Welcome to our Youth Island Blog.

This time, we, two high school students from The Hiroshima Global Academy, will introduce you to the highest peak on the island of Osakikamijima, Mt. Kami-no-mine.

It is said that if you get to the peak of this mountain, you can see all of the 155 islands that surround Osakikamijima. Kami-no-mine is the highest peak on the island of Osakikamijima. On a clear and sunny day, the Shikoku mountain range and the bridges of the Shimanami Kaido can be seen in the distance, offering a beautiful panorama of the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. The beauty of the many islands is reputed to be the best in the Seto Inland Sea, and the islands’ lines are reflected in the azure sea, offering a spectacular view in each of the four seasons.

Along the trail to the summit, there are cute Jizo statues, and at the top, The Ishizuchi Shrine and Yakushido Hall are enshrined, making it a mountain of faith. There are two ways to reach the summit: by trail or by car. In addition to its spectacular views, the mountain has long been deeply rooted in the lives of the islanders as an object of worship and the setting for folk tales and legends.

Passing the first observatory and the wooden deck, and proceeding further into the mountain, you will find the second observatory, The Ishizuchi Shrine. There, the old observatory with its rocks and wooden desk remains. The current observatory was built after this one. On the way to Ishizuchi Shrine from the first observatory, there is a Kemono (animal) trail that leads off to the side. It is said that people heading to the Yakushido Hall at the summit used this path to avoid passing in front of the Ishizuchi Shrine deity. It is evident that various beliefs have taken root in Mt. Kami-no-mine.

Mt. Kami-no-mine, the center of Osakikamijima, is not only a symbol of beautiful Japanese nature, but also of the life and culture of the citizens of this island.