Enjoy the four seasons of Japan! Top 5 Spots to Visit in Spring at Oki Islands UNESCO Global Geopark in Shimane Prefecture

Nakanoshima Island, Oki Shrine in Ama Town

The place where exiled Emperor Go-Toba is enshrined and hands down the best cherry blossom viewing spot on the islands. There are some two hundred fifty trees planted along the way from the torii gate to Oki Shrine itself. When in bloom, they wash the whole place pink, turning the shrine approach into a tunnel of flowers. Visit this major sightseeing spot of Ama Town from early to mid-April, to experience local history and do hanami like an Oki native.  

Besides enjoying the cherry blossoms, it is a place where you can explore the history of Oki as a place of exile. If you visit with a guide, you can reconsider the turning points in Japanese history from the remote islands perspective, such as how the Oki Islands became a land of exile and why the two emperors were exiled here.

Oki Shrine

1784 Ama, Ama-cho, Oki-gun, Shimane 684-0403

Retired Emperor Go-Toba was exiled to the Oki Islands in 1221, and lived here until his death years later. Oki Shrine was built in 1939 in commemoration of the 700th anniversary of the death of Emperor Go-Toba. The shrine is built in a distinctive style of architecture unique to the islands. The shrine is known for its cherry blossoms, and many visit in early April to see the flowers. You can also make a reservation to visit Oki Shrine at night, enjoying a different experience from the daytime. Emperor Go-Toba Museum is located nearby.

Chiburijima Island, Mt. Akahage in Chibu Village

The 360-degree view of the Dōzen Caldera earned Mt. Akahage a firm spot on the list of year-round must-see sightseeing spots. But a hike up its slopes in springtime reveals an especially lovely sight, as the whole area is covered with delicate blossoms.

Blooming from mid April to mid-May, the Japanese wild radish flowers carpet the summit of Mt. Akahage. White with a touch of purple, they make Mt. Akahage look like a place taken out of a Japanese fairy-tale. Let them be another reason to put Chibu Village into your travel itinerary!

Mt. Akahage

〒684-0100 Chibu Village, Oki District, Shimane Prefecture

Mt. Akahage is Chiburijima Island's highest peak at 325 m above sea level. This is the best spot for seeing an amazing 360° panorama, with all four islands of the archipelago before your eyes. If the weather is good enough, you can see as far as mainland Honshu island and Mt. Daisen, a 1729-meter-high peak in the neighbouring prefecture Tottori. In the spring you can enjoy a picturesque scene of the wild radish flowers blooming all around while the cows and horses quietly graze.

Dōgo Island, Murakami Family Oki Rhododendron Park in Okinoshima Town

If you happen to visit Goka Area in Okinoshima Town sometime between late April and early May, be sure to make a small detour from Mizuwakasu Shrine to Murakami-ke Oki Rhododendron Park. Located within a short walking distance, it features around ten thousand Oki rhododendron flowers, a subspecies endemic to the islands. Yes, there really are that many.

Their blossoms turn the slope they are growing on into a cascade of pink. Take a leisure stroll up the winding path and find out for yourself why local people call their rhododendrons “queens of the mountain flowers”.

Dōgo Island, Yabi-gawa Kappa Kōen Park in Okinoshima Town

Local legends thrive and azalea flowers bloom in a small park on the banks of the Yabi-gawa River in Okinoshima Town. Stone statues of kappa water demons pay homage to the folk tale of one such pesky creature turning into an ally, while the vivid colours of azalea blossoms please the eye of any who find their way to the park in late April and May. Those who wander along the Yabi-gawa River in early to mid-April are in for an extra treat, as the row of cherry trees planted there is in full bloom around that time.

Nishinoshima Island, Kuroki-gosho Imperial Residence Site in Nishinoshima Town

  Since a cherry blossom viewing spot opened this list, another one should close it. Near Beppu Port in Nishinoshima Town, there is a site where exiled Emperor Go-Daigo is thought to have once lived. Pay  a visit from late March to mid-April and immerse yourself not only in the history but in the beauty of Japan’s signature flowers as well. The lovely view of the bay you will see on your way is a nice bonus.   

Kuroki Palace Hekifukan

684-0302 275 Beppu, Nishinoshima-cho, Oki-gun, Shimane Prefecture

Emperor Go-Daigo was exiled to Oki in 1332 and is said to have spent over a year here before escaping. Hekifukan, located at the foot of Mount Tenno, is a small museum that displays items related to Emperor Go-Daigo. Although it is a small museum, there are many exhibits related to Emperor Go-Daigo. It is also known as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in April.

Visit the following site for tourist information on Shimane Prefecture and the Oki Islands:

"Official Tourism Guide, Oki Islands" 

English article: Izabela Raczynska