Hokkaido Places

Village Shiribeshi Subprefecture

Shimamaki 島牧村

しままきむら

Shimamaki is a fishing village of about 1,200 people at the southern tip of Shiribeshi, with 48 km of Sea of Japan coastline.12 Behind the coast rises Mt. Kariba, the highest peak in southern Hokkaido. Its slopes hold a 10,700 ha primeval beech forest and the 70 m Garo Falls.34 In winter, anglers line the beaches to catch big sea-run white-spotted char (amemasu).5

Population (2020 Census)
1,356
Area
437.18 km²
District
Shimamaki District (島牧郡)
Official website
www.vill.shimamaki.lg.jp

Known for

  • Garo Falls (賀老の滝). The falls are 70 m high and 35 m wide. They were chosen for Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls (日本の滝百選) in 1991 and are also one of Hokkaido's 100 natural sights (北海道自然100選).41816 A legend says a dragon guards gold that a Matsumae retainer hid at the falls.18
  • Beech forest. A 10,700 ha primeval beech forest (ブナ原生林) covers the Kariba range.4 The Hokkaido Government and the village's Garo area map both call it the largest in Japan, and the commerce association's tourism site calls it "one of Japan's largest". None of them explains how the ranking was measured (unverified).31920 The village map says the forest is protected as a Natural Recreation Forest (自然休養林).19
  • Mt. Kariba (狩場山, 1,519.9 m). The highest peak on the Oshima Peninsula and the centerpiece of Kariba-Motta Prefectural Natural Park (狩場茂津多道立自然公園).3
  • Cape Motta Lighthouse (茂津多岬灯台). The top of the tower is 290 m above the sea. The Hokkaido Government calls it the highest lighthouse in Japan.3 That ranking uses the tower top. Measured by the height of the light itself (282 m), Amarube-zaki Lighthouse in Hyōgo is higher.2122
  • Amemasu fishing. Enoshima Beach (江ノ島海岸) is one of Japan's Top 100 Beaches (日本の渚百選). It is known as the birthplace of amemasu fishing. In winter, anglers come here for fish over 70 cm.5 The Amemasu Derby held its 35th edition in 2025–26.23
  • Seafood. The most valuable catches are sea cucumber, hokke (Atka mackerel), Kita-murasaki sea urchin and octopus.2 Donja-nori, a wild rock laver, is picked only in winter.17
  • Miyauchi Onsen (宮内温泉). This hot spring was found in the Ansei era (1850s).24 In the 1970s, Hanako the elephant came here to bathe as treatment for rickets.25
  • Hard-to-read port names. The Hokkaido fishing-port association ranks hard-to-read port names in a sumo-style list. Atchase (厚瀬) is ranked yokozuna (grand champion) and Chihase (千走) haridashi sekiwake.26

Sights & activities

Nature & scenery

  • Garo Falls and the Garo Plateau (賀老の滝・賀老高原). The falls are on the upper Chiwase River.18 A side road leaves Route 229 for the plateau car park.19
    • Car park: holds 100 cars and has the "Sawayaka" toilets with drinking water. The village map puts the falls about a 20-minute walk away.19
    • Around the plateau: a log-house rest area (ログハウス広場) with flush toilets, the dragon-legend monument, a campground and Shōryū Bridge (昇龍の橋).19
    • Closed path: the 700 m path from the log-house rest area down to the falls has been closed since 2018 because of the risk of falling rocks.1938 View the falls from the observation decks instead.64 The route from the car park to the Second Observation Deck reopened on 4 June 2026.65
    • Seasonal road: the road to the plateau closes for winter from 31 October. In 2026 it reopened on 30 May, and the campground toilets and cooking area opened with it.65
  • Dragon Water (ドラゴンウォーター). Natural carbonated water rises from a crack in the rocks of a stream flowing into Garo Falls.1966
    • It is called the dragon god's sacred water. It contains iron, and the village suggests drinking it with lemon or sugar.66
    • It is easiest to collect between mid-July and late October, when the river is low.66
  • Mt. Kariba. Routes from the Shimamaki side:1935
    • the Chiwase Shindō route, about 4 km (4.3 km per Wikipedia) and the usual choice;
    • the Makomanai route, about 8 km;
    • the Motta route, about 14 km.
    • Season: light hiking is possible from about mid-to-late July.19 In 2026 the forest road to the trailhead opened on 24 June.65
    • Cautions: watch for bears and for snow above the 6th station (light crampons recommended). At the Makomanai fork, make sure you stay on your route, especially on the way down.65
  • Cape Motta Lighthouse (茂津多岬灯台). First lit on 11 April 1937. Its light is 282 m above the sea and can be seen 23.5 nautical miles away.21 The tower top, at 290 m, is the highest in Japan. By the height of the light, Amarube-zaki Lighthouse in Hyōgo ranks first.22
    • The observation deck looks out to Okushiri Island and the Shakotan Peninsula.22
    • The only road in is the narrow Motta forest road (茂津多林道). It starts near the Setana end of Route 229's Motta Tunnel and is closed in winter.22
  • Enoshima Beach (江ノ島海岸). Swimmers and campers come in summer and amemasu anglers in winter. It is known for sunsets over the horizon.564
  • Other coastal spots:64
    • Honme Beach (本目海水浴場): a shallow beach with clear water.
    • Honme Cape Lighthouse (本目岬灯台): a black-and-white tower beside Route 229, overlooking Atchase port.
    • Ōbira Coast (大平海岸): sand and rugged rocks at the Ōbira River mouth, golden at sunset.
  • Utashima Plateau (歌島高原). A viewpoint over the whole village. On clear days you can see Mt. Yōtei.20

