How do I get to Otabujima Island?

To reach Otabujima Island, first travel to Hinase Port in Bizen City. From Okayama Station, take the JR Ako Line to Hinase Station (approximately 60 minutes), then walk 10 minutes to Hinase Port. From there, board the Daisei Kisen Ferry to Otafu Port on Otabujima, which takes approximately 30 minutes. If driving, take the Okayama Blue Line and exit at Bizen IC, then drive about 5 minutes to Hinase Port before catching the ferry.

Can I stay overnight on Otabujima Island?

Yes, overnight stays are possible on Otabujima. Guesthouses and inns line the beach and can be used as rest areas, making the island suitable for both day trips and extended visits. The accommodations provide convenient access to the beach and other island attractions.

What activities can I do on Otabujima Island?

Beyond swimming at the expansive beach, visitors can enjoy marine sports such as sea kayaking and windsurfing. The nature trail offers opportunities for walking and exploring the island's historical sites and natural coastline. The compact size of the island makes it easy to explore the entire area in a few hours, though the tranquil atmosphere encourages leisurely exploration.

When is the best time to visit Otabujima's beach?

The beach on Otabujima typically opens from late June to early September, making summer the prime season for beach activities and water sports. Outside this period, visitors can still enjoy the island's nature trails and historical sites, though swimming facilities may be closed.

Otabujima Island, Bizen

Q: What are the main attractions on Otabujima Island?

The island features a nature trail that circles the island, allowing visitors to discover historic sites such as the Toro-do Hall and Hexagonal Well, remnants from when the island served as the residence of the Okayama clan during the Edo period. The island also boasts one of the prefecture's best remote island swimming beaches, with a white sandy beach stretching for about 500 meters, ideal for swimming and marine sports.

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Otabujima Island lies 6 km south of Hinase Port in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture. Positioned at the southernmost tip of the Hinase Islands, this small island carries significant historical importance as the residence of the Okayama clan during the Edo period. The island's remoteness and natural beauty make it one of Okayama's more secluded coastal destinations.

The island's historical legacy remains visible through several well-preserved sites. A nature trail circles the island, allowing visitors to discover historic sites such as the Toro-do Hall and Hexagonal Well that serve as reminders of its feudal past. These remnants provide insight into the island's role during the Edo period when it functioned as an administrative outpost for the Okayama Domain.

Otabujima offers one of the prefecture's best remote island swimming beaches, with a white sandy beach stretching for about 500 meters. Guesthouses and inns line the beach and can be used as rest areas, making the island suitable for day trips or overnight stays. Beyond swimming, visitors can enjoy marine sports such as sea kayaking and windsurfing. The beach typically opens from late June to early September.

The nature trail provides the primary visitor experience on Otabujima. Walking this circular path allows exploration of the island's coastline, historic structures, and natural features. The relatively compact size makes it feasible to explore the entire island in a few hours, though the peaceful atmosphere encourages a more leisurely pace.

To reach Otabujima, visitors must first travel to Hinase Port in Bizen City. From Okayama Station, take the JR Ako Line to Hinase Station (approximately 60 minutes), then walk 10 minutes to Hinase Port. The journey continues via Daisei Kisen Ferry, which takes approximately 30 minutes to reach Otafu Port on the island. The beach is easily accessible after disembarking, located near the port. By car, the route involves driving approximately 5 minutes from Bizen IC on the Okayama Blue Line to Hinase Port before boarding the ferry. Access to the island is entirely dependent on ferry service, with no bridge connections available.

What other travelers are saying about Otabujima Island, Bizen

There is a hiking trail where you can walk while looking at the sea. It is an island with a sense of everyday life and not much glamorous sightseeing.

ta mori

Jan 28, 2026

Otafu Island is a 40-minute trip from Hinase Port, priced at 620 yen one way. The Norina Hare train takes you there, offering a breathtaking view of the Seto Inland Sea islands from the second-floor deck. Otafu Island boasts impressive sights, including the Genroku Breakwater and Lantern Hall, built in 1698 (Genroku 11). The Kanzaburo Cave, where counterfeit money was once produced, is also worth a visit, so it's definitely worth a visit. Other attractions include the quaint Kasuga Shrine, the abandoned Otafu Elementary School, a large well with fresh water that never dried up, a swimming beach, and the 88-temple pilgrimage. While there's plenty to see, you can easily walk around the entire island in just two hours and fully enjoy it. There are many jungle-like areas, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended. There are no restaurants, supermarkets, or shops on the island. There is one juice vending machine. It may be a good idea to buy a lunch box in advance at Paone supermarket next to Hinase Port and bring it with you.

April 2, 2024 The furthest island in the Hinase Islands. It's a historic island, said to have been used by the Shimazu lords as a waiting point during their journeys to and from Edo (present-day Tokyo), and later built by Ikeda Tsunamasa, the lord of the Okayama domain. It's a pleasant walk around the island in 2-3 hours, with plenty to see, including the old breakwater and wells. Currently, oyster rafts float offshore, and there are work sheds for shucking harvested oysters and piles of scallop shells for cultivation.

March 2024 Board the "Norinahare" from the Hinase Islands Ferry Pier and stop at each island along the way for about 40 minutes. The ferry departs at 12:00 PM, with a return trip at 3:45 PM. You'll only have three hours on Otafu Island, but that's plenty of time to explore! Otafu Island has nothing on the right half of the island, and there are no roads on the island. In fact, there are villages directly in front of the ferry terminal and on the left coast. ① A time-traveling village and abandoned houses ② Remains of a 1941 Takeda-style hand pump among the abandoned houses ③ The abandoned Otafu Elementary School site. You can enter the school building without any problems. ④ View the oyster factory 🏭, a specialty of Otafu Island, from the outside. ⑤ Remains of a well dug during the Edo period near the ferry terminal. Note: Kanzaburo Cave is now a restricted area, and you cannot enter the cave. There is only one vending machine in the waiting room in front of the ferry terminal. 🥤 There are restrooms at the ferry terminal, and you can also find one along the left bank in front of the beach.

We landed on an early morning boat. It's a small island, but the two hours until the next boat passed by in a flash as we toured all of its key attractions, including the Lantern Hall and Kanzaburo Cave. The islanders all greeted us with a smile and were very kind when we spoke to them. It was an island I'd like to visit again, taking more time.