The Funabiki Canal is an artificial waterway located in Mita, Nishinoshima Town, in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. It connects the open waters of the Sea of Japan with Urago Bay, the sheltered inland sea of the Dozen Islands.
The canal is approximately 340 meters long, 12 meters wide, and 3 meters deep. Once an essential transportation route supporting fishing and everyday life, it has become one of Nishinoshima’s distinctive scenic and historical attractions.
The canal is also known as the Funakoshi Canal. Its history is closely intertwined with the island’s geography, industries, and the daily lives of its residents.
Funabiki Canal was constructed by cutting through a narrow isthmus in the central part of Nishinoshima. At this location, the distance between the island’s sheltered inland waters and the open sea is only about 300 meters.
Before the canal was built, boats traveling between the two sides had to be hauled out of the water and dragged across the land by hand. This difficult process is believed to be the origin of the place name Funakoshi, meaning roughly “crossing boats over land.”
The canal transformed this narrow land crossing into a navigable waterway, providing a much more efficient connection between the two seas.
Construction of the canal began in 1914, during the Taisho era, and was completed the following year in 1915.
The total construction cost was approximately 17,000 yen, an enormous sum at the time, roughly equivalent to the annual budget of the village. Much of the work was carried out by hand, while explosives were used to break through sections of hard bedrock.
The construction was an extremely demanding undertaking, but the determination and cooperation of the local community made it possible. For the people of Nishinoshima, the completion of the canal was a landmark event that dramatically changed transportation and everyday life.
The opening of Funabiki Canal greatly shortened the route between Urago Bay and the open sea. This made it easier for fishing boats to reach productive fishing grounds that had previously been difficult to access.
The canal also helped reduce some of the difficulties caused by severe winter weather. With a more convenient route to the open sea, fishing operations became more efficient and the benefits extended throughout the island’s economy.
Transportation of goods also became easier, as did the movement of people between different parts of the island. In this way, Funabiki Canal was much more than a simple waterway. It became an important lifeline supporting the development of Nishinoshima.
By the 1960s, increasing tourism and the growing size of vessels created a need for major improvements to the canal. From 1964, extensive widening and excavation work was carried out.
The canal was eventually developed to its present dimensions of approximately 12 meters in width and 3 meters in depth. These improvements increased the safety and convenience of navigation and also gave the canal an additional role in helping to protect the surrounding area from high tides and tsunami-related risks.
As the Oki Islands became part of Daisen-Oki National Park, the canal also became incorporated into sightseeing boat routes. Its role gradually expanded from an important transportation route into one of Nishinoshima’s tourism attractions.
Today, visitors can watch fishing boats and sightseeing vessels passing through Funabiki Canal. One of the most impressive moments is the transition from the calm inland waters of Urago Bay to the open sea.
The surrounding scenery combines the natural beauty of the Oki Islands with evidence of human ingenuity. Small settlements and guesthouses are scattered along the canal, allowing visitors to experience the peaceful atmosphere of island life while walking through the area.
Sightseeing boats departing from Urago Port and Beppu Port also pass through the canal on their way toward the spectacular Kuniga Coast. In this sense, Funabiki Canal serves as an important gateway to exploring Nishinoshima by sea.
Funabiki Canal is closely connected not only with transportation and tourism but also with local traditions. Every August, a traditional event known as the Shaara-bune takes place.
During this ceremony, offerings are placed on small boats made from straw. The boats are carried through the canal and released into the sea. The custom has a connection with memorial practices for ancestors and reflects the distinctive beliefs and traditions that have developed among the island communities.
For visitors, this tradition offers an opportunity to understand how the sea has played an important role not only in the economy of Nishinoshima but also in the spiritual and cultural life of its people.
One of the most appealing aspects of Funabiki Canal is the way its scenery tells a story. The narrow waterway was created by people who sought to overcome the island’s geography, yet it has since become an integral part of the natural landscape.
Standing beside the canal, visitors can imagine the enormous effort required to excavate the waterway more than a century ago and understand how dramatically it changed the lives of the island’s residents.
The contrast between the tranquil inland bay, the rugged coastline, fishing boats, and the historic canal creates a distinctive landscape that is characteristic of Nishinoshima.
Funabiki Canal is approximately 10 minutes by car from Beppu Port in Nishinoshima Town.
The surrounding area is suitable for a leisurely walk, making it possible to enjoy both the natural scenery and the history of the canal at a relaxed pace. It is particularly worthwhile to visit the canal as part of a wider sightseeing trip around Nishinoshima and the Kuniga Coast.
Funabiki Canal is a remarkable example of how the people of Nishinoshima used their island’s unique geography to improve their lives. Created through tremendous effort more than a century ago, the canal supported fishing, transportation, community life, and eventually tourism.
Today, it remains a familiar part of the island landscape. As you watch boats pass between the inland bay and the open sea, take a moment to consider the history behind this narrow waterway and the generations of islanders whose lives have been connected to it.