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AUG 1 2018

The Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture, a world-renowned natural treasure box (Part 2)

I strolled around Fukuura Beach. I enjoyed a sightseeing boat to Rosoku Island and sea fishing from the harbor. My accommodation for the night was a very warm guesthouse. The food was also very delicious.
画像: 世界が認めた自然の宝石箱、島根県・隠岐諸島(後編)

Ai Nishimura

Administrator of the blog "My Diary," which began in 2004. A writer who has traveled to all 47 prefectures and loves local culture and history.
Author of Shimane's "Geography, Place Names, and Maps" Mysteries (Jitsugyo no Nihonsha), My Town is the "Number One in Japan" Dictionary (PHP Institute), and Prefectures Explained in Neko Neko Japanese History (Jitsugyo no Nihonsha). Official blogger for Suntory Gourmet Guide, official top user for Retty, and official platinum blogger for Excite.

Click here for the first part

Go see the magnificent scenery created by the miracle of nature on the Candle Island sightseeing boat.

The Candle Island sightseeing boat ride is likely to be the main event for anyone visiting Oki Island.
Oki Islands were uplifted by volcanic eruptions and are made of igneous rocks formed from solidified magma. When magma cools and solidifies, it can take on a columnar shape, known as columnar jointing. It is said that these rocks were washed and worn down by the waves, resulting in the candle shape we see today. With a wide end like a Japanese candle and a wick-like shape visible at the top, these are truly strange rock formations in the Sea of Japan.

When the sun is aligned here, it looks like a lit candle, so the Candle Island sightseeing boat departs at this time every day (between April and October), with departure times varying depending on the time of sunset. Reservations for the sightseeing boat must be made by the day before. There are two docks, and the boat will depart from whichever dock you choose on the day, so please inquire with the Okinoshima Town Tourism Association.

Inomoto is a homely guesthouse located very close to the Candle Island sightseeing boat and Fukuura Port.

When we returned from the Candle Island tour at dusk, we checked into the guesthouse Iimoto in Fukuura. I realized after arriving on the island that I had stayed at this guesthouse about 20 years ago when I first went to Oki Island. I remembered being surprised by the amazing fish dinner. It felt like we were staying at the Fukuura family's home. All the fish used in the lavish dishes were caught by Fukuura himself.

While we were eating, my mother asked me, "Do you want to go see the fireflies?" We headed for about 5 minutes from the inn, to the mountainside where clear water flows in the distance. There were no lights from the houses, so we walked in pitch black darkness, relying only on the light from our smartphones. Then we came to a place where fireflies were flying around (sorry for the lack of photos).
I've seen them on the edges of rice paddies, but this was my first time seeing them twinkling high up in the trees in the forest. The Oki fireflies flicker on the tree branches like Christmas lights.
It was a very moving time.

Morning stroll around Fukuura Port. Horse mackerel fishing experience from the quay

When I woke up in the morning, the blue sky after the rain was visible on the Fukuura coast. Although the sea of Oki does not have white sand beaches, the water is quite clear.

Oki Island is known as a "holy land for anglers" and has many anglers. So I asked Minshuku Iinomoto to let me try fishing. I tried to catch horse mackerel, but... well... it seems impossible for an amateur like me. But I could see the horse mackerel from above, so I thought it would be easy to catch them (lol).

The port of Fukuura was very quiet from the morning. Cute cats were also relaxing there.

The guesthouse is run by a sumo family. We will also introduce Mizuwakasu Shrine, where Oki classical sumo wrestling is held and the roof is re-thatched once every 20 years.

Minshuku Iihon has two large pillars on its roof.
This is a pillar of honor that is only awarded to those who win the "Oki Classic Sumo" tournament held in Okinoshima Town.

Sumo tournaments are held every time the island celebrates an event, with matches continuing through the night. Fierce battles unfold, with everyone involved aiming for the coveted highest rank of "Ozeki." Thus, sumo has been popular on Oki since childhood. Even today, Oki is famous for being the place where the sumo world's Hakkaku stable holds its summer training camp, and every year photos of wrestlers packed into a small plane are widely featured on social media.

A large pillar is displayed under the eaves of the house where the winner is an ozeki, and the winner becomes a figure of great respect from those around them.

Oki gourmet near Mizuwakasu Shrine. Oki soba and bomb rice balls at Goka Soseikan's "Kissa Kokage" cafe

We had the Oki Soba Set Meal at Cafe Kokage, located just behind Mizuwakasu Shrine.
Oki soba is one of the Oki gourmet foods. It is served with a broth made from grilled mackerel and topped with bukkake. The soba is thick and black, similar to Izumo soba. Since it is made from 100% buckwheat flour, the finished product is cut into short pieces.

The Bomb Rice Ball is a rice ball made with rock seaweed dipped in soy sauce. The lunch set includes two of these large rice balls, two types of side dishes, and local pickles.
This is one of the shops you should visit together with Mizuwakasu Shrine.

The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.

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Translated by AI