Just off the coast from Ishinami-kaigan, the tiny island of Kō-jima is home to a group of monkeys that apparently rinse their food in the ocean before eating, but they're a fickle bunch and hard to spot. Boats (¥1000 per person or ¥3000 per boat) can be hired at the beach near the bus stop. Ask a fisherman if you don't see any boats waiting near the seawall.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
14.56 MILES
Reached via a coastal path, this brightly painted Shintō shrine occupies an open cavern overlooking unusual rock formations in the cove below. In 2017 the…
24.92 MILES
The first thing you'll notice as you cross the Yayoibashi bridge (120m) to the island of Aoshima is the unique geological feature surrounding it. Called…
24.88 MILES
This colourful, photogenic shrine on the island of Aoshima is a favourite of visitors seeking luck in love. To the right of the main shrine, a path lined…
24.41 MILES
West of town, an 8km-long, well-maintained hiking path winds through this forested gorge following the Kaeda-gawa, a refreshingly clear stream filled with…
12.2 MILES
Only the seriously imposing walls of the original Obi-jō are intact, but the grounds and surrounding area host several important buildings, including the…
6.17 MILES
Toi-misaki is famed for its wild horses. However, lest you think this means a stampede of never-seen-a-human-before stallions, it doesn't: these 'wild'…
24.85 MILES
At Aoshima-jinja, this museum tells the story of sun goddess Amaterasu, Emperor Jimmu and the founding of Japan in wax-museum-style dioramas with English…
24.64 MILES
On the mainland across from Aoshima island, this manicured garden is home to 64 species of fruit tree.
Nearby Kyūshū attractions
6.17 MILES
Toi-misaki is famed for its wild horses. However, lest you think this means a stampede of never-seen-a-human-before stallions, it doesn't: these 'wild'…
12.2 MILES
Only the seriously imposing walls of the original Obi-jō are intact, but the grounds and surrounding area host several important buildings, including the…
14.56 MILES
Reached via a coastal path, this brightly painted Shintō shrine occupies an open cavern overlooking unusual rock formations in the cove below. In 2017 the…
24.41 MILES
West of town, an 8km-long, well-maintained hiking path winds through this forested gorge following the Kaeda-gawa, a refreshingly clear stream filled with…
5. Miyako Botanic Garden Aoshima
24.64 MILES
On the mainland across from Aoshima island, this manicured garden is home to 64 species of fruit tree.
24.85 MILES
At Aoshima-jinja, this museum tells the story of sun goddess Amaterasu, Emperor Jimmu and the founding of Japan in wax-museum-style dioramas with English…
24.88 MILES
This colourful, photogenic shrine on the island of Aoshima is a favourite of visitors seeking luck in love. To the right of the main shrine, a path lined…
24.92 MILES
The first thing you'll notice as you cross the Yayoibashi bridge (120m) to the island of Aoshima is the unique geological feature surrounding it. Called…