Winter
The chilly winter months are the quiet season in Kujukushima. The winter sea is transparent and the air is clear, so the vast spread of the islands can be viewed unobscured by mist. The 208 islands act as a natural breakwater, quieting what might otherwise be rough winter seas.
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Hamajincho
In Japan this flowering plant (Myoporum bontioides) is only found in areas around western Kyushu and Okinawa. Due to its rarity, a colony on Okinawa has even been designated a Natural Monument. Ocean currents distribute the seeds, which can sometimes be seen bobbing on the surface of the water.
Funakoshi Observatory
A boat ride through the islands is a great way to experience Kujukushima, but the bird’s-eye view offered by an observatory allows visitors to grasp the sheer expanse and density of the islands. This barrier-free observatory not far from the islands is considered one of the finest places to gain such a view of the region.
Winter Scenery
Although Kujukushima has a hot and sunny warm-temperate climate throughout the summer, in the winter snow does fall across the islands. While the mild, marine climate means that the snow does not tend to accumulate, several times a year the snowfall creates an entirely different landscape.
Kujukushima Oyster Festival
The waters around the islands are home to one of Japan’s largest oyster cultivation industries. Their delicious product is branded as the Kujukushima Oyster, and each winter this event brings in thousands of visitors eager to sample fresh oysters just pulled from the ocean.