Onsen

  • Miyauchi Onsen Ryokan (宮内温泉旅館). Tomari 431, about 4 km inland from Route 229 on Hokkaido Road 836.6736
    • The water: a sodium bicarbonate–sulfate spring that flows out by itself at 48.8°C, about 3,000 liters a minute.68
    • The baths: 100% free-flowing, with an open-air bath and two indoor baths at different temperatures.2567
    • Day bathing: ¥500 for adults and ¥300 for children, with last entry at 20:00 (opens 10:00). Bring your own towel.69
    • The inn: a Shōwa-retro building with six rooms. It offers a snowshoe plan from late January to mid-March.6769
  • Motta Kaigan Onsen (モッタ海岸温泉). A seaside open-air bath known for its sunsets. It is closed, according to the village's April 2026 update.70 Japanese Wikipedia describes it as a radium spring.71
  • Chihasegawa Onsen (千走川温泉). This inn is the closest to Garo Falls and the Kariba trailhead. The commerce association's tourism site lists it as closed.72
  • Kinka-yu (金華湯). In September 2026 the village warned that the forest roads to Mt. Kamui and Kinka-yu are badly damaged. After a motorcycle accident and bear sightings, ordinary vehicles are not allowed in principle.73

Museums & heritage

  • Shimamaki Shiroukan (島牧知ろう館). A nature learning center next to the roadside station.62
  • Itsukushima Shrine (厳島神社). Home to five village-designated cultural properties.27
  • Hanako's hut. Hanako's former home at Miyauchi Onsen no longer stands.36 The inn's website has a PDF of the December 1971 village newsletter about her.25

Outdoor & seasonal activities

  • Fishing. The village says you can fish in every season, and charter boats work the coast.45
    • Shore fishing for amemasu is best in winter.5
    • River fishing has rules. Some waters are closed all year (保護水面), and taking yamabe (young masu salmon) is banned in others.45
  • Camping. The Garo Plateau campground opens when the plateau road opens in late spring.65

Food experiences

  • Roadside station. A grill-your-own seafood barbecue, with sea urchin and abalone.62
  • Nomikui-dokoro Ten (呑みくい処 天), Motomachi. A diner where locals gather. It serves yakiniku, seafood, set meals, rice bowls and ramen (ankake yakisoba ¥930), and has karaoke.7475
  • Petit Restaurant Karinpa (ぷちレストラン かりんぱ), Chiwase. A wood-paneled café popular with anglers (handmade hamburg steak ¥980).7675

Roadside stations (Michi-no-Eki)

Yotteke! Shimamaki (道の駅よってけ！島牧)

