In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Oki Islands
隠岐諸島
Two nights minimum: one for Dōgo (the main island) and one for the Dōzen group. A day-trip from the mainland is not realistic.
The Oki Islands are a remote archipelago 100 km off the coast of Shimane, known for their geopark status, rugged coastlines, and history as a place of imperial exile. With four inhabited islands, the trip requires at least two nights to see the main sights: Dōgo's waterfalls and shrine, and the Dōzen group's caldera views. Access is by plane or ferry from Shimane.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 隠岐諸島
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (humid, typhoon risk), Dec–Feb (rough seas, some ferry cancellations)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥8,000–12,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥12,000–20,000 excl. bed · High ¥20,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119 · Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English) 050-3816-2787
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | ¥400–600 |
| Bowl of noodles (soba or udon) | ¥800–1,200 |
| Beer (can at konbini / draught at izakaya) | ¥250–350 / ¥500–700 |
| Ferry Dōgo ↔ Dōzen (one way) | ¥1,500–2,500 |
| Bus ride within Dōgo | ¥200–500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- OKI · Oki Airport
- On Dōgo; flights from Izumo and Osaka–Itami (JAL/JAC).
Typical fares
- Oki Airport → Okinoshima town
- about ¥1,500 by taxi, 10 min (check)
- Ferry Dōgo → Shichirui (2nd class)
- ¥3,870, about 2.5 h (check)
- Hydrofoil Dōgo → Shichirui
- ¥7,360, about 50 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Rent a car or scooter on Dōgo (book ahead). Buses connect the main towns but are infrequent. Ferries and hydrofoils link the islands; check the Oki Kisen schedule daily.
See and do
Known for
- UNESCO Global Geopark
- Dangyo Falls
- Emperor Go-Toba and Go-Daigo exile sites
- Dōzen caldera views
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Matsue | Ferry from Dōgo to Shichirui or Sakaiminato, then bus to Matsue station | About 3–4 h |
| Izumo | Ferry to Shichirui, bus to Matsue, then train to Izumo | About 4 h |
Sleep
- Okinoshima town (Dōgo)
- Main port and transport hub; most hotels, ryokan and restaurants.
- Nishinoshima (Dōzen)
- Smaller island with minshuku and a few inns; quieter, closer to the caldera.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| This one, please | これをくださいkore o kudasai |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the ferry terminal? | フェリーターミナルはどこですか？ferī tāminaru wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Ferries can be cancelled in rough weather; allow a buffer day if you have a flight to catch.
- Car rental on Dōgo is limited; reserve weeks ahead in peak season.
- No ATM on the smaller Dōzen islands; bring enough cash from Dōgo or the mainland.
- The disputed Dokdo/Takeshima islets are claimed by Japan as part of Oki; the only way to visit is from South Korea.
The Oki Islands are very safe. The main risks are weather-related: rough seas cancelling ferries, and slippery coastal paths. No crime concerns.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Oki Islands yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- UNESCO Global Geopark
- Dangyo Falls
- Emperor Go-Toba and Go-Daigo exile sites
- Dōzen caldera views
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Oki Kisen ferry schedule: www.oki-kisen.co.jp/
- Oki Islands Geopark (Japanese): www.e-oki.net/
- Wikivoyage: Oki Islands, revision 5310392 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5310392
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Oki Islands隠岐諸島
ここまでお願いします
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
The nearest consulate is in Osaka; most embassies are in Tokyo.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/oki-islands). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.