A list of places to go, things to do, and recommendations for getting to Ogami Island!
Table of Contents
- 1 What is Ogami Island?
- 2 Started handling rental cars!
- 3 Popular Spots on Ogami Island
- 3.1 Popular Spots on Ogami Island 1. Oddly shaped rocks (notches) along the coast of Ogami Island
- 3.2 Popular Spots on Ogamijima 2. Ogamijima Multipurpose Plaza/Kamikakis (Su is written in small letters)
- 3.3 Popular Spots on Ogami Island 3. Tohmidai (Tumpara)
- 3.4 Popular Spots on Ogami Island 4.Opuyu Shokudo
- 4 Recommended Specialties of Ogami Island
- 5 summary
What is Ogami Island?
Ogamijima is known as a sacred island with one of the largest concentrations of power spots (sanctuaries) in Okinawa. It is also called "Uganjima" by the locals, and "Ugan" means "wish" or "request" to the gods. The island is said to be the island where the gods dwell, and because it is awe-inspiring with many sanctuaries that are not easily accessible, the island has not been destroyed and much untouched nature remains.
Even if you are a repeat visitor to Miyakojima, most of you have probably never been to Ogamijima, even if you have rented a car and visited the outlying islands connected to Miyakojima by a bridge. Here are some recommendations on how to get to Ogamijima!
Geographic and Statistical Information
Located about 4 km north-northeast of Miyako Island, Ogamijima is a small island with a circumference of about 3 km and a total area of 0.24 square km. The island population is a little over 20.
Access to Ogami Island
The Sumanu Kariyusu, a regular service operated by Ogami Kaiun, makes five round trips a day in summer (April to September) and four round trips a day in winter (October to March) between Shimajiri Fishing Port in Miyakojima and Ogami Fishing Port in Ogami.
Fees are: Adults: 350 yen one-way, 670 yen round-trip; children: 180 yen one-way, 350 yen round-trip.
There are approximately 30 seats on the regular service and the boarding time is approximately 15 minutes. Park your car at Shimajiri Fishing Port to board, but there is plenty of parking space.
The changing blue color of the sea seen from the boat is breathtakingly beautiful, and sometimes sea turtles can be seen on the way, and the rocks near Ogamijima are so spectacular that the regular service seems like a sightseeing boat. The regular service is so spectacular and so close to the rocks that it looks like a sightseeing boat.
Started handling rental cars!
We'll also reserve a rental car, which fills up quickly!
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Popular Spots on Ogami Island
Popular Spots on Ogami Island 1. Oddly shaped rocks (notches) along the coast of Ogami Island
On the west coast of Ogami Island, when you land and follow the paved road to the left, you will suddenly come to the end of the road, and just before you hit the end of the road, you will see a number of large, oddly shaped rocks that look like mushrooms, with a narrow base and a large head.
This oddly shaped rock, called a notch, is one of the famous tourist attractions on Ogamijima. The name "notch" comes from the English word "notch," meaning "cut," "indentation," or "depression. It is said that when the island was formed about 200,000 years ago by the uplift of coral reefs, the stones that rolled off the surface of the earth were scraped off at the base by the erosion of waves over hundreds to thousands of years.
Some notches are said to be crumbling down even in a few more years, as the neck of this base is still being eroded daily by the waves and continues to get thinner and thinner. In fact, the locals don't call them notches, and each rock has its own name. When you visit the island, it is a good idea to look up the name of each one as you visit!
Popular Spots on Ogamijima 2. Ogamijima Multipurpose Plaza/Kamikakis (Su is written in small letters)
The Ogamijima Multipurpose Plaza is a large plaza anyway. In the sea in front of you, rocks of various shapes and sizes are arranged in a neat arc along the shore, and the enclosed area is a tide pool like a natural pool surrounded by large rocks. This is called Kamikakis (the "su" is written in small letters), and its majestic atmosphere will take your breath away.
And this is a great place for snorkeling and playing in the ocean! The water is so clear and clean that you can see tropical fish from the top! There is not much current, and even at high tide, the deepest point is about 2 meters deep, so you can see many tropical fish and corals in some places.
On the other hand, at low tide, it is too shallow to snorkel, so it is best to check the tide table before heading out. To protect the pristine nature that is now so precious on Miyako Island and the surrounding islands connected by bridges, please do not feed the fish or climb on the corals, and enjoy the beautiful undersea world.
Of course, the tide seems to be fast offshore, so be careful. Be careful of jellyfish and sea snakes, too, so look around carefully as you enter. This is a small island and there are no hospitals or emergency facilities, so please be very careful.
The multipurpose plaza has restroom facilities and running water, so you can take a refreshing shower after getting out of the water. There are also benches and tables in the pavilion, so you can spend a pleasant time in the sea breeze.
Popular Spots on Ogami Island 3. Tohmidai (Tumpara)
The hill is 74.5m above sea level, and you have to climb up a flight of stairs to get to the Toompara, which is quite a strenuous climb...! It takes about 30 minutes to climb slowly. The viewing platform is at the top of the stairs.
