Aoshima is a short drive or train journey south of Miyazaki City. Walk across this bridge to reach the island. (Photo: Amber Mezbourian)

Aoshima Rocks

Take a leisurely stroll around this beautiful island

Amber Mezbourian   - 1 minutos de lectura

Just south of Miyazaki City, Aoshima is a small island connected to the mainland by a short bridge. The island is covered in subtropical jungle, at the centre of which lies Aoshima Jinja, a shrine believed to bring good luck to couples. Most interesting, however, are the rocks that surround the island. Known as Oni no Sentakuita, or the Ogre's Washboard, these straight lines of basalt look as if they must be manmade, but are totally natural. At just 1.5km in circumference, you can easily walk around the island and admire this unusual phenomenon.

Amber Mezbourian

Amber Mezbourian @amber.mezbourian

I spent three years living in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher on the JET Programme, not knowing what to expect but with images of Tokyo, geisha and Mount Fuji in my mind. I was placed in Yamagata prefecture in a small rural town that I couldn't find in any guidebook. I learnt to sno...