[Onko-no-So Tree in Yagishiri Island] Dome of Japanese Yew Can Be Entered into

Onko-no-Sho Tree

Onko-no-Sho Tree (オンコの荘) is an old tree along a walk path between Uguisudani Vallay (ウグイス谷) and Shirahama Camping Ground (白浜キャンプ場) in the southern part of Yagishiri Island (焼尻島), and is a part of Onko Forest (オンコの森). The Sho (荘) means “A building” in English, for exaple, it is used as a villa (別荘). When I visited here, Marguerite was the best season, and it was full in bloom along the walk path. That was a beautiful view. In addition, a combination of the sea and a sheep ranch is a superb scenery from here. Admission free.

Onko Forest

Onko Forest (オンコの森) is a virgin forest in the eastern part of Yagishiri Island (焼尻島). The Onko means “Japanese yew” in Hokkaido dialect. About 50,000 Japanese yews grow naturally, and those have been designated a natural monument in Japan. Except the Japanese yews, 50 types of coniferous trees and broadleaf trees with over 200 years old such as Japanese oak, scarlet-tinged ivy, Amur cork tree, Japanese linden, magnolia, Japanese rowan and Japanese alder also grow naturally in the forest. A cycling road and walks are built in the forest, and there are graveyard for 2 feudal retainers of Aizu Clan (会津藩士の墓), strangely shaped trees (奇木), Hibarigaoka Park (雲雀ヶ丘公園), Uguisu-dani Valley (うぐいす谷) and Onko-no-Sho Tree (オンコの荘) along the cycling road and the walks. In addition, the forest is adjacent to a sheep ranch. A good typical scenery of the Hokkaido comes into the sight if visitors come out of the forest. Admission free. Read More

Sheep Ranch

Sheep Ranch (めん羊牧場) is a ranch run by Hoshu Farm (萌州ファーム) in the central part of Yagishiri Island (焼尻島), and they raise about 500 suffolk sheep at the grassland of about 80 ha. Those meat are well-known as “Pré Salé Yagishiri (プレ・サレ焼尻)”, one of expensive mutton in Japan, and it has a good reputation. The grassland spreads over along Onko Sea Road (オンコ海道), and it is said that the scenery looks like Scottland. I feel a foreign atmosphere indeed, and I think that the scenery is a typical scenery of Hokkaido, too. By the way, outlanders are prohibited from entering the grassland, so visitors should enjoy views along the Onko Sea Road. Read More

There are some means of transportation for the island tourism, for example, a sightseeing hire or a rental bicycle. I rend the bicycle, and it took about 2 hours to go around the Yagishiri Island by the rental bicycle. Walkers can go around for about 4 hours on foot. Be careful not to be late for the ferry.

Shokanbetsu Teuri Yagishiri Quasi-National Park

Shokanbetsu Teuri Yagishiri Quasi-National Park (暑寒別天売焼尻国定公園) is a quasi-national park between Ishikari city, Shin-totsukawa town, Uryu town, Hokuryu town and Haboro town in the northern part of Hokkaido along the Sea of Japan (日本海), and extends from the north to the south, and has been designated as the quasi-national park since 1990. The area is 43,559 ha, and the the quasi-national park has the 8th largest area in 57 quasi-national parks (not include national parks) in Japan. It consists of 2 isolated islands, Shokanbetsu Mountain Range (暑寒別山系) and a coast, and beautiful nature such as the sea, the mountains, sea birds, trees, wild flowers and wetlands is highlight. The Shokanbetsu Teuri Yagishiri Quasi-National Park is divided into 4 areas, Teuri Island (天売島), Yagishiri Island (焼尻島), SHokanbetsu Area (暑寒別エリア) and Atsuta and Hamamasu Area (厚田・浜益エリア), and the Teuri Island, the Yagishiri Island and the SHokanbetsu Area mainly have a lot of highlights. Read More

Look of Onko-no-Sho Tree

The Onko means Japanese yew in Hokkaido dialect, and it is said that a large Japanese yee grows to about the height of 20 m. But the Japanese yew can not grow against strong wind and snow at this place, and shapes of winding branches get complicated. Some Japanese yews of 2 m tall form a dome, and visitors can enter the inside. But please watch out for protecting from branches because the length of the trees is very low.

Atmosphere of Onko Forest Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Onko Forest

List of Accommodations

Refer to following websites for the accommodations in the Yagishiri.

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Nunome Ryokan(布目旅館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Ryokan Isonoya(旅館 磯乃屋)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Oda Minshuku(小田民宿)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Guest House Yasundeke(ゲストハウス やすんでけ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Shirahama Campsite(白浜野営場)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten