Seeing is Believing: the Fun-Pursuing Adventure Guide in the Oki Islands
Located in the southwest of Okinoshima Town, Tsuma area is the home of Shionohama, the largest sandy beach in the Oki Islands. Characterised by its shallow, calm waters and a long stretch of sand that seems to go on forever, many people visit Shionohama every year to enjoy swimming in the sea and relaxing on the sandy beach. Oki Geopark Tour Desk, an organization formed by tour guides, is based here.
Tour Desk offers a wide range of experience-oriented programmes that utilise local resources unique to the islands. In addition, Shionohama is home to a tourist facility called Kaiyo Sports Centre, which operates a campsite and also serves as the reception desk for sightseeing tours.
The Sea Kayaking Cave Tour is the most popular activity. The tour brings you out to the clear blue sea, and you will find yourself paddling into mysterious sea caves and under tall cliffs. This activity allows you to experience spectacular views that can only be enjoyed from the sea. Additionally, the Sunset Sea Kayaking Tour is gaining popularity. This romantic kayaking trip allows you to paddle out into the open sea from Shionohama Beach, and watch the sun slowly set into the Sea of Japan. For those who are looking for a more relaxing activity, SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) and sea kayaking sessions inside the bay are recommended. These sessions are safe and easy for beginners to try, and are popular with many visitors and students on a school trip.
↑SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) at the beach
Furthermore, you can learn more about the geology, ecosystem, history and culture of the Oki Islands if you join the guided tours. The tours provide participants with a deeper understanding of the unique natural environment, making it very popular amongst nature lovers and knowledge seekers. In this way, the Tour Desk plays an important role as a base that conveys the charms of the islands to visitors, and provides activities that can “only be enjoyed here”.
Mr. Saito Masayuki, one of the founding members of this organization and currently working as a tour guide, has this to say about the charms of the Oki Islands.
“The Oki Islands are, of course, home to some of the rarest geological features in the world, but compared to many other geoparks, I think what sets the islands apart is the sheer beauty and dynamism it offers. Many tourists commented that the water is very clear and that it can certainly hold its own amongst other tourist destinations overseas.”
The best way to enjoy the sea of the islands is to go sea kayaking. We were very eager to try, but unfortunately, the sea was rough that day. In fact, sea kayaking tours can be cancelled due to the weather, so this time we went on a tour of the spectacular coastline, which is the substitute when the sea kayaking tour is cancelled.
“Talking about geology, it is hard to imagine what it is like. But if you walk along the coast of Oki, you can feel the intensity of lava from millions of years ago. As a tour guide, I chat with my first-time customers, and I provide them with more insight into the island, such as the plants growing here on this volcanic island, the animals living here, the culture and history of the locals.”
The tour we took part in is not a mere walking tour; participants get to learn more about the natural environment and geology from the guide’s commentary. The fun of learning about the formation of the island and its history adds to the experience. Okinoshima Town is said to be the most geologically diverse of the Oki Islands, and this promises to be a valuable experience in discovering the new side of the region.
The first spot we visited was a rock formation in Tsuma area. Here you can observe alkaline rhyolite up close.
“Alkaline rhyolite is not commonly mentioned at other sightseeing spots, but it is one of the reasons why the Oki Islands were designated as a national park. In fact, the Oki Islands are made of ‘alkaline volcanic rocks’, igneous rocks that are high in sodium and potassium.”
“Geologists broadly categorise the lava of the Oki Islands into alkaline, rhyolite, trachyte and alkaline basalt. The rhyolite seen here is lava that erupted approximately 5.5 million years ago. As its name suggests, it is characterised by its flowing stripes and white colour. Much of the coastline and mountains on the west side of the island are made up of rhyolite.
↑This striped pattern indicates the movement and direction of the magma as it flowed, and it is called a “flow structure”.
Afterwards, we drove to some of Mr. Saito’s hidden recommended spots. After parking the car in the car park, we pushed our way through steep rock walls and vegetation. Rare plants and unique rocks that we would normally miss, dotted the path.
Each time, Mr. Saito stopped and carefully explained the characteristics and history of each spot.
↑Because the area’s terrain is strongly influenced by ocean currents and wind, marine debris from overseas also gets washed up here.
“The famous sightseeing spots on the island are basically developed with bus tours in mind. However, the appeal of this tour is that if you ‘get off the beaten path’, you will find yourself going down narrow roads that are rarely wide enough for a car to pass, and sometimes even through the backs of someone’s house to see breathtaking views. The concept of this tour is, ‘I walked five minutes down the road behind a local’s house and saw heart-stopping scenery.”
During the low season, Mr. Saito explores places that even locals have forgotten about, searching for ideas that can be used in the future.