  • Location. Chiwase 11-1, Shimamaki (島牧郡島牧村字千走11-1), on National Route 229. Phone 0136-74-5183.16
    • By bus: about a 5-minute walk from the Niseko Bus stop "Sports Center-mae" (スポーツセンター前).77
    • The Shiroukan nature center is next door.62 The official English name is "Yotteke! Shimamaki".78
  • Hours (as of September 2026; check before visiting):
    • Station: 9:00–17:00.
    • Restaurant: 11:00–14:00.1679
    • Closed on Tuesdays (the next day if Tuesday is a holiday) and over the New Year.16
    • The station posts a notice each month with its closed days. In September 2026 it closed on the 1st, 8th, 15th, 24th and 29th, and stayed open on the Tuesday holiday of the 22nd.79
    • In summer 2026 it also opened on Tuesdays from 18 July to 17 August.50
  • Shops & products.
    • Processed seafood, Hokkaido souvenirs and sake from nearby towns.51
    • Seasonal wild mountain vegetables and fresh vegetables from local farms.51
    • Live abalone and scallops from a tank. They are packed in styrofoam boxes to take home (packing costs extra).16
    • Shima-kun and Maki-chan abalone mascots and Awabi Monaka.1617
    • Tsubu-kōji whelk, donja-nori and hokke.17
    • Collectible fishing-port cards. In February 2026, Atchase cards were in stock and Chihase cards had run out.26
    • An online shop, including brine-packed sea urchin. Adding the station's LINE account gets you a discount coupon.50
  • Food.
    • The restaurant lets you grill fresh seafood yourself.16 The village mentions sea urchin and abalone barbecue.62
    • Signature dishes: donja-nori soba (winter rock laver) and fried-cutlet curry (フライカレー).51
    • Seasonal dishes: funori soba from spring 2026 and a limited summer uni-don.5250
    • No soft-serve ice cream was confirmed.
  • Facilities.
    • Parking: 36 cars (including 2 accessible spaces) and 11 large vehicles.80
    • Toilets: open 24 hours, with warm-water bidet seats. Men's: 3 stalls and 4 urinals; women's: 5 stalls. The accessible toilet is not open 24 hours.1637 (The English page says it is, so check on site.)78
    • Wi-Fi and a baby bed.80
    • Information counter with road and tourist information; it is also the cashier.16
    • Shop and restaurant. Credit cards and other cashless payments are accepted.16
    • The Hokkaido directory also lists café/light meals, direct farm sales, a park and a museum or gallery, without naming them. The national directory does not list a café, park or museum.1680
    • The national directory lists no EV charger, ATM, campground, onsen, lodging or shower.80
  • Notes.
    • Registered on 11 April 1995, as Hokkaido's No. 20 and in the 8th national round.1680 It opened in April 1996.37
    • Its theme is "food": fresh Sea of Japan seafood.16
    • The stamp can be pressed during opening hours but not on closed days.16
    • The station is run by Abalone Co. (株式会社アバローネ). Cooperators in the graduate-school program work there.39
    • It is also a check-in point for Amemasu Derby catches.23

Getting there & around

  • Rail. There is no railway in the village. The nearest station is JR Kuromatsunai Station on the Hakodate Main Line, which is unstaffed.2781
    • From Sapporo by train and bus: take a rapid train to Otaru, then a local train to Kuromatsunai. From there, take the Niseko Bus to Suttsu and change to the bus for Sakaehama (Harauta).81
  • Bus. The only public transport into the village is the Niseko Bus Shimamaki Line from Suttsu.27
    • From Otaru: take the Chūō Bus to Iwanai, then the Niseko Bus to Suttsu, then the Shimamaki bus.81
    • On days the Niseko Bus does not run, the village runs a free substitute bus between Shimamaki and Suttsu. From September 2026 it runs on Saturdays and Sundays only, no longer on weekday holidays.82
  • Car. National Route 229 follows the coast.77 Hokkaido Road 523 (美川黒松内線, 21.2 km) runs inland to Kuromatsunai.83 Road 836 (島牧美利河線) leaves Route 229 at Tomari and passes Miyauchi Onsen.2736 The village gives these distances and times:81
From Distance Time
Sapporo 160 km about 3 h
Chitose 188 km about 2 h 50 min
Hakodate 169 km about 2 h 50 min
Muroran 125 km about 2 h
Oshamambe 63 km about 1 h
Iwanai 66 km about 1 h 10 min
  • The roadside station's figures, which include toll roads, are 165 km and 2 h 50 min from Sapporo, and 193 km and 2 h 30 min from New Chitose Airport.77
  • Taxi. Shimamaki Hire (島牧ハイヤー), phone 0136-74-5447.81
  • Nearest airport. New Chitose Airport, about 2½ hours by car.77

