Sunsets in the Land of the Rising Sun. Top 5 Spots to Enjoy Oki Islands' Beautiful Sunset. Unique Sunset Spots on Japan's Remote Islands.

Speaking of Japan, isn't it "Land of the Rising Sun"?

If I ask people in my home country (Poland) this question, I'm sure they'll nod their heads and respond positively. This is because in Polish, if you repeat the same word in a conversation, people will think that you have bad taste and bad conversation skills. So when we talk about Japan, we often use the beautiful name "Land of the Rising Sun" as a romantic synonym for Japan, instead of saying "Japan" multiple times. For this reason, when speaking of Japan, the image of the sun floating in the sky with Mt. Fuji in the background may be strong.

However, when I first came to Japan, I realized that things are not the same everywhere in Japan, and that there are quite a few things that differ by region. And the overwhelming beauty I found in this corner of the "Land of the Rising Sun", the Oki Islands, was not the sunrise but the sunset. It's true that the sunrise is beautiful, but I think seeing the sun off after a fun-filled day surrounded by nature on the islands is the best!

Now, I would like to introduce the top 5 spots for the best view of the sunset in the Oki Islands. There are many other spots where you can see the sunset, but if you ask me, those are the best.

Yui Maenosu (Okinoshima Town)

After driving west from Saigō Port for about 50 minutes, you will arrive at the Yui area. After parking at the small fishing port, continue to the right and you'll soon find the shallow waters. It is an intertidal shore platform formed by the waves and winds of the Sea of Japan. There are other areas in Okinoshima Town, but this platform is the largest, and at sunset—

It's like a giant mirror.

The sun setting on the horizon and the sky dyed in its light are beautiful enough, but when you add the calm surface of the sea that reflects both of them, it will take your breath away.

Furthermore, the beauty of the beautiful sunset scenery in Yui is that you can experience it, not just enjoy the view of it. For example, if you enter the sea with your sandals on, the sky will spread out at your feet! You can enjoy this illusion and take a lot of photos "playing" with the sun!

Sekiheki (Red Cliff) (Chibu Village)

Sekiheki is a 20-minute drive from Chiburijima Islands' Kurii Port. Drive for about 25 minutes while being watched by the numerous raccoon dogs living on the island. You can't leave Chiburijima Island without seeing this spot. Its bright red color gives us a glimpse of the volcanic eruption that occurred here long ago, which is why I included Sekiheki in this Top 5.

What does it mean? About 30 minutes before sunset time, I noticed an interesting thing when I was leisurely enjoying the sunset view from Sekiheki (Red Cliff) Lookout Point.

The closer the sun is to the horizon, the better! The color of the red wall changes with every second.

32 minutes before sunset

13 minutes before sunset

Just after sunset

It's a bit disappointing that you can't take a picture of Sekiheki and the setting sun at an angle that fits both in one photo, but I think it's still one of the best sunset experiences, because you can enjoy the  changing scenery of the Red Cliff together with the instagrammable sunset.

Otomeko Coast (Okinoshima Town)

This is a hidden gem!

It takes about 20 minutes by car from Saigō Port, and if you stay the night in the Okutsudo area, you can go for a walk to Otomeko Coast, which feels like finding your own hidden spot on the islands. When I went there for the first time, even though I had the place pinned on Google Maps, I still kept thinking while walking "Is it really here?" However, following the route on the map, I safely arrived!

White cliffs bathed in the setting sun

The first thing that caught my eye was a white cliff. For Polish people, it's quite unusual and reminds me of the "White Cliffs" in Dover, England. However, Otomeko Coast is not made of chalk, but alkali rhyolite, which gives us a clue as to how the Oki Islands were formed.

As I sat on this white cliff, I looked toward the sea and thought, wow!

Sunset over the Dōzen Islands

I wasn't prepared for something so beautiful! The sun setting over the three Dōzen Islands, the sea and the sky painted in pastel colors, and the spectacular view of the sunset were like paintings that came to life. I quickly took some photos and went back to taking in the beauty of the sunset.

Kirogasaki Cape (Ama Town)

You can also see a beautiful sunset in the town where the slogan is "There is nothing we don't have". It is Kirogasaki Cape, which is located at the southernmost tip of Ama Town and offers a panoramic view of Dōzen inner sea. It takes about 30 minutes from Hishiura Port, but the time flew by as I enjoyed the scenery from the car window.

Well, we arrived at Kirogasaki! There is a lighthouse right next to the parking lot, and there is also a big compass drawn with a heart pattern on the ground. Behind the lighthouse, you can see Chiburijima Island, the smallest of the three Dōzen Islands, so close that you might want to wave your hand in greeting. Add a sunset that paints it orange, and—

Isn't it romantic?

It may be just me, but lighthouses and sunsets each have their own atmosphere, so if you combine the two, it looks like a scene from a TV drama (laughs)!

By the way, visitors to Kirogasaki Cape in spring and autumn, when the sun sets after 5:00, you can also enjoy the view of the ferry returning from the mainland as an added bonus to the spectacular sunset view.

Ferry returning from the mainland

Rōsoku-jima (Candle Island) (Okinoshima Town)

A candle island floating off the coast of the Goka district. This tiny island has a long, narrow rock about 20 meters high, and when the sun sets over it, it looks like a lit candle. The photo of Candle Island, taken at this moment, is always included in every poster promoting tourism in Okinoshima Town. (As far as I can see.)

I wanted to go see it with my own eyes, but... You can't always see it. This is because a "lit" Candle Island can only be seen from the sightseeing boats that operate from April to October. Therefore, before you actually go somewhere, you should make a reservation for the cruise until the day before, and make sure of the departure time!

I was able to do both, and after arriving at the designated departure point (Fukuura Port), I got on the sightseeing boat. We followed the coast to our destination and enjoyed the unique scenery, such as the rock arches and caves we passed by.

Not yet...

Finally, we arrived at Candle Island. Waiting for the sunset to approach the tip of it is really exciting!

Here it is!

Awesome! The moment Candle Island became a huge candle, I was so moved that I couldn't say anything. Breathing in the sea air and seeing the spectacular sunset created by the nature of the Oki Islands made me think, "I'm glad I came here!"

This is the end of the top 5 sunset spots in the Oki Islands. I think you'll have a wonderful time in any of the places I introduced, so I hope you will visit and see the setting sun off when you travel to the Oki Islands, a small corner of the "Land of the Rising Sun"!

Written by Izabela Raczynska
Originally from Poland. She graduated from the Japanese department of her home country university and has experience studying in Japan. Her hobby is personal travel, and she aims to travel to all 47 prefectures of Japan. In her articles, she introduces the things she saw and experienced while working as a Coordinator for International Relations in Okinoshima Town.