Thursday, October 18, 2018

A Bike Ride to 'Pot Hole' Viewpoint on Ojika Island



Two days ago I went on a bike ride to ポトホル,  a gorgeous viewpoint on Ojika Island. I was curious as to why the name of this spot is ポトホル "Pot Hole," because the most obvious thing to see on the cliff edge is the tori gate and this doesn't seem to have much to do with a pot hole! However, right behind this gate there is a stone ball that has spent years and years creating a hole in the rock. This ball spins and spins and digs deeper into the rock during high tide and typhoons when the water comes up and smashes against the island's edge.

We grabbed bikes from Goen Island Inn, which are available for free as a part of your stay, and took off in the afternoon across the island. Immediately, we got to experience ocean views along the island's edge. The ride was a bit hilly so we did get off our bikes a few times to push them up the hill, but shortly afterwards we made it to a downhill stretch where we got to coast all the way, feeling the ocean-side breeze in our faces.


On the trip over to the viewpoint we passed over a bridge to Madarajima. As we came out through the trees and spotted the bridge and ocean it was an impressive view that was made even more lovely by the way it emerged from a frame of greenery. On the left as we arrived onto the bridge there was a group of very happy cows munching on some grass with mountains in the distance behind them. 




We made it to the oceanside village near this viewpoint and many people asked us if we knew which way it was to ポトホル, and offered directions to help us out. A small cat approached us and meowed loudly, and followed alongside us as we explored, which was rather charming. There were many old style Japanese buildings, and my friend even asked a passerby if she could help find a specific home of someone she had met and the woman knew exactly who she was talking about. Perks of living in a small village, everyone knows everyone else and probably knows where they live!







We walked up past the village and along a pathway and could see a view of all the homes and winding roads. As we continued on our walk, another local offered to point us in the right direction and we assured them that we knew the way! Then, we took a turn and a gorgeous view with a singular tori gate emerged in front of us, the wind picked up, and there was not another single soul in sight. The tori gate looked so minuscule against the vast expanse of grass, and ocean views which stretched into the horizon.




Near the tori gate is the namesake of this lovely spot, the 'pot hole.' Just behind the gate you can see where the stone ball has spent many years burrowing it's way into the solid rock. I've been told that the water gets quite violent against the coast during typhoons and extremely high tide which is when the ball beneath the rock gets a chance to spin and dig it's way downward. It used to just be a small indentation, and slowly but surely it's made a deep crevasse. 




We spent a long time sitting in the grass near the gate, enjoying the soft ocean breeze, and chatting about our traveling experience, and the next steps after leaving the comfortable oasis that is Ojika. We both decided that it's much better to just trust the journey instead of worrying if we're making the correct decisions. 

Our conversation made me realise that if I somehow landed up on a small Japanese island with a population of only 2,500 people with such a beautiful welcoming community, through all the mistakes and random meanderings of my life...then maybe all the confusion I'm currently experiencing will lead me to other beautiful places.

There's something about sitting on the edge of a remote island that truly puts your worries into perspective.



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