Practical tips

  • When to go.
    • Garo Falls and Mt. Kariba: from late May or June until 30 October, while the plateau road is open.65
    • July–August for sea urchin.50
    • Autumn for the yellow beech leaves around Garo Falls.38
    • December–March for the Amemasu Derby.23
    • January–March for fresh donja-nori.17
  • Brown bears. Bears are sighted on the Garo Plateau every year.84
    • In August 2023 the village closed the Garo road after bears were reported coming toward cars.65
    • In the five years to May 2026, the village counted 8 accidents involving people picking wild plants on the Garo Plateau. One was fatal, and in two cases the person is still missing. The village warns that bears can limit search and rescue, so do not go alone and turn back if you see bear droppings or tracks.84
    • Bear tracks were found on Enoshima Beach on 3 August 2026.85
    • Since 1 September 2026 the village has an emergency shooting manual. It covers bears entering built-up areas and attacks on people doing farm work.41
    • Stay off the damaged forest roads to Mt. Kamui and Kinka-yu.73
  • Seasonal closures.
    • The Garo Plateau road is closed from 31 October until late spring.65
    • The forest road to the Motta lighthouse is closed in winter.22
    • Motta Kaigan Onsen and Chihasegawa Onsen are closed.7072
  • Winter weather. Expect snow and northwest winds from December to March. Neighboring Suttsu averages about 454 cm of snowfall a winter.43
  • Where to stay. Places listed by the village:86248788
    • Miyauchi Onsen Ryokan;
    • Ryokan Takada (旅館タカダ), Nagatoyo-machi 56, handy for climbing Mt. Kariba and Mt. Ōbira;
    • Shimamaki Youth Hostel / Nature Inn Shimamaki (島牧ユースホステル、ネイチャーイン島牧), Chiwase 2;
    • the minshuku (family guesthouses) 民宿みなと, 民宿ヤンサ and 民宿浜風.
  • Tourist information. Shimamaki Tourism Association, inside the village office: 0136-75-6211.16
  • Public transport on weekends. Check the substitute bus timetable before you rely on buses.82

More about Shimamaki

At a glance
Field Details
Type Village (村). It is the only municipality in Shimamaki District.6
Subprefecture Shiribeshi (後志総合振興局). Shimamaki is at the southern end of the subprefecture.4
District Shimamaki District (島牧郡)6
Population 1,356 in the 2020 National Census (687 men, 669 women, 617 households). That was 9.5% fewer than the 1,499 counted in 2015.7 The preliminary 2025 Census count is 1,170 (556 households), down another 13.7%. That makes Shimamaki 174th of Hokkaido's 179 municipalities by population.8 Resident register: 1,204 on 31 August 2026, including 9 foreign residents (Hokkaido's Juki-net reference figure).1 The 1 January 2026 register counted 1,234 people in 742 households.9 The population peaked at 5,588 in 1955.10
Area 437.18 km² (GSI, 1 April 2026). The 2020 Census and the village use the same figure.1174 English Wikipedia still shows an older 437.26 km².12
Density About 2.75 people/km² (August 2026 register ÷ GSI area). The 2020 Census figure was 3.1/km².7 Japanese Wikipedia calls Shimamaki District the least densely populated district (郡) in Japan.6
Municipal history 1872: a village-chief office (戸長役場) opens at Nagatoyo (永豊) and runs the whole district. 1899: the district is split at the Ōbira River into two offices, Honme (本目) in the east and Nagatoyo in the west. 1 April 1906: the two halves become Higashi-Shimamaki (東島牧村) and Nishi-Shimamaki (西島牧村) villages. 30 September 1956: they merge to form Shimamaki Village.41314
Neighboring municipalities Shiribeshi: Suttsu (northeast), Kuromatsunai (southeast). Hiyama: Setana (southwest), Imakane (south-southeast). Oshima: Oshamambe.4
Symbols Village tree: Japanese beech (ブナ). The village calls its beech stands a "northern-limit primeval forest". Village flower: Ōbira-usuyukisō (オオヒラウスユキソウ), an edelweiss that grows on the limestone of Mt. Ōbira.415 The emblem is a stylized "シマ" (shima). It was chosen in a nationwide contest and adopted on 22 December 1967.4 No village bird was found.
Mascot Shima-kun and Maki-chan (シマくん＆マキちゃん), a pair of abalone characters. The roadside station sells them as mascots and as monaka sweets.1617
Official website https://www.vill.shimamaki.lg.jp/ (Japanese)

