Oki Nature Museum

Learn about the natural history of the Oki Islands

Sherilyn Siy Feb 14, 2019 - 1 min read

Some of the biggest fishes caught in the waters of the Oki Islands

Obsidian. The edge is sharp enough to cut clean through a newspaper. Some of the earliest tools were made of obsidian.

On the grounds of the Tamawakasu-Mikoto Shrine is a 2000 year old cedar. Part of it broke off and the piece is exhibited in the museum. It still emits a fragrant smell. Visitors can touch the cedar trunk and take photos framed by the bark.

If you want to learn more about the natural history of the Oki Islands, the Oki Nature Museum is a must-visit. Catering to all visitors but with a special appeal to children, the exhibits are eye-catching. Museum staff will enthusiastically demonstrate how obsidian, a glasslike volcanic rock formed from the rapid solification of lava and common in the islands, can be as sharp as your regular cutter knife and was probably one of the earliest tools. Take your time exploring the biodiversity of the islands with the vast collection of taxidermy birds, small mammals, reptiles and fish. Aside from the obsidian, there is another exhibit that you can touch and smell: a chunk off the 2000 year old cedar tree from the Tamawaku-Mikoto Shrine that broke off in a storm. The hole in the trunk makes a natural frame for a photo. Have fun with hte 3D photo spot of a crocodile with its mouth wide open.

The Oki Nature Museum is a 1-2 minute walk from the Saigo Port Ferry Terminal. The Oki Geopark Vistory Center is right next to the museum.

Sherilyn Siy @sherilyn.siy

For Sherilyn Siy, Asia is home. Born in Hong Kong, Sherilyn spent time in the Philippines, China, and now lives in Japan. She speaks English, Filipino, Chinese (or putonghua), and Hokkien, her family's local dialect. Running is one of her favorite ways to explore Japan. She proudly finished the 2...