Fun Facts about Nishinoshima, Shimane – Part 3 –

Located off the shore of Shimane Prefecture, Nishinoshima Island is a hidden gem, even to travellers from within Japan! So, we would like to take this opportunity to introduce a few interesting facts about Nishinoshima. Knowing these facts will make your island holiday on Nishinoshima Island more enjoyable!

Check out Part 1 and Part 2 here:

• Table of Contents
• Fact 12: New Year shrine visit based on the Lunar Calendar
• Fact 13: Spring Coastal Cleanups
• Fact 14: No monkeys, but there are hares
• Fact 15: Less streetlight, more starlight
• There’s still a lot more!

Fact 12: New Year shrine visit based on the Lunar Calendar

In some years, the shrine is visited amid snowy scenery.

In many parts of Japan, the first shrine visit of
the year takes place during the New Yea holidays. On Nishinoshima, however, the
Hatsumōde  to Takuhi Shrine—located on Mt. Takuhi, the island’s highest peak—is traditionally held during the Lunar New Year period.

Rather than visiting individually, locals gather by
district and make the pilgrimage together on weekends. After praying at the
shrine for family safety and prosperous livelihoods, participants take part in
a naorai, a communal meal and conversation held at the shrine office—an island-specific New Year
custom that can still be seen today.

Fact 13: Spring Coastal Cleanups

Every April, Nishinoshima hosts the Kuniga
Biraki Festa, an event that marks the beginning of the tourism season with
a variety of activities. In addition to popular attractions such as the “Sunset Café”, coastal cleanups are also carried out along Kuniga Coast during this time.

Preparing the coastline together ahead of the busy season is one of the springtime scenes that reflects daily life on the island. Everyone is welcome; come and join us!

Fact 14: No monkeys, but there are hares

Nishinoshima is home to the Oki hare, a subspecies of hare found only in the Oki Islands. Unlike many hares, it does not turn white in winter and retains its brown coat, making it easier to spot against snowy landscapes—though sightings are still relatively rare.

If you happen to see one during your visit, consider it a small stroke of good fortune!

On snowy days, footprints of the Oki hare can sometimes be found.

Fact 15: Less streetlight, more starlight

With few streetlights and minimal traffic, Nishinoshima offers a quiet environment well suited for stargazing. Known for its sunsets, Kuniga Coast also has very little light pollution, making it one of the better locations on the island to observe the night sky.

Clear nights from autumn to winter offer particularly good conditions.

*There are no streetlights at Kuniga Coast. Please exercise caution at night, as cattle or horses may be on the road.

There’s still a lot more!

There are still many more interesting facts about Nishinoshima. If you’d like to learn more about our town and island, consider hiring a tour guide when you visit us. The tour guides will help you gain a richer experience on the island!

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