Name origin
  • The village's explanation. "Shimamaki" comes from the Ainu Shumakomaki, "there are rocks behind".4 Japanese Wikipedia traces this to Nagata Hōsei's (永田方正) study of Ainu place names, Hokkaidō Ezo-go Chimei-kai (北海道蝦夷語地名解).27 The name was once read "Shimakomaki" (しまこまき). In the Edo period, the Matsumae domain ran a trading post here called the Shimakomaki basho (場所).6
  • Competing readings. The Hokkaido Government's Ainu place-name list (アイヌ語地名リスト) gives the name a certainty grade of C. It records several forms:28
    • Suma-oma-i, "place where there are stones" (Matsuura Takeshirō, 松浦武四郎);
    • Suma-ko-mak-i, "behind the stones" (Nagata). This matches the village's explanation.
    • two more forms glossed "至って岡" (roughly "a great hill") and "岩の焼きたる" ("burnt rocks"). The list marks both with question marks.
  • Other local names.
    • Chiwase (千走). Japan Post reads it チワセ (Chiwase). The village writes the port name ちはせ (Chihase).2926 Nagata glossed it as "swift river". The list prefers ciw-as-pet, "river where waves stand up" (grade B).30
    • Tomari (泊). From tomari, "anchorage", because it was a good harbor for boats. Nagata says the river was originally called Poro-pet, "big river" (grade B).31
    • Harauta (原歌). From para-ota, "wide sandy beach". In southwestern Hokkaido, ota often became uta and was written with the character 歌 (grade B).32
    • Ōbira (大平). From forms built on pira, "cliff", such as pira-ko-an-pet, "river with cliffs" (grade C).33
    • Origawa (折川). Possibly o-rikan-pet, but the meaning is marked uncertain (grade C).34
  • Mt. Kariba. The name is said to come from Karinpa-us-nupuri, "mountain where cherry bark grows thickly".35

History
  • Early sites. The Sakaeiso Rock Shelter Site (栄磯岩陰遺跡) is a village-designated historic site. The ruins of Charanke Chashi (チャランケチャシ跡), an Ainu fortified site, are also listed among the village's heritage sites.27 The sources consulted give no dates or excavation details for either.
  • 1631. The Matsumae domain opens a gold mine at Shimakomaki.27
    • According to legend, a Matsumae mine official named Kotarō hid gold from the shogunate at Garo Falls. A dragon god guards it and curses anyone who digs it up.18
    • A stone monument to the dragon legend was put up on the Garo Plateau on 1 October 1993.19
  • Edo period. The coast is part of the Wajin (Japanese) territory run by the Matsumae domain.6
    • The shogunate ruled the district directly from 1807 to 1821, and again from 1855 with the Tsugaru domain on guard duty.
    • From 1859 until the Boshin War, the district belonged to the Tsugaru domain.
    • Itsukushima Shrine (厳島神社) was founded before 1803, and the temple 千走寺 in 1857.6
  • Ansei era (1854–1860). Mt. Kariba and Cape Motta blocked the land route south, so travelers went by boat.6
    • Two merchants, Suzuka Jin'emon (鈴鹿甚右衛門) of Esashi and Matsumaeya Shōbei (松前屋庄兵衛) of Tsugaru, paid to cut a road over Kariba. It ran from Sutsuki (須築, now in Setana) to Kotanishi (コタニシ), near today's Harauta. This road was the forerunner of National Route 229.6
    • Miyauchi Onsen was discovered in the same period.24
  • 1869–1879. Shimamaki District is created in 1869. Parts of it are briefly assigned to the Hirosaki, Tottori and Okayama domains and to Bukkō-ji temple.6 In 1879 the small hamlets are merged into seven villages: Utashima, Honme, 軽臼, Nagatoyo, Chiwase, 江泥辺 and Harauta.6
  • 1 April 1906. Honme, 軽臼 and Utashima merge to form Higashi-Shimamaki Village. Chiwase, Nagatoyo, 江泥辺 and Harauta form Nishi-Shimamaki Village.1314
  • After World War II. Repatriates from Karafuto (Sakhalin) and the baby boom push the population to its peak of 5,588 in 1955. The village blames the fall since then on smaller catches and on young people leaving for city jobs during Japan's high-growth years.10
  • 30 September 1956. The two villages merge to form Shimamaki Village.27
  • 1970s: Hanako the elephant. Hanako was a former Asahiyama Zoo elephant with rickets. She lived beside Miyauchi Onsen in a hut with its own bath, called "Hanako no Oyado" (花子のおやど).25
    • The inn gives her stay as 10 November 1971 to 29 May 1976. Japanese Wikipedia gives November 1970 to 1975.2536
    • A nationwide support group, the Hanako Society (ゾウの花子の会), was formed. In 1980 she moved to Paraguay with her owner, Shinoda Shūjirō (信田修治郎).36
  • 1970s parks. Kariba-Motta Prefectural Natural Park is designated on 23 June 1972.3 The national government designates the Ōbirayama Nature Conservation Area (大平山自然環境保全地域) on 28 December 1977.15
  • 1995–1996. Michi-no-Eki Yotteke! Shimamaki is registered on 11 April 1995 and opens in April 1996.1637
  • 2008. JA Shimamaki, the village farm cooperative, is dissolved on 30 May after business difficulties.27
  • 2017. From 1 December, the village runs a free bus on days the Niseko Bus does not.27
  • 2018. The walking path to Garo Falls is closed after a safety check found a risk of falling rocks.38
  • December 2024. Shimamaki signs a 10-year partnership with the Graduate School of Project Design (事業構想大学院大学). The village calls the program Japan's first to make regional revitalization cooperators (地域おこし協力隊) graduate students at the same time.39
  • 27 September 2025. The village declares the goal of a "Zero Carbon City" by 2050.40
  • 1 September 2026. The village starts using an emergency brown-bear shooting manual.41

