Susami: Ōhechi History, Votive Tablets, and Cycling Tours

Susami combines a distinctive history of routes with cultural discoveries and a range of ways to enjoy the outdoors. The old Butsuzaka leads from the opposite bank of the Hiki River near Ago to Susami and has been used as part of the Ōhechi Route since the early modern period. The area also has a museum with more than 50 votive tablets, a campsite with named facilities, and options for cycling and hiking tours. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Susami, you can plan your trip around the experiences you want to shape your stay.

Route History and Cultural Discoveries

Butsuzaka is an old route with a clearly defined course: it leads from the opposite bank of the Hiki River near Ago to Susami. Since the early modern period, it has been used as part of the Ōhechi Route. For travelers interested in historic routes, this context makes Butsuzaka a tangible part of local history. The focus is on its traditional use in connection with the Ōhechi.

The museum in Susami is another cultural point of interest. It holds more than 50 votive tablets donated to the adjacent Susami-oji Shrine. The number gives the collection a specific scale, and the dedication connects it to the shrine. This lets you get to know Susami through a particular cultural theme as well as its routes and activities. A visit to the museum and the history of Butsuzaka offer different perspectives: the donated tablets on one hand, and an old route used as part of a historic road on the other.

Campsite and Guided Cycling Tours

FRONT110 is a campsite located a two-minute walk from Susami Station. Its grassy pitches face the clear sea known as “Susami Blue” and Inazumi Island. The pitches, each about 11 × 11 meters, are limited to eight groups per day. Facilities include toilets, cold-water showers, a washing-up sink, and a place to dispose of charcoal. It is worth checking the current facilities before your stay.

A guided cycling tour by the Susami Town Tourism Association also starts at FRONT110. It lasts about two and a half hours, and advance reservations are required. You can choose between a coastal route toward Roadside Station Susami and a mountain route toward Kotono Falls. The two directions distinguish the tours without requiring assumptions about walking time or difficulty. If you want to make cycling the focus, you can choose between a destination toward the sea and one toward the mountains.

Walking the Ōhechi: The Nagai-zaka Day Course

The Ōhechi’s “Nagai-zaka” day course runs from Susami Station to Mirozu Station. It is also suitable for a first Ōhechi hiking trip. Its stated itinerary differs from the guided cycling tour at FRONT110: Nagai-zaka is described as a day course connecting two stations, while the cycling tour is described as lasting about two and a half hours and offering two route options. These details help you compare the two activities by type and timeframe, without assuming an additional walking time for the hiking day.

These different options can be a useful guide when planning a holiday rental in Susami. Consider whether you would most like to include the historic connection of Butsuzaka, the votive tablets in the museum, a guided cycling tour, or the Nagai-zaka day course in your trip. Advance reservations are required for the cycling tour; the named start and end points for the hiking day course are Susami and Mirozu stations.

Discover more destinations: Shirahama.

View the broader travel overview: Nishimuro District.