From the observatory, you can see a 360-degree panoramic view of Yaebise, Ikema Island, Ikema Ohashi Bridge, and Miyako Island in the distance to the west, and Kamikakis (Su is written in small letters) in the south-southeast direction. Whichever direction you face, the beautiful Miyako blue color will cleanse your heart!
The Kamikakis (su is written in small letters) seen from above is a very interesting and memorable landscape. This view is breathtaking! If you visit Ogamijima, I highly recommend that you climb up!
The large rock near the top is considered sacred, so please do not climb it. There is a walking trail leading to the multipurpose plaza from the viewing platform, so you may go all the way down to the plaza!
Click here for more information about the Togendai of Ogami Island ↓↓ Click here for more information about the Togendai of Ogami Island
Popular Spots on Ogami Island 4.Opuyu Shokudo
Source:food log
Opened in 2013, it is the only restaurant on the island. And now it also serves as a store for islanders, where they can do simple shopping for daily necessities and bottled beverages. In addition, it is now available as the island's only guest house, although it has only two rooms. This is also the reception desk for Ogami Island sightseeing guides. Make reservations by phone at least one day in advance.
Except for the paved paths leading from left to right from the harbor and up to the observatory, most of the island is considered a sanctuary, and there are many places where only residents are allowed to enter, so first-time visitors must have a guide to guide them around!
The diner's specialty is the exquisitely seasoned and irresistible khaki tako donburi, a bowl of rice topped with smoked octopus and onions stir-fried in bonito broth. The set comes with mozuku vinegared mozuku seaweed from Ogami Island, salad, and soup. The quantity is also very generous. Other menu items are curry rice and Miyako soba.
If you are lucky, you can also enjoy seafood such as shellfish that the owner himself caught during his work. Canned Orion beer, happoshu, and awamori are available for purchase.
Recommended Specialties of Ogami Island
Recommended specialties of Ogami Island (1) Khaki octopus
The most famous specialty product of Ogamijima is the kākidako (octopus). Kaki-dako is smoked octopus. It is a preserved food born on this remote island surrounded by the sea, where there are no refrigerators and refrigeration is not possible.
Crops could not grow when the sun was shining, and ships could not sail when the sea was still. In such circumstances, the kāki dako was created to preserve foodstuffs for a long time. The process of making kāki-dako involves more than just smoking the octopus. The process of making it involves various points, and it is a specialty product that was created based on the wisdom of the islanders.
The cooking process for khaki octopus is as follows
1) Remove guts and ink from octopus.
(2) Cut open and boil octopus from the center.
(3) Smoke slowly with a wire net placed in a kiln.
(4) Turn over frequently while shaping
(5) Continue with (4) for 2.5 to 3 hours to complete the process.
It is necessary to keep an eye on it at all times while it is being fumigated. It is a long process that can take almost a full day.
Before they started smoking the khaki dako, they smoked sardines, squid, turban shells, and many other things. Even today, it seems that other items are sometimes smoked as well, but the kaki dako is still a specialty of Ojin Island and a taste of home.
You can eat this kaki dako at "Opuyu Restaurant," the only restaurant on Ogami Island. You can also buy the octopus in packs for as low as 1,000 yen. You will be lucky if you can purchase one, as octopus catches have been decreasing recently! When you visit, eat at the diner as well and buy some as souvenirs.
Recommended specialties of Ogami Island (2) Mibai soup
Mi-bai soup is a local dish of Okinawa, including Ogami Island. Mibai are grouper fish, characterized by their large mouths with jutting jaws. It is an unusual fish that can range in size from 10 cm to 2 m, depending on the species and the time of growth.
Mibai soup is made by chopping up such mibai, simmering it in bonito broth, and seasoning it with miso. It is a very simple cooking process and is a regular item on Okinawan tables. It is a must-try on a cold winter's day, as it is very filling.
Recommended specialties of Ogami Island (3) Aasa-jiru
Aosa-jiru is another local Okinawan dish. It is a soup made of Hitoegusa, also known as aosa, and island tofu. Island cuisine is another Okinawan specialty, so be sure to try it. It is also an essential dish for Okinawan home cooking and celebrations, so please try it!
Recommended specialties of Ogami Island (4) Island Rakkyo
Ogamijima Island is also famous for its specialties. Also known as "datchou," the island's rakkyo is smaller than those caught on the mainland, but its pungency and aroma are very strong and stimulating even before it is cooked.
This aroma and pungency are due to the ingredient allyl sulfide, which lowers the concentration of lipids in the blood and makes the blood more fluid. In addition to allyl sulfide, it also promotes the absorption of vitamin B1, relieves fatigue, and has many other benefits. It is very tasty when eaten in salted or tempura form.
summary
Until a few years ago, the island did not accept tourists to Ogamijima, and only island residents, island officials, or government employees were allowed to enter the island, so we are glad that the door for tourism to Ogamijima has been opened. Even so, the island is still untouched and unspoiled, partly because you have to take a boat to get to Ogamijima and partly because much of the island is considered sacred and off-limits to non-island residents.
Although tourists can now finally visit Ogami Island, they should do so without destroying the pristine nature and without disturbing the peaceful daily lives of the people of Ogami Island, who live their lives as they did in the past.
