Respect Local Culture
Be respectful of the local culture
Numerous festivals of the Oki Islands have been passed down from ancient times,
and they reflect the unique culture of the islands. A lot of the festivals have a religious background,
therefore visitors should be careful when participating.
Another characteristic of the festivals is that compared to urban areas,
there are fewer visitors and participants are mostly local residents.
A good rule of thumb is to observe the local people around you and read the atmosphere.
Please keep in mind the following:
- ★ It could become dangerous if you stay too close to the parade or other participants.
Please be careful of the situation around you.
- ★ Please refrain from cheering or making noises that interfere with the procession or rituals.
- ★ Do not cross the procession or parade troupe.
- ★ Do not touch the mikoshi (portable shrine), the carriers of the mikoshi and animals of the ritual.
- ★ Do not stand behind the sacred horses, as you may get injured.
- ★ Please refrain from using excessive flash when taking pictures
Shinto rituals before Mina-ichi Dance,
Chibu Village
Uma-ire-shinji ritual,
Tamawakasu-mikoto Shrine,
Okinoshima Town
Mikoshi (Portable Shrine)
Procession, Yurahime Shrine Festival,
Nishinoshima Town
Prepare for Your Outdoor Adventure
Prepare before your outdoor adventure!
While there is no need for heavy equipment when hiking in the Oki Islands,
please make sure to wear adequate clothing and bring some food and drink.
Hiking and Walking
Hat
Wear a light-coloured hat.
It is good to avoid dark colours as wasps and hornets are sensitive to them.
Long trousers
Cover your skin to protect yourself from potential abrasions
or dangerous plants and insects.
Hiking gloves
Necessary when hiking Mt. Daimanji and Washigamine Ridge trails.
Long-sleeved shirt
Cover your skin to protect yourself from potential abrasions
or dangerous plants and insects. Wasps and hornets are sensitive
to dark colours so choose light-coloured clothing.
Backpack
Some trails are steep.
Put your supplies in a backpack to have both hands free when hiking.
Hiking shoes and long socks
There are some steep trails in the Oki Islands so we recommend wearing light hiking shoes.
Put on some long socks too, in order to protect yourself from insects or dangerous plants.
To find out more about hiking and walking trails on the Oki Islands please refer to our
Pocket Guide
to Outdoor Activities in the Oki Islands.
Are you interested in joining a hiking tour? Check out the following pages for guided hiking tours to
Mt. Takata, Shirashima Coast, and Washigamine Ridge.
Water Sports
Swimming season
The best season for marine sports is from mid-July through August.
Rash guard
Cover your skin to protect yourself from potential scrapes, sunburn and dangerous sea animals or plants.
Water shoes
Protect your feet from the rocky sea bottom, or potential threats such as marine litter or sharp shells.
Attention!
Make sure to check the weather forecast before setting out on your excursion.
Do not hike or take part in water sports when a thunderstorm advisory is in effect.
Please inquire about the latest information on the hiking trails and sea bathing conditions at the local tourism offices.
For detailed information about weather conditions on the Oki Islands throughout the year,
see this page.