↑Nishinoshima Town and Ama Town can be seen in the background.
Mr. Saito still lives close to the Tour Desk in Tsuma area of Okinoshima Town. He left the island to attend high school, and pursued a career at an advertising agency after graduating from university. Later, he was invited by a friend to work at a Japanese restaurant in Shanghai, China. He also worked as a creator of commercials and videos in China, gaining experience working in foreign countries. However, when he turned 30, Mr. Saito returned to Okinoshima Town, with the desire to “do something in his hometown”.
That was when he came across a job advertisement from the “Oki Geopark Strategy Council”. At that time, the four islands of Oki were working together on the designation as a Global Geopark. As part of that effort, there was an urgent need to start a tour guides’ organisation. Thus, the private organisation that would become the current Oki Geopark Tour Desk was established, and Mr. Saito played a major role as one of the founding members.
“At that time, I felt quite a sense of crisis. I was worried that if things continued as they were, the island’s population would continue to decline, and eventually the island itself would no longer be able to survive. In reality, the situation may not have been that serious, but perhaps because I had the experience of living in the city, the reality of an extremely small population may have fuelled my anxiety even more. I had a strange sense of mission, a strong feeling that ‘I have to make this island famous.’”
While working on tour guide training programmes, Mr. Saito faced another hindrance – terminology. There were a lot of difficult words, such as alkaline rhyolite, and technical content, and he struggled to figure out how to convey them to visitors in an easy-to-understand way.
“In terms of how to explain things, I tried using metaphors. There were also many trials and errors. If you just use a technical term to explain an item, for most people, it just doesn’t resonate. But in the end, I came to the conclusion that ‘seeing is believing’. The best thing is to let the visitors see the scenery for themselves. Rather than explaining it in words, the moment they see the magnificent landscape and rock faces that spread out before them, they can intuitively understand the greatness and charm of nature. By adding a more detailed explanation there, I think their interest and understanding will deepen.”
This realisation became the foundation for the caves and cliffs touring sea kayaking tours and trekking courses currently offered by Tour Desk. By enriching the experience-based programmes that visitors can actually see with their own eyes and feel with their own hands, the charm of the islands’ nature and culture is conveyed on a deeper level.
Tour Desk also puts effort into education. They convey the charms of the Oki Islands to children as a part of the local school education programme. Learning about the island’s nature and culture is not just about acquiring knowledge. It also fosters civic pride in youngsters and serves as an opportunity to cultivate human resources capable of the tourism industry and regional development in the future.
“In order to build the island’s future, I think it is very important that children understand and appreciate the value of their hometown’s natural environment and culture. I hope that the younger generation will get more involved in the tourism industry and promote the charms of the islands.”
Geopark’s initiatives are not just about promoting a tourist destination. It also aims to promote sustainable development with an eye to the future of the region as a whole. Mr. Saito’s activities are centred around the aim, and he plays a major role in connecting the next generation with the islands’ nature and culture.
“The reason for people to travel, I believe, is to enjoy views, culture, food and experiences that are different from their everyday lives, and have unforgettable experiences. The charm of Oki Islands UNESCO Global Geopark is that, in addition to these extraordinary experiences, there are also deeper themes such as the memory of land created by volcanic activity, a unique ecosystem and the history of island banishment. It might be difficult to understand everything right away, but I would be delighted if a visitor could sear the spectacular view of the island into their memory, and engrave it in their hearts. And I hope, one day, the memory will turn into curiosity, leading to a desire to know more about the story of the Oki Islands, and inspiring them to want to visit the islands again.”
Simply enjoying the scenery, or spending some quiet time in nature, are both wonderful ways to enjoy the Oki Islands. Come and enjoy the nature and culture of the islands at your own pace and from your own perspective. Your visit to the islands will surely become an unforgettable experience.
Embellishing Lives on Dōgo Island: Local Produce and Restaurants
Having a BBQ by the shore of Shionohama is my favourite. Have a blast at the beach, and enjoy fresh local produce from the Oki Islands. BBQ under a starry sky is another favourite of mine. In particular, local produce, such as iwagaki rock oysters, sazae turban shell and abalone, which are in season during summer, are all exceptionally delicious.
Actually, there are a lot of eateries serving champon noodles*. Amongst them, I like the champon noodles served by “Lighthouse”, the restaurant at Oki Airport. Visitors like it, too. It is a dish you should definitely try when visiting the Oki Islands.
However, there are only a handful of restaurants on the islands. When you are planning your trip, it is recommended to include “what to eat” in the list; not just “where to go”. Making reservations in advance is also a good idea if you want to enjoy local gourmet food.
*Champon noodles: a Japanese noodle dish made with seafood, vegetables, thick noodles and a creamy broth.