There are many cliffs in the Oki Islands, especially on the western side of the islands. In winter, the harsh winds blow in from the northwest and the waters become even more tumultuous. However, the town of Ama is protected against the harsh winds by the existence of Nishinoshima. As a result, however, powerful geological formations are not as abundant on Ama.

Instead, the town of Ama is mostly flatlands, allowing the island locals to cultivate rice. This is a result of the last eruption that happened here at Akiya Beach when lava flowed over the uneven earth and hardened into flat land. The history of the land, the eruption, the flatlands, the fields, and the lifestyle of the people of this town can be seen as a metaphor for the process of birth and life. This is why the locals believe Akiya Beach was created by a goddess.

By the way, did you notice that the cliffs of Akiya beach are a reddish hue? This is because when the eruption occurred, the lava flew up high into the sky, resulting in a chemical reaction with the air. If you happen to pick up one of the red rocks, you’ll notice its sponge-like texture, with many small holes on the surface. The heart-shaped rock on Akiya Beach, on the other hand, was created as an effect of erosion. Over time, the erosion of the hole will continue and in time create a sort of arch formation. Eventually, that arch too will erode and the connection between the two sides will be severed. In the end, this formation will be very similar to that of the Saburō-iwa rock formations we saw earlier.