Tour Duration: 5 days
Price: 275,000yen/person
Departure Location: Hakodate airport
Okushiri Island, which lies in Hokkaido’s westernmost region, has been significantly influenced by Russia’s Primorsky Territory and Far East. Due to this, trade with the continent has existed since the dawn of time. While taking in the landscape produced by the distinctive nature and culture of this island, we will experience a peculiar atmosphere that is distinct from that of the rest of Hokkaido. The pristine beech forests on this island are renowned for perpetually sustaining and regenerating the natural cycle of life.
Enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, and bicycling while having a deep adventure in a region of Japan that few visitors ever visit.
Day 1 – Meeting in Hakodate airport and walking tour in the historical town Esashi
We will take a two-hour trip from Hakodate Airport to Esashi, which serves as the entry point to Okushiri Island. We will begin our excursion in Esashi town by visiting Kamomejima, often known as Seagull Island due to its resemblance to a seagull, which is a protected area and a component of the Hiyama Prefectural Natural Park. The claim that Kamomejima is where Esashi’s history began is not hyperbole. The Japanese and tourists like this stunning natural island, which serves as the epitome of Esashi today.
When trading cargo ships called Kitamaebune (literally, “north-bound ships”) traveled from southern Japan to trade for regional goods like herring, Esashi flourished as Hokkaido’s prominent commercial port during the late Edo period. The town still has an old-fashioned feel to it. We will spend some time on “Inishie Kaido,” Esashi’s main street, to get a sense of the town’s illustrious past through its historical structures. We shall have oden for our first dinner in Hokkaido. Oden is a type of simmered dish in Japanese cuisine that includes boiled eggs, daikon, konjac, and processed fishcakes stewed in a dashi broth with a soy taste.
Day 2 – Experience a Zen Buddhist retreat and visit Okushiri Island
At the 350-year-old Shogakuin Temple, a member of the St. Zen sect, we will begin the day with a Zen practice. Additionally, memorial rituals for marine tragedies are held at this ancient sanctuary. The largest of the three traditional sects of Zen in Japanese Buddhism, the St school, is committed to incorporating the Zen spirit into all facets of daily life, including eating. We shall eat a “morning porridge” in a meaningful way as part of this Zen practice.
From the dock, we will go directly to the beech primordial forest, which play a vital role in Okushiri Island by giving the water necessary for the land. We will have a two-hour ferry ride from Esashi to Okushiri Island, the “floating island of the beech forest.” We will see the water cycle—from the land to the sea—during our walking tour, which is essential to maintaining life on an island. We will see the stunning sunset at the end of the excursion. We’ll feel like Okushiri locals if we eat at a neighborhood izakaya and stay in a neighborhood inn!
Day 3 – Sea kayaking on the blue ocean of Okushiri Island
Geographically, Okushiri Island is situated where the warm Tsushima Current, which is flowing north, meets the cold Liman Current, which is flowing south from the coastal states. Additionally, it attracts uncommon animals from the continent. In the warm seas of Okushiri, we’ll go sea kayaking for the entire day. It might be tough to understand that this lovely island was once devastated by a tsunami while kayaking on the calm, blue water. On the beach on the west shore of the island, we will have a barbecue lunch in the wild.
We’ll pick up our sea kayaking again in the late afternoon and continue to take in the beauty of the island. The sunset will appear once again for us. We’ll warm up in the unusual Kamuiwaki Hot Spring in a fishing port after cooling off in the Sea of Japan. Once more, we’ll explore the island tonight while taking in the nightlife and meeting the locals. There isn’t a better method for us to fully experience the local culture of this far-off island!
Day 4 – Cycle around the island and acknowledge with its painful memories
An earthquake occurred in the Sea of Japan off the northern shore of Okushiri Island on July 12, 1993, at 10:17 p.m. It was the biggest earthquake to strike the Sea of Japan in modern times, with a magnitude of 7.8. 202 people died and 28 people went missing as a result of the earthquake, which also caused extensive damage from fires and tsunamis, notably in Okushiri Island close to the epicenter. Prior to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, it had been about a year and a half. The island didn’t fully recover from this catastrophe for five years. We’ll ride our bikes through the Aonae neighborhood, where disaster prevention city planning has been implemented to prepare for potential calamities and track the rehabilitation process.
We’ll stop at the Okushiri Tsunami Museum en route to the ryokan where supper will be served. This facility’s purpose is to preserve for future generations the traumatic memories, the lessons learned from the tsunami disaster, and the appreciation for the assistance from all around Japan. A traditional Japanese ryokan will serve us the finest foods for our final meal prior to returning to the guest house.
Day 5 – Farewell to the island and transfer to Shin-Hakodate Hokuto Station
We’ll check out of the hotel at 7:00 a.m. and travel to Esashi by ferry. To end our vacation to Hokkaido, we will take a private van from Esashi Ferry Terminal to Shin-Hakodate Hokuto Station.