Geography & climate
  • Location. Shimamaki lies at about 42°41′N, 140°03′E. Its northwest side faces the Sea of Japan.4
    • The coastline is 47.9 km long. Only Otaru (68.6 km) and Shakotan (50.5 km) have longer coasts in Shiribeshi.2
    • Settlements line the coast. The former Higashi-Shimamaki area includes Toyohama (豊浜), Honme and Utashima (歌島). The former Nishi-Shimamaki area includes Ōbira, Nagatoyo-machi, Tomari, Chiwase, Enoshima, Motomachi (元町), Harauta-machi and Sakaehama (栄浜).2729
  • Mountains. Peaks include Mt. Kariba, Mt. Ōbira (大平山), Mt. Kamui (神威山) and Mt. Okotsunai (オコツナイ岳).27
    • Mt. Kariba (1,519.9 m) sits on the border with Setana. It is an andesite stratovolcano that was active about 800,000 to 250,000 years ago.35
    • Mt. Ōbira (about 1,191 m; Wikipedia gives both 1,190.6 m and 1,190.7 m) is the core of the national Ōbirayama Nature Conservation Area (674 ha).4215
    • Going up Mt. Ōbira, the forest changes from beech to Erman's birch to creeping pine. The beech stands are close to the northern limit for beech in Japan. Rare limestone plants such as Ōbira-usuyukisō and Chōnosuke-sō (チョウノスケソウ, Dryas) grow near the summit.15
  • Water features.
    • Rivers: the Tomari (泊川), Garo (賀老川), Chiwase (千走川), Ōbira (大平川), Origawa (折川) and Honbetsu (ホンベツ川).
    • Waterfalls: Garo, Shiraito, Hakuryū and Kogane.
    • Also Kamui Limestone Cave (神威鍾乳洞) and Utashima Pond (歌島沼).27
  • Kariba-Motta Prefectural Natural Park. Designated in 1972, the park covers 22,647 ha in Suttsu, Shimamaki and Setana. It includes:3
    • the Mt. Kariba mountain area;
    • the wave-cut coast from Cape Benkei to Cape Mizutare, centered on Cape Motta;
    • part of the Mt. Ōbira area and its limestone flora.
  • Climate. The Japan Meteorological Agency has no station in the village, so these figures are from neighboring Suttsu (1991–2020 averages):43
    • Mean temperature 8.9°C for the year, −2.3°C in January and 21.2°C in August.
    • Precipitation 1,250.6 mm a year.
    • About 454 cm of snow falls each winter. The deepest snow of the year averages 73 cm.
    • Northwest winds prevail from November to March.
  • Records at Suttsu. 34.0°C (20 August 1904), −15.7°C (3 January 1912) and 189 cm of snow on the ground (17 March 1945).44 The village describes its own climate as mild.4

