Okushiri Island is located off the coast of Esashi in southern Hokkaido, in the southwestern part of the prefecture.

Surrounded by the crystal-clear, beautiful sea known as "Okushiri Blue," this island is an attractive resort destination where you can enjoy abundant seafood, including sea urchins, as well as untouched nature such as reefs and unique rock formations shaped by the rough waves of the Sea of ​​Japan, and beech forests with trees over 100 years old.

However, Okushiri Island, being a remote island, can only be accessed by ferry or plane. Moreover, there are only a limited number of services per day, so it takes some time to get there.

However, enjoying such inconveniences is also part of the charm of traveling to remote islands.

So, this time, I've compiled a list of ways to get to Okushiri Island, divided into airplane and ferry options.

<Table of Contents>
1. Take a plane from Hakodate Airport to Okushiri Island.
2. Take a ferry to Okushiri Island
3. How do I get from Sapporo to Okushiri Island?
Summary

The only airport with direct flights to Okushiri Airport, the gateway to Okushiri Island, is Hakodate Airport in southern Hokkaido. To get to Hakodate Airport, it is recommended to take a flight from any major city to Hakodate Airport or take the Shinkansen (bullet train).

HAC (Hokkaido Air System) and Japan Airlines (JAL) operate one round-trip direct flight per day. The fare is 16,100 yen during normal periods. The flight time is approximately 30 minutes. The schedule as of June 2018 is as follows:

Hakodate 11:15 → Okushiri 11:45
Okushiri 12:15 → Hakodate 12:45

However, this varies depending on the season, so please check the JAL website for details.

Photo by Wikipedia: View of Esashi Port Marina and Kamimachi district from Kamomejima Island / BATACHAN

Next, let's look at how to access the area by ferry. Ferries depart not from Hakodate Port, but from two locations: Esashi Port in Esashi Town and Setana Port in Setana Town. Both operate one round trip per day. If you're traveling from Hakodate and plan to use the ferry, Esashi Port is recommended.

Our journey begins at JR Hakodate Station. From there, we'll take a local bus to Esashi Port.

Take the bus bound for "Esashi Terminal," and the journey will take about two hours. Get off at "Ubagami-cho Ferry-mae" and it's about a 3-minute walk to Esashi Port.

There are five buses a day to Esashi Terminal. The bus also stops at JR Hakodate-Hokuto Station, a Shinkansen (bullet train) station, making it easily accessible from the Shinkansen.

Photo by Wikipedia: Karanse Okushiri (taken at Esashi Port) / Seiseki Taisen Buu Buu

Ferries from Esashi Port to Okushiri Island depart twice a day, in the morning and evening. During peak seasons such as summer vacation, extra services may be added.

The journey to Okushiri Island takes approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. Fares vary depending on the seat. The "First Class Island View Seat," which allows you to enjoy the silhouette of Okushiri Island and the crystal-clear waters from inside the ship, costs 4,610 yen for adults (4,710 yen in summer). Second-class seats, which feature reclining seats, cost 2,900 yen for reserved seats (3,000 yen in summer) and 2,370 yen for unreserved seats (2,470 yen in summer), with children paying half price.

In addition, there are facilities such as women-only second-class cabins, a kids' space, and pet rooms where you can enjoy the cruise with your pet.

By plane from Chitose Airport

Photo by Wikipedia: Inside the New Chitose Airport terminal building. /Keyaki

If you want to get to Okushiri Island as quickly as possible, taking a plane is recommended. It's best to fly from Okadama Airport or New Chitose Airport to Hakodate Airport, and then take a direct flight to Okushiri Island from there.

The flight time to Hakodate Airport from either airport is approximately 40-45 minutes. From Hakodate Airport to Okushiri Island is also about 30 minutes, so if everything goes smoothly, you can reach Okushiri Island in just under two hours.

By ferry from Setana Port

Photo by Wikipedia: Setana Port as seen from Tateyama Mountain / Soica2001 (talk)

If you want to enjoy a relaxed island lifestyle, a ferry is the way to go. If you're coming from Sapporo Station, we recommend taking the express bus "Setana-go" and boarding the ferry at Setana Port.

Photo by Wikipedia: Odori Bus Center (Underground Platform) / Chuoterminal 02

From Sapporo Station, take the Tozai Subway Line and get off at Bus Center-mae Station. From the bus stop, board the "Setana-go" bus. The fare for the Setana-go is 5,140 yen for adults. A round trip is a bit cheaper at 9,680 yen.

Reservations are required in advance. For details, please check the website of the operating company, Hokuto Kotsu.

また、「せたな号」は、5月1日～10月15日までは毎日運行。そのほか12/28～12/31、1/2～1/4の年末年始の期間限定運行となっています。

Photo by Wikipedia: 261 series 1000 series 'No. 9'. Nishinosato (Signal Station) / Sappoatu

If you plan to use Setana Port at any other time of year, take the train from JR Sapporo Station to JR Oshamanbe Station, then transfer to a local bus and get off at "Setana City."

It's about a 7-minute walk from the bus stop to the ferry terminal. The journey from JR Sapporo Station to JR Oshamanbe Station takes about 120 minutes and costs 3,990 yen for adults, while the local bus takes about 100 minutes and costs 1,370 yen.

Photo by Wikipedia: Heartland Ferry, Avrora Okushiri, at Okushiri Port / Soica2001 (talk)

A ferry operates from Setana Port once a day in each direction.

Fares are as follows: 1st class Island View seats are 3,410 yen for adults (3,510 yen in summer), 2nd class reserved seats are 2,200 yen (2,300 yen in summer), and unreserved seats are 1,810 yen (1,910 yen in summer). Children's fares are half price.

The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes. You can enjoy a relaxing cruise in the ship's luxurious interior.

This article summarizes how to access Okushiri Island, a remote island floating in the Sea of ​​Japan off the coast of Hokkaido. One of the charms of Okushiri Resort is that, precisely because it's not easily accessible, you can enjoy a relaxed "island time."

When planning a trip to Okushiri Island, please forget about time and plan a relaxed and leisurely trip.

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