Goto Islands | Activities to best enjoy its nature

When visiting Goto Islands, there is no doubt that you will be in awe with its stunning nature. The most obvious way to enjoy it is to relax on the many beautiful beaches it has to offer. However there are other ways to enjoy as well. Let’s dive right into it! 

 

Cycling tour

If you’d like to see more of Goto, but not be limited by worrying about where to park your car, the cycling is an excellent option. I had the pleasure of joining a cycling tour with Will (@will.l17123) who is the only English speaking guide on the island. His enthusiasm and sunshine-like energy made the cycling tour even more enjoyable. We were able to cycle by beaches, see the famous Onidake mountain of Fukue island, and even ended up in a secret cave where we enjoyed coffee made by Will. 

 

 

Trekking (light house, onidake) 

If you are someone who is looking for something slower pace, and you can stop to take photos, then trekking is your option. There are 2 that are easy and perfect for beginners but take you to beautiful look out spots. 

 

The first one is the trek down to Osezaki Lighthouse. The trek is downhill in the beginning, and is under 2km so it takes less than an hour even if you walk leisurely. On the first half of the trek down, it’s mostly covered by trees, but once you get closer to the lighthouse, you get a glimpse of the majestic and endless ocean surrounding the lighthouse. The lighthouse looks small from afar, but as you get closer, you realize that the building is actually quite tall. It was designed all the way back in 1876 by an Englishman to be able to guide the fishing boats in that area. The most incredible thing about this spot is, it is the last place where the sun sets on Japan mainland (excluding Okinawa).  

 

 

The second trekking spot is an even easier one, just 10-20 minutes up Mt. Onidake. It is a symbol of Goto, and a cinder-cone volcano. It last erupted 18,000 years ago so the mountain is covered entirely in lush green grass. There’s also a telescope where you can look down at the city just below. 

 

 

Stand-up Paddleboarding  (SUP)

If you love the ocean and want to get right into it, try Stand-up Paddleboarding. At the coast of Ohama Beach (大浜海水浴場) is Goto International House. A couple runs the SUP experience and its suitable even for complete beginners. It was my first time doing Stand-up paddleboarding, but they were very detailed in their teaching and I was able to stand up for quite a while. They do have a simple shower facility and shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, so all you need to bring is swimwear and a change of clothes. 

 

 

For all of the locations mentioned in this series, please check the map below: 

If you are looking for more off the beaten track locations, you can check out this article about 5 Cities other than Kyoto and Tokyo to visit. Todd is a well established writer for Japan travel that has written for global brands such as Lonely Planet. 

Follow me on instagram @ariel.land for more Japan travel tips