Economy & industry
  • Fishing. Fishing is the village's main industry. About 30% of working residents are involved in it in some way.45
    • In 2024, Shimamaki landed 3,104 t of seafood worth ¥974 million.2
    • By weight, the biggest named catches were hokke (947 t), walleye pollock (441 t), Pacific cod (429 t), yellowtail (140 t), herring (116 t) and octopus (112 t).2
    • By value, the leading named species were sea cucumber (¥122 million), hokke (¥118 million), Kita-murasaki sea urchin (¥113 million), octopus (¥83 million), northern pink shrimp (ほっこくあかえび, ¥66 million) and spear squid (¥49 million).2
  • The fishing cooperative. The Shimamaki Fisheries Cooperative (島牧漁業協同組合) was founded on 14 October 1949 and is based at Minato 100.2
    • It had 101 members (77 full, 24 associate) at the end of FY2024.2
    • More than half were 60 or older: about 21% in their 60s and 34% aged 70 or over.2
    • The village promotes stock enhancement (作り育てる漁業) and more seafood processing.45
  • Recreational fishing. Charter boats work about 50 km of fishing grounds along the national route.45 Winter amemasu fishing brings visitors in the off-season.5
  • Farming. Farming is small-scale, and JA Shimamaki was dissolved in 2008.27
    • The mayor names rice and asparagus as local farm products.46
    • Shimamaki-grown Nanatsuboshi and Yumepirika rice are furusato nōzei gifts.47
    • Honey is on the village's list of specialties.4
  • Energy.
    • The Shimamaki Wind Farm (島牧ウインドファーム) stands on the 月越 plain along Hokkaido Road 523. Japanese Wikipedia gives its output as 4,500 kW, and the commerce association's tourism site as 4,300 kW.2720
    • The village's renewable-energy basic plan was revised in February 2026. It aims to fit new power generation around farming, forestry and fishing.48
  • Tourism. Hokkaido counted 52,100 visitors in FY2025, up 4.6% from 49,800 in FY2024.49
    • 40,000 were day-trippers and 12,100 stayed overnight. 10,200 came from outside Hokkaido.
    • August is the busiest month (11,300 visitors).
    • Foreign overnight guests numbered 290, down from 496. Most came between January and March.49
  • Population and aging. The population fell from 5,588 (1955) to 1,356 (2020), then to a preliminary 1,170 in 2025.1078
    • In 2015, 40.6% of residents were 65 or older.10
    • The village's 2021 population plan used a national (IPSS) projection. It forecast 1,140 people for 2025 and 716 for 2040.10 The 2025 preliminary count (1,170) came in slightly above that forecast.8
  • Revitalization.
    • Cooperators in the graduate-school program work at Abalone Co. (株式会社アバローネ), which runs the roadside station.
    • They take evening classes at the university's Shimamaki satellite campus. Their thesis is a business plan for a start-up in the village.39
    • In 2026 the village added an entrepreneur course based on tourism experiences. It is recruiting a few people to start in October 2026 and five in April 2027.39

Local specialties
Specialty Category Details & where to get it
Kita-murasaki sea urchin (キタムラサキウニ) Seafood The third most valuable named species landed in 2024.2 In summer the roadside station serves a limited uni-don (sea urchin rice bowl) from 11:00 to 14:00. It also sells brine-packed ensui uni online, made with the youth division of the Shimamaki commerce association (商工会青年部).50
Hokke (ほっけ) Seafood The largest catch by weight (947 t in 2024).2 The station describes local hokke as thick and fatty, best simply grilled.17
Donja-nori (どんじゃ海苔) Seaweed A wild rock laver picked only from January to March, when the sea is coldest. The name comes from donza, the thick quilted work coats fishermen once wore.17 Try it in donja-nori soba at the roadside station.5152
Funori soba (ふのりそば) Noodles A seasonal soba topped with funori seaweed, added to the station's menu in spring 2026.52
Shimamaki nori-manma (しままき海苔まんま) Local dish An old local seaweed rice box, recreated in 2017 by the commerce association's women's group. It has Garo rice, donja-nori, boiled botan shrimp and boiled sand lance. It placed third in a popularity vote at the "Namara Umaissho! Grand Prix" food fair at Sapporo Dome, selling 1,292 servings in three days.53
Whelk (白つぶ・つぶ) Shellfish The station sells Korikkori! Tsubu-kōji, white whelk cured in salt kōji.17 A 600 g pack of whelk caught off Shimamaki is a furusato nōzei gift.47
Shrimp (えび) Seafood Nama-fūmi ebi amazuke is local sweet shrimp in a house marinade with no additives, sold in jars.447 The gift list also includes Sea of Japan botan and sweet shrimp.47
Nama-fūmi uni, shirasu tsukudani (生風味うに・しらす佃煮) Seafood preserves Sea urchin preserved to keep a fresh taste, and baby fish simmered in soy sauce. Both are on the village's list of specialties.4
Octopus (タコ) Seafood 112 t landed in 2024.2 Furusato nōzei gifts include tako-shabu slices and boiled octopus legs.47
Awabi Monaka (あわびもなか) Sweets Wafer sweets shaped like the mascots. Shima-kun has dark bean paste and Maki-chan white bean paste. Sold at the roadside station.17
Shrimp crackers (しままきエビせんべい) Snack / experience Local sweet shrimp pressed onto a cracker made with Shimamaki's Garo rice (賀老米). Octopus and whelk toppings cost extra. It was a make-your-own event at Golden Week 2026 (from ¥300).54
Rice, honey (米・ハチミツ) Farm produce Shimamaki Nanatsuboshi and Yumepirika rice come in 5 kg bags as furusato nōzei gifts.47 Honey is a listed village specialty.4
"Happy Kokko-chan" eggs (ハッピーコッコちゃんたまご) Eggs "Natural eggs" (自然卵) from Organic Farm Happy Place. They are offered as furusato nōzei gifts, including 6- and 12-month subscriptions.47
Furusato nōzei (ふるさと納税) Program Donors of ¥10,000 or more receive local products, once per fiscal year. You can donate at the village office or through Satofull, Furunavi, Rakuten and Furusato Choice.55 Amemasu Derby entrants can also turn their entry fee into a tax-deductible donation afterwards.56

