Hikoshima


Hikoshima is an island on the south-west tip of Honshu, Japan.

Geography

The island is irregularly shaped and hilly. The strait as narrow as 40 m separates the island form the mainland Honshu. The parts of sprawling city of Shimonoseki occupy the most of the island, making it the most populous minor island in Yamaguchi Prefecture, albeit only 6th by area.

Transportation

The island is connected to the Japanese mainland of Honshu by three bridges, one above ship lock. Kanmon RailwayTunnel connects island to Kyushu, but San'yō Main Line has no stop-overs on island, nearby station being the Shimonoseki Station in the downtown area. Also, bridge connection exist to the small 竹の子島 on the north-western tip of the Hikoshima.

History

The island was inhabited since prehistory, as evidenced by petroglyphs found in 1918. Following the Battle of Dan-no-ura, the refugees from the Taira clan has migrated to island and set the basis for the local agriculture. The island was an important site of Shimonoseki Campaign in 1863-1864 when it was much feared the island would become the Japanese variant of Hong Kong. The island industrialization began in 1924 with the building of ammonium sulphate plant with German license in 1924. Currently island is heavily populated and industrialized, including shipyard and titanium&zinc smelter.

Attractions