Overview
Tobishima, is an inhabited island located in the Sea of Japan, administered part of Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. The island, 2.75 km² in area, had 275 inhabitants as of 2005.
Description
Tobishima is a small island with a circumference of 10.2 kilometers. To visit, you will need to take a boat trip of approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from the Sakata port via Tobishima ferry. There are one to three services a day. Day trips are possible. However, if you have made the effort to come here, why don't you stay overnight and enjoy the island at a relaxed pace. The entire island has been designated as a quasi-national park. Therefore, it is popular with tourists who enjoy walking and bird watching while being surrounded by rich nature.
The recommended time for walking is around June. This is when the vivid yellow flowers of Tobishima daylilies bloom. You can only see these Tobishima daylilies on Tobishima and Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture. You can see them in various places on the island. However, our top recommendation is the Arasaki Coast where Tobishima daylilies grow everywhere.
The recommended time for bird watching in the spring and fall migration periods from late April to late May and from late September to late October. Approximately 300 species of wild birds rest their wings on Tobishima - a stopping point for migratory birds. You may even be able to see rare wild birds that you cannot normally see. The island bustles with many birdwatchers at this time. Accommodation is limited, so please book early!
Tobishima is also one of Japan's leading fishing spots. You can catch various types of fish here (e.g., red sea bream, black porgy, yellowtail amberjack, and righteye flounder). There is also an inn run by a fisherman who directly manages a fisherman's group on the island. Therefore, in addition to consulting with him about fishing boats, you can also eat fresh seafood.
There are also mysterious spots on the island. There are lots of incredible legends here. These include a mysterious cave where many human bones and earthenware artifacts from the Heian period (794 to 1185) have been excavated, a mysterious stone fort where indecipherable ancient pictographs have been engraved located on the summit of Tateiwa that is said to have been a bandit den or pirate fort, and the Sai no Kawara that is believed to serve as a place where the souls of the dead have dwelt since long ago. In addition, there are many other highlights on the island. For example, there are rocks in shapes of candles and mammoths due to a submarine volcano and wave erosion, a bell at the edge of the seashore that is the best spot to view the sun setting over the Sea of Japan, and Hanatozaki Observation platform that is a spot where you can see Mt. Chokai.