What other travelers are saying about Oki Islands Geopark Museum
Interesting museum that explains the interesting geology of the Oki Islands. Staff is friendly and very passionate about what they do, but unfortunately they don't speak English and there's not much information available in other languages than Japanese too.
Oki Nature Museum and Geopark Center
You can see special displays about the geology, insect life, birds, marine life and flora of the islands in the Nature Museum .
While waiting for the ferry from Saigo Port to Hishiura Port, I dropped by the Oki Nature Museum.
I intended to just kill time, but before I knew it, I was engrossed.
20 million years ago, 6 million years ago... the passage of time is mind-boggling.
There were many exhibits that made me feel the heartbeat of the Earth.
The Oki salamanders were especially adorable.
When I got close, they looked me right in the eye and made eye contact with me, which was so adorable 🥹
They all had names, and they were so friendly.
It made me forget all about the small things like, "I don't want to go to today's meeting."
It was a time when I really felt the magnificent passage of time, realizing how amazing nature is and that the Earth is a living thing.
I'm glad I started my Oki trip here. I highly recommend it.
The Oki salamanders are just so cute. They're so curious, they stare right at you.
Please note that you must listen to the explanation at specific times to use the Okitoku boarding pass (I believe it's 10:00 and 16:00).
There's only one room with a panoramic view, so you can leave your suitcases inside instead of having to leave them in a locker.
Re-entry is permitted as many times as you like.
This is a museum where you can learn about the history and ecosystem of Okinoshima Town while you wait for the ferry.
Admission is 500 yen for adults.
It seems you can re-enter on the same day.
Okinoshima Town is made up of many islands, including other islands!
It's a little sad to hear the explanation that Takeshima is still part of Okinoshima Town today...
The Korean side also claims that island as its territory...I'm not sure about the rest, so I won't go into detail.
It seems Papo-chan was also interested in the island's ecosystem🤣
Yes, the museum is highly accessible for international visitors. All information panels provide information in English, making it easy to understand the exhibitions without Japanese language skills. Guided tours are available at no additional charge, though English-speaking staff may not be available every day, so avance requests are recommended.
The museum is located on the second floor of the Geopark Visitor Center at Saigō Port on Dogo Island, the largest of the Oki Islands. It is directly connected to the ferry terminal, making it immediately accessible upon arrival. You can reach the Oki Islands by ferry from mainland ports in Shimane or Tottori prefectures, or by flight to Oki Airport on Dogo Island.
While the museum doesn't specify an official visiting time, most visitors can comfortably explore the three main exhibition zones, view the central display featuring projection mapping and video presentations, and interact with the touch panels and tablets within one to two hours. The museum works well as either a first stop to orient yourself before exploring the islands or as a concluding visit to better understand what you've seen around the geopark.
The museum is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with last entry at 4:45 PM. It is closed on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month and during New Year's holidays.
