Umashima: Japan’s Hidden Island of Silence, Spirit, and Sacred Nature

A Journey Beyond the Map

Just a 15-minute ferry ride from the city of Kitakyushu, and yet a world apart—Umashima is a tiny island that holds something rare: silence, sanctity, and a feeling that time itself has slowed.

Accessible only by boat and untouched by commercial tourism, this is not a destination you stumble upon.
It is one you seek—a journey not only across the sea, but inward.

Origin of the Name "Umashima"

Located 2.6 kilometers north of Kitakyushu City in the Hibikinada Sea, Umashima is a plateau-like island with gently rolling hills reaching about 20 meters in elevation. It sits at the easternmost point of the Chikuzen Islands.

The island's name, Umashima (literally "Horse Island"), is said to derive from its shape, which resembles a horse when viewed from above.

Traditionally a mixed economy of farming and fishing, the island's waters are known for set-net fishing near the rocky shores, while agricultural products such as wakegi (a type of scallion) and shiso (perilla leaves) are cultivated and shipped to the mainland.

From the island, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Kokura, Tobata, Wakamatsu, and even Shimonoseki across the Kanmon Strait.

A Sacred Island Where Nature and Belief Coexist

For centuries, Umashima has been revered as sacred ground. Shrines like Ōyamazumi Jinja, tucked quietly into the landscape, speak of an ancient connection between the sea and the divine.

There are no cars here, unless you are a resident. No rush, no noise—only nature and the spiritual breath of the island. As your family wanders its moss-lined paths and coastal trails, you'll feel a gentle invitation to pause, reflect, and reconnect.

It is a place where even children instinctively lower their voices and become part of the stillness.

Luxury in What Is Not

In Umashima, there are no resorts. No flashy activities. And yet, what’s not here is exactly the point.
Instead of consumption, it offers contemplation. Instead of schedules, space.

Watch waves roll in from a quiet shore, explore ancient stone steps with your children, or simply breathe deeply before a centuries-old shrine.
Here, luxury lies in presence—the kind that stays with you long after the journey ends.

A Soulful Family Retreat

Umashima is not a place of spectacle, but of spirit. It asks for nothing, yet gives deeply. For families who value culture, mindfulness, and connection, it offers a rare chance to step into another rhythm of life—quiet, slow, sacred.

This is not just travel.
This is a return—to nature, to history, and perhaps, to yourselves.