Two fun islands that can be reached by car across the scenic bridge

Daikon Island / Ejima Ohashi Bridge

Daikon Island in the Nakaumi, the brackish water lake in the east of Lake Shinji in Shimane Prefecture, is a deeply and geographically attractive island.

There is Ejima Ohashi Bridge which is famous as “Betabumi-zaka(The steep slope stepping fully on the accelerator)”, which connects Ejima to Sakaiminato City in Tottori Prefecture. As the name suggests, it is a bridge that goes like to the sky so that you can’t go up without stepping on the accelerator. The view of Nakaumi and Yumigahama Peninsula from the bridge is superb. Driving at night will be a fun attraction drive reminiscent of “Back to the Future” due to the lighting lined up along the bridge that goes up to the sky!

Geologically, the two islands have so many similarities that I can say that Daikon island is Island of Hawai’i of Japan.

Daikon Island is a small volcano that was built about 190,000 years ago, and is composed of low clay basalt lava shaping the island gentle. The volcano that formed Hawaii Island is also basalt lava, and Mauna Loa, the majority of the gentle island, boasts the world’s largest mountain area.

Both islands have very low clay lava flowing at a stretch, so the silhouette draws as a huge shield, called a shield volcano.

Lava tube

There is a national special natural monument, Daikon Island Lava Tube “Yuki-do” and a natural monument, Daikon Island Second Lava Tube “Ryukei-do”. Because of the danger of collapsing, Yuki-do can only be seen from the outside, but Ryukei-do can be entered under the guidance of an instructor (advance notice required).

There is an entrance along the road. After you change into boots and walk in from the stairs with a flashlight, you will find a tunnel with a large lava trail. If you are lucky, you may meet small shrimps that only live there.

Unshu ginseng

Daikon Island has 20ha of Unshu Ginseng cultivation area and is counted as one of the three major production areas along with Nagano and Fukushima Prefectures. Its history was started about 200 years ago to support the finances of the Matsue domain. There is a theory that the name of the island is “daikon” so that the cultivation is not known to the govornment.

If you drive through the island, you can see a series of roofs that look like slanting thatched here and there.

Peony garden

Peony, which has been cultivated about 300 years ago on Daikonjima. Currently, about 300 types of peony are cultivated, and the peony garden on the island is lively from late April to early May every year.

Cherry Blossoms

There is an area in the central part of the island where only locals know about the old trees and the cherry blossoms.

“Otsukayama Park” is a scoria (basalt pumice) hill that is counted as the lowest volcano in Japan at an altitude of 42.2m. Cherry trees over 60 years old are in full bloom in the spring.

In addition, there is “Matsue City Yatsuka Gakuen” near the Otsukayama Park. You can only see it from the sidewalk, but don’t miss the gorgeous condition of branches and flowers.

Unagi resraurant Yamamise

You can eat Kansai-style exquisite eel dishes that have been baked without steaming eels that have been swimming for several days in the groundwater (Lava water) of Daikon Island is rich in vitamins and minerals,

Suyaki Gozen 4400 yen (tax included) Recommended!
One eel with no sauce / Boiled viscera / Fresh water clam soup / Vegetable vinegared/ rice with unagi boiled in sweetened soy sauce

Grilled eel with simple salt seasoning, is a gem that you should taste with lemon.

Suo-oshima Oshima Bridge

Suo-Oshima is the third largest island in the Seto Inland Sea in the shape of a goldfish floating in the Suo area of ​​Yamaguchi Prefecture. The attraction is the relaxed climate, sea, the product of sea and mountains.

The island is connected to the mainland side of Yamaguchi Prefecture by Oshima Ohashi (total length: 1,020m), and the “Naruto no Seto”, which is sandwiched between the island and the mainland, flows faster due to the tide, and the reeds that grow there are reputed to be tasty.

Set on the scenic island, it became the filming location for the movie “Tokimeki Memorial” aired in 1997.

A treasure trove of beaches

The coast that surrounds the island is beautiful with white sand, and the rocks and greenery, the sea surrounded by the islands, and the distant view are also scenic spots. There is a well-developed beach and a small beach between the rocks. You can fish there or relax like a private beach where no one else comes.

Katazoegahama Seaside Park　Recommended!　

On the tail of Suo Oshima’s goldfish, there is a scenic beach with an open view up to Shikoku. The sandy beach is beautiful, and it is easy to use because it is fully equipped with parking lots, showers, toilets, beach houses, restaurants, campsites, hotels…

In the summer, it is crowded with bathers and campsite users, but in other seasons it can be used as a stop-in spot where you can enjoy the spectacular views of touring and driving, and it can be used as a training ground for strengthening sports.

The sea is so open that you can see Shikoku at the far end of the horizon, so it is a great location to see the first sunrise near the horizon.

Michi-no-eki Sazanseto Towa

At the base of the goldfish-shaped tail of Suo-Oshima, there is Michi-no-Eki where you can find a wide variety of mandarin oranges, agricultural products and marine products. Suo-Oshima is a famous mandarin orange production area in Yamaguchi Prefecture, with the warm climate of Setouchi and the sunny slopes suitable for mandarin oranges.

Michi-no-Eki sell tangerines and products using tangerines, safe and secure seaweeds and seafood collected from the sea around Suo-Oshima, agricultural products and processed agricultural products made by local people. These are delicious and interesting only available locally.

There are also restaurants where fresh seafood is popular, Sunday market, mandarin orange soft ice cream, and seafood food court.
If you come to “Sazan Seto Towa”, you should stop by “Mamiya-jima”, an uninhabited island that can be walked from the sea behind it at low tide.

There is such a mysterious sandy beach nearby, and it is a very exciting spot to go on a small adventure to the island ahead.

Sushi Restaurant Kawai-zushi

There is a inn & diner next to “Sazan Seto Towa” where you can eat fresh seafood.

We recommend seafood bowls with sashimi (starting from 1200 yen).

Fishing

 Suo-Oshima is a famous fishing mecca for fishing lovers. Throw fishing from the beaches or rocky beaches, fishing from the wharf at the fishing port, there are fishing spots around the coast of the island.

Paragliding Tachibana Wind Park

There is a paraglider base with accommodation, arena and beginner’s practice base.

The flight point is located at Mt. Dakesan (618.5m), and you can get there by car. Take off the while watching the islands of Setouchi.

When the weather is nice, you may see paragliding and hang gliding coming out of the sky while driving under.

Setouchi Jam’s Garden

“Setouchi Jam’s Garden” uses local seasonal fruits and vegetables to make jams carefully by hand without using preservatives, coloring agents, refined sugar or gelling agents.

Surrounded by a cute garden in a mandarin orange field overlooking the sea, there are 30 to 40 species of Confiture (total 180 species per year) at the shop.

There is a café in the shop, providing a set of scones and toast with jam, baguettes from the bakery on the island, and Camembert, mamalade and soup (value lunchtime: 1280 yen from 10:00 to 13:00) .

When you go upstairs to the second floor, you can see handmade works and art.