The name Okushiri comes from the Ainu name I-kus-un-sir. The phonetic word ikus means other side and sir means island. However, the Japanese meaning of the two kanji used for the name mean "deep inside/innermost" and "buttocks/hips".
Geography
Okushiri Island is located roughly 20 kilometers west of mainland Hokkaido. It is oval in shape with a coastline of 84 kilometers. The island spans 27 kilometers from north to south, and 11 kilometers from east to west. Mount Kamui is the island's highest peak, and reaches 584 meters.
Communities
Two main towns, Aonae at the southern tip and Okushiri in the central-eastern portion, contain the majority of the island's population and infrastructure. Additional small communities and individual households are found near the coast, and are connected by a road that circumnavigates the island.
History
Okushiri has been struck by several natural disasters, the 1983 Sea of Japan earthquake on 26 May 1983 which killed two, and the more deadly 1993 Hokkaidō earthquake and tsunami on 12 July 1993. The 1993 earthquake had a magnitude of 7.7 on the moment magnitude scale and a maximum felt intensity of VIII on the Mercalli intensity scale. It triggered a major tsunami that caused deaths on Hokkaidō and in southeastern Russia, with a total of 230 fatalities recorded. Okushiri Island was the hardest hit, with 198 casualties from the earthquake, tsunami and a large landslide. The tsunami inundated large parts of Okushiri, despite its tsunami defenses. The island subsided by. After the tsunami, the number of residents slowly declined, and continues to do so.
Transportation
serves the island with daily flights to and from Hakodate Airport. Regular ferry services to and from Esashi and Setana are provided by Heartland Ferry, and time timetable changes seasonally. A local bus service operates year-round.
Tourist activities
Okushiri Island is known for "Nabetsuru Rock" translated to "pot-handle rock," a small rock arch sitting offshore of Okushiri Town. Okushiri Island has one operating hot spring, and opportunities for fishing and swimming. The Okushiri Moonlight Marathon was started in 2013. It is the largest attraction on Okushiri Island for visitors, and attracts runners from around Japan and some foreign countries. The race starts at 3 pm and often finishes as it is getting dark. Local villagers turn out in large numbers to cheer on the runners. At the finish line, the race concludes with a seafood banquet and awards ceremony.