Culture & festivals
Event When Highlights
Amemasu Derby in Shimamaki (あめますダービーin島牧) 1 December to late March. The 35th derby ran from 1 December 2025 to 22 March 2026. The 2027 derby opens on 1 December 2026. A season-long shore-fishing contest for white-spotted char along the whole village coast. Lures and flies only; general-class fish must be at least 50 cm. Entry is ¥2,500 per class, or ¥4,500 for both lure and fly. Catches are checked in at the village office, the roadside station or Karinpa café.2357 The 2026 grand champion was an 80 cm, 7.1 kg fish from Enoshima on 6 March.58
Golden Week shrimp-cracker workshop (エビせんべいづくり体験) Golden Week (2026: 29 April and 2–6 May), 9:00–16:00 Press your own local sweet-shrimp cracker at the roadside station.54
Shimamaki Fish Festival (島牧村 さかなまつり) Held 14 June 2025, 9:00–13:00. No 2026 date was found, so it may not be yearly. An all-you-can-pack sale of fresh Shimamaki fish at the roadside station.59
Summer sea-urchin campaign (島牧うにキャンペーン) July–August Limited uni-don at the roadside station. In summer 2026 the station also opened on Tuesdays from 18 July to 17 August.50
Village sports day (村民大運動会) and walking event (歩こう会) September (sports day on the first Saturday) East, west and central districts compete at the Chiwase sports ground. The walk covers about 10 km of village scenery from the village office.60
Shimamaki Autumn Taste Festival (しままき秋の味祭り) 2026: Saturday 3 October, from 11:30 Magic and impersonation shows, and free "Shimamaki seafood skewers" while they last.61
Village culture festival (島牧村文化祭) Last Saturday–Sunday of October Flower, calligraphy, art, photo and stone exhibits, with a tea ceremony and cooking classes.60
Furusato performing-arts show (ふるさと演芸会) Second Saturday of November Songs, plays and dances by nursery children, schoolchildren and residents, plus a professional Jōmon-drum (縄文太鼓) performance.60
  • Shrines and temples. Itsukushima Shrine (巌島神社/厳島神社) dates from before 1803.6 Five of its items are village-designated tangible cultural properties:27
    • a votive plaque of "four seasons" haiku (四季発句);
    • stone lanterns;
    • guardian lion-dogs (komainu);
    • an Ebisu statue;
    • an offertory drum.
  • Other Edo-period sites. Honme Shrine (本目神社) is said to have been founded by 大宮平治 of Honme village. The temple 千走寺 was founded in 1857.6
  • Nature center. The Shimamaki Shiroukan (島牧知ろう館) stands next to the roadside station. It introduces the village's wildlife and plants with dioramas and panels.62

Ainu heritage
  • Place names. Many local names come from Ainu, as described under Name origin above:
    • the village name itself;
    • Chiwase, Tomari, Harauta and Ōbira;
    • Mt. Kariba.283031323335
  • The Charanke Chashi ruins. The village has the ruins of a chashi (fortified Ainu site) called Charanke Chashi (チャランケチャシ跡).27 A charanke chashi is the kind of chashi used for debate and negotiation.63
  • Little else is documented. No Ainu cultural facility was found in the village. The Sakaeiso Rock Shelter Site is a village historic site, but the sources consulted do not give its period or contents.27

Sister & friendship cities

None found. The village website and the other sources consulted list no domestic or international partner.

Notable people
  • Takahashi Yuichi (高橋諭一), born 1 February 1963, is from Shimamaki. A composer and arranger known for his work with Chisato Moritaka and Hello! Project artists.89
  • Nakata Masashi (中田雅史), born 2 December 1984, is from Shimamaki. A singer-songwriter who began as a street performer in 2004.90

Sources

Numbers in the text link to these sources. Figures as of 23 September 2026

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