"Having Nothing" is a Whole New World of Fun! Oki Islands with Kids~.
~A Family Trip to the Oki Islands with a 4-Year-Old & 1-Year-Old (3 Days, 2 Nights)~
Midsummer Obon getaway☀️⛴️
No convenience stores, nothing nearby.
But I'm going to share all about our Oki Islands trip, where we totally unplugged, relaxed, and enjoyed a digital detox! (With almost zero planning, lol)
[Day 1]
Departed from Shichirui Port (2nd class, bought tickets on the day🎫)
Since it was the Obon holiday, it was insanely crowded.
Packed like sardines...🫨lol
My 4-year-old son stepped outside the ferry
and just kept wandering around, enjoying the nice breeze.
Thankfully, there was a kids' room,
so he had a blast without even feeling the boat rocking⛴️
Arrived at Hishiura Port
As soon as we got there, we went to the Kinnyamonnya Center, directly connected to the port
「 」🍴
The marinated Shimame squid bowl and shio-koji fried chicken set were delicious!
Dropped our bags off at our accommodation, Glamping TADAYOI,
and quickly called to book a taxi!
We took a wagon big enough for 4 adults and 2 kids
and headed to Oki's most famous scenic spot🐎
It was so hot that the horses were barely around...
but we did spot a few here and there along the way!
The breathtaking view completely refreshed my soul~☘︎︎
Then we moved on to the Tsutenkyo Arch🚕
Before we knew it, it was BBQ time,
so we headed back to TADAYOI!
We indulged in a luxurious feast of Oki beef, oysters, and squid,
and even scarfed down some mackerel curry as an extra!
Our place had a shower, but we went over to ento's large public bath
to wash off the day’s fatigue and dirt← before hitting the bed🛌
Falling asleep to the sound of the waves felt sooo good!
[Day 2]
First thing in the morning,
We saw sooo many sea breams under the boat!
The kids were super excited, and the 50-minute cruise
flew by in a flash🚢🏖️
Took a bus to
where Emperor Go-Toba is enshrined,
and even got a goshuin (shrine stamp)...
Then headed to
that the taxi-calling uncle recommended to us.
After that, we headed back to Hishiura Port!
At an event, we drew some of our favorite memories on a flag for the boat
and scored an Amanbow keychain🎨
(We booked in advance since we heard it gets packed)
Oki beef, born and raised right here on the island🥩!!
It was so tender with no gamey smell at all—absolutely delicious!
The last night is going to be long! So...
We took a quick afternoon nap~
Then went swimming at
just a 1-minute walk away🏖️
The water was so clear! So blue! So gorgeous!!!
We rented a sand toy set and just chilled out~
Dad and son took on the kayaking
we booked at !
With the clear kayaks, you could see right through to the ocean floor👀🌊
My son was thrilled, shouting, "I saw fish!"
Meanwhile, Dad was completely worn out🐟lol
Had a BBQ~ Then we found out there happened to be a local Bon Odori festival
in the Ama Town district, so we tagged along
to dance and check out the food stalls🎆
Honestly, the locals were all so incredibly nice...
The warm vibe and the strong sense of community unique to island life truly touched my heart😢🤍
Ended the night with a bonfire, feeling we had done it all! Then off to bed🛌
[Day 3]
From Hishiura Port to Sakaiminato⚓️
Crowded once again! But we learned our lesson
from the ferry ride here, so we lined up early, grabbed a good spot,
bought some snacks at the kiosk, and set off on our 3-hour boat trip~
[Summary]
Since the kids are little, I was pretty anxious at first—worrying about the heat, the food, and thinking there wouldn't be anywhere to play...
But the air was so fresh, and managing the heat was basically just about applying sunscreen,
much like our usual daily walks.
As for food, there were plenty of shareable dishes,
and we managed to grab some snacks at the shops near Hishiura Port, so surviving without convenience stores or supermarkets was totally fine!
Sticking to an easygoing schedule tailored to the kids,
we fully embraced the nature-rich Oki Islands.
Beyond just a digital detox, we soaked in the stunning views, ran free in wide-open spaces, and had so many great conversations.
It was a 3-day, 2-night getaway that truly refreshed both the kids and the parents!