lookout 246.2 Mt.Tada related to Emperor Gotoba, who boats had to be laboriously 8 226.5 Ōyama lived in Oki with his entourage until transported overland in order to Yura 7 Tengawa-no-mizu Spring reach the Sea of Japan from the 2 Nishinoshima Furusato-kan his death in Ama Town in 1239. It also Inner Sea. This is said to have been 7 Shimane-bana Campground Museum Oki Shrine contains artifacts discovered in Ama, 6 including bronze swords and the inspiration for naming the surrounding town Funakoshi Yurahime Shrine 3 Mita Dam earthenware. Opening Hours: 8:30 - OKI (Boat Crossing). 6-1 Ama Town Museum Mt.Kumano Shakunoe 147.3 17:00, 21 March - 20 November Entry: Individual ￥300, Group Chichī (15 or more) 250 5. Kuniga Coast ￥ The view from atop this 257m-high 452.0 7. Tengawa-no-mizu Spring sea clif along the Kuniga Coast is Furo-ya Beach breathtaking. The many interesting 9 Akekure-no-iwaya Sea Cavern On his visit to the Oki Islands during the rock formations of the coast are the Nara Period (710 - 794), the Buddhist Welcome to the Oki Islands UNESCO Global Geopark! 11 Mt. Takuhi Priest Gyōki heard the sound of running result of volcanic activity and water from a cave in the forest. He felt subsequent erosion from the sea the aura of the spring water and named and wind. There is a 2.3km walking it Tengawa-no-mizu, "Water of the track along the Kuniga Coast which is listed as one of the Ōi Heavenly River". Springs like this can be Top 100 Walking Tracks of Japan. It takes you from the top 10 Onimai Lookout found in many places throughout Ama Town. The land has of Matengai Clif down along the coast to a natural rock abundant sources of underground water, which has helped The beautiful Oki Islands are located in the Sea of Japan. On these small arch called the Tsūtenkyō Arch (Bridge to Heaven) and a cultivate rich and fertile land. The spring has been designated as group of strangely-shaped rocks known as Tenjyō-kai one of the Top 100 Exquisite and Well-Conserved Waters of and isolated islands, you can experience some of the strong connections (Heavenly World). 8 Miho Shrine Shimane Prefecture by the Ministry of the Environment. between the Earth, living things and humankind. 6. Kuniga Coast Sightseeing Boat Tour 8. Miho Shrine On this boat tour you can get up 7 Himemiya Shrine Emperor Gotoba was exiled to Oki in close to the impressive Kuniga 9 Kirogasaki Cape 1221 after his defeat in the Jōkyu Introduction Coast. If the sea is calm you will Rebellion. Due to very stormy seas Oki features a natural and cultural landscape also enter the Akekure-no-iwaya they were forced to take shelter at unlike anywhere else. The many stunning Sea Cavern. The boat tour runs Kurī Port Kirogasaki Cape. While his men were geological landscapes of the islands tell the story from April - October when the searching for a place to stay, the weather and sea conditions are of how the islands were formed; from being part Lifestyle and Mt. Akahage Height Above Sea Level Emperor waited close by at what is Unique Ecosystem good.