Kuroshima - Hokai Utaki -
Early reservations are recommended as they fill up quickly.
◆Tuk-tuks and electric trikes are also popular!
What is Fukian Mitake?
Fukiwan Utaki is a sacred site located on the west coast of Kuroshima, very close to Hokei Beach, where people once prayed for safe voyages and bountiful harvests. The site was destroyed by a typhoon and has lost its original form as a sacred site; the Ibi Stone—the marker indicating the descent of the gods—has also disappeared.
There are more than 10 utaki on Kuroshima; some have been abandoned due to depopulated villages or natural disasters, and Homi Utaki is one of them. On Kuroshima, utaki are called "wan" rather than "utaki" or "on.”
Among the 10 Ontake sites, there are eight that are considered particularly important and are affectionately known as the “Eight Ontake.” Hōkai Ontake is also one of the Eight Ontake.
How to Get to Homi-utaki
Homi-utaki is located about a 24-minute walk or a 6-minute drive from Kuroshima Port.
Head straight south from Kuroshima Port, then turn right at the intersection where “Matchan-oba-san’s Bike & Motorcycle Rental” is located. Continue straight along the road. Hōkai Utaki is located just past the Negi Sea Rock.
How to Enjoy Homi Ontake
Homi-utaki is located across from the Hokei Coast. Although this rocky beach isn’t particularly well-suited for snorkeling, the sea off the coast features rock formations such as “Notchi”—a mushroom-shaped rock—and a rock that resembles a cow turning its head. The scenery is absolutely stunning, and at dusk, you can enjoy a view of the sunset peeking through the rocks.
Details on Homi-utaki
Homi-utaki is a sacred site dedicated to the gods of safe voyages and bountiful harvests, but both the sacred site itself and the Ibi Stone have lost their original forms. It is located across from Hokei Beach, but since the exact location can be difficult to find, I recommend asking a local if you’re on the island.
Long ago, an ancestor of the Meiri family in Hokei Village set out to fish with a fishing net. No matter how many times he cast the net, he caught no fish; instead, a stone about 2 shaku high got caught in the net. He discarded the stone and tried fishing again and again, but he still caught no fish—only stones kept getting caught in the net.
On the way home, near the village, the net tore and a stone became lodged in it. Convinced that this was a sacred stone, they began to worship it. Since then, the Meiri family has been blessed with bountiful harvests—with eight bundles of millet and other grains hanging down—and abundant catches of fish. Based on this miraculous event, it was believed that the God of Abundance resided there, and the sacred site was enshrined as a place to pray for safe voyages and bountiful harvests. It is believed that the name “Hokei Ontake” was given because it is the sacred site of Hokei Village.
Recommended Sightseeing Spots Near Homi Ontake
western beach
To get to Nishi-no-Hama from Homi-utaki, leave Homi-utaki and turn right. Continue straight along the road for a while, and you’ll find Nishi-no-Hama on your left.
Nishi-no-Hama is a natural, long beach where the contrast between the crystal-clear sea and the approximately 2-kilometer stretch of white sand is truly beautiful. Although coral and tropical fish inhabit the waters—which might make you want to take a dip—swimming is prohibited due to the very strong currents. Since there are few tourists, you might even have the beautiful scenery all to yourself, so why not visit with someone special?
Because this beach features unspoiled nature, sea turtles come here to lay their eggs from April through September. If you’re there at the right time, you might even spot a sea turtle.
Location: Kuroshima, Taketomi Town, Yaeyama County, Okinawa Prefecture
Access: 3 minutes on foot from Kuroshima Port
Parking: None
Meals (nearby): None
Toilet: None
Hokei Coast
Hokei Beach is located across from Hokai Utaki, and the sea in front of it features rocks shaped like mushrooms and cows. A little further north is Negyo Beach, a beautiful spot with shallow waters dotted with unique rocks.
The combination of the white sand beach and the cobalt-blue sea is simply exquisite. While this beach is rich in color, at dusk it takes on a crimson hue as the sun sets. Since it’s a rocky beach, it’s not particularly well-suited for swimming, but you can rent equipment for free at the nearby Kuroshima Research Institute, so it might be worth giving it a try.
Location: Kuroshima, Taketomi Town, Yaeyama County, Okinawa Prefecture
Access:-
Parking: -
Dining (vicinity)
Toilet: None
Kuroshima Research Institute
To get to the Kuroshima Research Institute from Homi-utaki, leave Homi-utaki and turn left. Turn left at the first Y-intersection, then turn left again.
The Kuroshima Research Institute conducts research on marine life in the waters around Kuroshima, with a focus on sea turtles. The facility features specimens of coral and seashells, as well as informational display panels. It also houses all three species of sea turtles found in Japan: the green sea turtle, the loggerhead sea turtle, and the hawksbill sea turtle. In addition to sea turtles, the institute also houses and displays other marine life from the waters around Kuroshima.
Location: 136 Kuroshima, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa, Japan
Access: 10 minutes by bicycle from Kuroshima Port
Parking: Available
Meals (nearby): None
Toilet: Yes
Details on Fukian Mitake
| Location | Kuroshima, Taketomi Town, Yaeyama County, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Access | - |
| parking lot | - |
| toilet | - |
| Business Hours | - |
