O Island

Oshima is an island in Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, with an elevation of 27 meters and a circumference of about 2 km. It is the largest island on the Echizen Coast and has long been treated with reverence by locals as a "god’s island." It is included within the Echizen-Kaga Coast Quasi-National Park, along with Tojinbo. On the west slope of the island stands Oshima Lighthouse, and due to local lore—including stories of people who died after walking the island counterclockwise—there is a custom that you should always walk around the island clockwise. You cannot drive onto the island; you park at the lot on the mainland side, then cross the red Oshima Bridge on foot or by bicycle and climb 78 steps. Once on the island, trees such as yabunikkei and tabu create an atmosphere that feels like stepping into a mysterious world of dense vegetation. The entire island is made of rhyolite, and you can also see platy joints (itabajousetsuri). At "Magnet Rock," thermal remanent magnetism is strong enough that magnets can shift. There is also Ominato Shrine, whose main hall and worship hall are designated as Fukui Prefectural cultural properties. To get to Oshima, take a bus for about 25 minutes from Mikuni Station. You can also view Tojinbo from Oshima.