The canal here is surprisingly deep, but because the water is so clear, it appears shallow, making it a mysterious place. The jellyfish swimming slowly through the river were so beautiful that I couldn't help but stop and stare. When the light shines on the surface of the water, the underwater scene looks even more fantastical, and it's truly soothing. If you're lucky, you might even see a tourist boat passing by, which creates ripples on the water's surface, making the whole scene even more picturesque. This is a very fascinating canal where nature and man-made elements blend together beautifully. It was the perfect spot for a leisurely stroll.
This is a must-see tourist spot if you visit Nishinoshima. The view from the bridge was incredibly beautiful. It's amazing that this was artificially created. There's a beach nearby, so I'd like to stop by and swim there next time I visit.
One of the most representative scenic spots in the Oki UNESCO Global Geopark, the Kuniga Coast, is accessible by sightseeing boat from the sea. There are two courses: Course A, which departs from and returns to Urago Port, and Course B, which departs from Beppu Port and returns to Urago Port. Both courses pass through the Funabiki Canal on their way there and back. Before this canal was built, boats had to be pulled ashore to reach the Sea of Japan (open sea), which is rich in fish and suitable for fishing, from the inland sea. The boats were then pulled across a 100-meter-wide isthmus by human power. In 1915, the isthmus was cut open and a canal was constructed. After numerous improvements were made, it became the Funabiki Canal we see today.
This canal was built in 1915 by opening up the isthmus located almost in the center of Nishinoshima. It connects the inland sea with the open sea and continues to support the island's industries, including fishing, and the lives of its residents. Before the Funebiki Canal was built, boats had to be pulled onto land to cross the canal from the inland sea to the open sea, which is said to be why the place was named "Funakoshi."
Nishinoshima was once barely connected to the mainland by the Funabiki Canal, but when this section was excavated to create a canal that could accommodate ships, it was divided into "two islands connected by a bridge." Strictly speaking, it is now the Oki Five Islands, not the Oki Four Islands.
You can see both the north and south sides of the canal from the bridge, but the roads nearby are narrow and there is no parking space, so we recommend heading east from the bridge and continuing along the road by the beach to park near the public restrooms and walking from there.
