Sharabune on Nishinoshima Island, Oki Islands

Introduction

On the morning of August 16 each year, the shores of Nishinoshima Island in the Oki Archipelago come alive with a deeply moving farewell. Colorful straw boats adorned with hundreds of fluttering paper banners are launched into the sea, carrying the spirits of ancestors back to the Western Pure Land. This is Sharabune — one of Japan's most visually striking and emotionally profound Obon traditions, preserved for well over a century on this remote island in the Sea of Japan.

The name "Sharabune" derives from "shōryō-bune" (spirit boat), spoken in the distinctive Oki dialect. While spirit-sending rituals exist across Japan, the Sharabune of Oki Nishinoshima stands apart for its remarkable scale, communal involvement, and the unforgettable spectacle of massive boats — some exceeding 10 meters in length — being towed across the brilliant blue waters of Mita Bay.

Historical Background

The origins of spirit-boat sending on the Oki Islands stretch far back into Japanese folk tradition. For centuries, coastal communities throughout the archipelago crafted small straw boats to carry offerings and send off ancestral spirits at the close of the Obon festival. On Nishinoshima, individual households originally made their own small boats for this purpose.

Around the mid-Meiji period (roughly the 1880s–1890s), communities in Nishinoshima's Mita and Urago districts began constructing large communal boats instead, a transformation that gave birth to the spectacular tradition seen today. Each of the nine participating settlements — five in the Mita district (Funakoshi, Komukai, Ōtsu, Ichibū, and Hashi) and four in the Urago district (Urago, Shakunoe, Chinzaki, and Mitabe) — builds its own distinctive Sharabune, making each vessel a unique expression of local identity and craftsmanship.

The boats were traditionally constructed from wheat straw (mugiwara), but as wheat cultivation declined on the island during the high-growth economic period of the 1960s, rice straw became the primary material. As even rice straw grew scarce on the island, communities adapted further — some, like Funakoshi and Ōtsu, switched to reeds and miscanthus grass, while others, such as Hashi and Mitabe, transitioned to wooden boat frames.

Why It Was Designated as a Cultural Property

In February 2004, the Agency for Cultural Affairs selected the Sharabune of Oki Nishinoshima as a folk cultural property requiring documentation and preservation measures (記録作成等の措置を講ずべき無形の民俗文化財). The protection groups are the Mita District and Urago District communities.

The designation recognizes several distinctive values. First, the practice preserves a communal form of spirit-sending that has evolved from individual household customs into a large-scale collective ritual — a transformation that itself tells a story about the development of community bonds on remote islands. Second, the involvement of children, who actively participate in collecting offerings from homes and gravesites and ride aboard the boats, ensures intergenerational transmission of spiritual customs. Third, the variety of practices across the nine settlements — from the grand towed processions of Funakoshi and Urago to the intimate ritual at Chinzaki where the boat is deliberately slammed to the ground — reveals the rich diversity of folk belief even within a single island community.

Highlights and What to See

The Grand Procession at Funakoshi

The most visually spectacular Sharabune event takes place at the Funakoshi settlement, where preparations begin as early as August 5. The boat's wooden frame is assembled around August 8, the exterior is finished with reeds and grasses by August 9, and children spend subsequent days collecting banners (bonbata) from homes and gravesites. On the morning of August 16, the massive vessel — often exceeding 10 meters in length — is launched into the harbor as women chant Buddhist hymns (goeika) on the shore. Towed by fishing boats, the Sharabune circles the harbor three times before being pulled across Mita Bay toward Cape Kiji-ga-hana near Takuhi-san mountain.

The Ritual at Chinzaki

In the Chinzaki settlement, the Sharabune is carried on the shoulders of residents like a portable shrine (mikoshi), visiting each household that has experienced a death in the past year. After collecting the spirits, the boat is dramatically thrown to the ground — a visceral act that reveals the complex and sometimes ambivalent emotions surrounding the departure of the deceased.

The Final Farewell at Mitabe

The Mitabe settlement holds the last spirit-sending ceremony on the island, performed in the evening. According to local tradition, this final ceremony gathers and sends off any spirits still lingering on the island. The belief that New Year comes to Nishinoshima from Mitabe suggests this settlement holds a special spiritual significance in the island's folk cosmology.

The Bonbata (Spirit Banners)

Among the most striking visual elements are the bonbata — colorful paper banners inscribed with Buddhist sutras that are attached to the boat's mast. Created from vivid colored paper, these banners flutter magnificently in the sea breeze, transforming each vessel into a floating garden of color against the deep blue ocean.

Visitor Information

The Sharabune ceremony takes place every year on the morning of August 16, primarily along the coastlines of the Mita and Urago districts. The event draws visitors from across Japan and is widely covered by media. Visitors should arrive on Nishinoshima at least one day before the event, as the ceremony begins at dawn (around 6:00 AM).

Nishinoshima is accessible by ferry or high-speed boat from Shichirui Port (Matsue, Shimane Prefecture) or Sakai Port (Tottori Prefecture). The Oki Kisen ferry "Kuniga" departs Shichirui Port at 9:30 AM and arrives at Nishinoshima's Beppu Port at approximately 12:05 PM, taking about 2.5 hours. The Rainbow Jet high-speed boat completes the journey in about 1 hour. Alternatively, visitors can fly from Osaka Itami Airport or Izumo Airport to Oki Airport on Okinoshima Island, then take a ferry or high-speed boat to Nishinoshima.

Accommodation options on the island are limited, so early booking is strongly recommended, especially during the Obon season. Rental cars are the most convenient way to get around the island, as the municipal bus service operates limited routes.

Surrounding Attractions

Nishinoshima offers a wealth of natural and cultural attractions beyond the Sharabune ceremony. The Kuniga Coast on the island's northwestern shore features some of Japan's most dramatic sea cliffs, including the 257-meter Matengai cliff — one of the largest sea-eroded cliffs in the country. The Tsūtenkyo natural rock arch bridge is another geological marvel along this coastline. Grazing horses and cattle roam freely along the cliff-top meadows, creating an unexpectedly pastoral scene above the wild ocean.

Takuhi Shrine, nestled in a natural cave on the mountainside, is the oldest shrine architecture in the Oki Islands and is designated as a National Important Cultural Property. It has long been revered as a guardian deity of seafarers.

Yura-hime Shrine, designated as the premier shrine (ichinomiya) of the historical Oki Province, is associated with legends connecting the deity Yura-hime to squid — explaining the island's thriving squid fishing tradition.

The Kuroki Gosho site is traditionally believed to be where Emperor Go-Daigo resided during his exile to the Oki Islands in 1332, adding a layer of imperial history to the island's cultural landscape.

Nishinoshima is also part of the Oki Islands UNESCO Global Geopark, recognized for its unique geological heritage that tells a 600-million-year story of the Earth's history.