Shiwaku Islands


The Shiwaku Islands or form an archipelago in the Japanese Inland Sea.
The group is situated between Okayama Prefecture and Kagawa Prefecture in the western Bisan Seto and consists of 28 islands of various sizes. On the Okayama side lie the Kasaoka Islands. The name derives from shioyaku or shiowaku both meaning boiling seawater to get salt. However, the name may also refer to rough water created by the confluence of tides that mix around the islands.

[|Honjima]

[|Hiroshima]

Ushijima

[|Yoshima]

Teshima

Oteshima

Takamijima

Shishijima

Sanagishima

Awashima

History

Since ancient times, the islands have been an important point for maritime transport.

Islands

Awashima

粟島, part of Mitoyo, populated. In Meiji 30, the National Mercantile Marine School was established here and subsequently many talented men were sent into the shipping industry.

Bentenjima

弁天島, part of Marugame, unpopulated.

Budojima

歩渡島, This island is connected to Hitsuishi-jima. The name derives from the fact that it is possible to cross between the islands.

Sanuki Hiroshima

広島, part of Marugame and one of the seven "salt boiling islands". area: 11.66 km², circumference: 18.5 km. Hiroshima is the largest of the Shiwaku Islands and is sometimes called Sanuki-Hiroshima to differentiate it from Hiroshima Prefecture on the main Japanese island Honshu. The China Sea Directory from 1873 contains a description of the island and recommends Enoura Bay as an anchorage:
‘The outline of Hiroshima is very irregular, and its sharp rocky ridges are very conspicuous. The summit of the island, which presents southward the appearance of an almost perpendicular cliff, is 990 feet above the sea. On the south shore is Ino Ura, a small bay, on the shores of which are several small villages, the valleys around which are cultivated. The eastern hills are covered with brushwood, but the western ridges are thickly wooded. In the ravines, the sides of which are rocky precipices, numerous deer are found.
Ino Ura is a convenient anchorage for vessels passing through the Seto Inland Sea, and is generally chosen as a night anchorage, especially when bound from Hiogo to the westward, it being within convenient distance, and can be arrived at before nightfall.
Care must be taken not to approach the shore too closely, as the head of the bay shoals very suddenly but good holding ground will be found here out of the strength of the tides.’
On the island is the grave of Frank Toovey Lake, a Victorian sailor who died here in 1868 while part of Richard Henry Brunton's survey party.

Hitsuishijima

櫃石島, The island takes its name from a megalith in the shape of a chest at its southern part. area: 0.85 km², circumference: 5.4 km, part of Sakaide.
The principal industry on the island is collection of shellfish by diving and trawl fishing.
In mid January the yearly peach festival is held on the compounds of the Ōji-Shrine

Honjima

本島, part of Marugame, situated in the center of the Shiwaku Island group. area: 6.74 km², circumference: 16.4 km.
It is still the most populous place within the Shiwaku Islands.

Famous places and historic spots

Kasajima - designated as Cultural Properties of Japan#Groups of Traditional Buildings of Japan
岩黒島, part of Sakaide, Kagawa, populated. The Great Seto Bridge passes across this island. area: 0.16 km², circumference: 1.6 km.
The Iwakurojima Interchange on the down-line of the Seto-Chuo Expressway can be used exclusively by islanders by means of a card to unlock the gate.
There is also an emergency phone. Tourists and other people can use an elevator from the bus stop on top of the bridge to access the island.

Kamimashima

上真島, part of Marugame, unpopulated.

Karashima

唐島, part of Mitoyo, unpopulated.

Karasugojima

烏小島, part of Marugame, unpopulated.

Kohadakajima

小裸島, part of Sakaide, unpopulated.

Koseijima

小瀬居島, part of Sakaide, unpopulated.

Koyoshima

小与島, part of Sakaide, populated. area: 0.24 km², circumference: 1.3 km.

Mitsugojima

三つ子島, part of Sakaide, unpopulated. The Great Seto Bridge passes across this island.

Murokijima

室木島, part of Sakaide, unpopulated.

Nabeshima

鍋島, part of Sakaide, unpopulated. The island is connected to Yoshima via a mole. In 1872 a lighthouse constructed by Richard Henry Brunton was erected on the island. The lighthouse is now unused and is open to the public generally once a year. However, it is possible to reach the lighthouse and view the exterior.

Nagashima

長島, part of Marugame, unpopulated.

Nizurajima

二面島, part of Sakaide, unpopulated.

Ōhadakajima

大裸島, part of Sakaide, unpopulated.

Oteshima

小手島, part of Marugame. Popular place for catching Japanese amberjack or Sand lance.area: 0.6 km², circumference: 3.8 km.

Sanagishima

佐柳島, part of Tadotsu. area: 1.83 km², circumference: 6.6 km.

Seijima

瀬居島,

Shamijima

沙弥島. Due to land reclamation of the Sakaide Bannosu industrial area in December 1967, the island became connected to the adjacent land.
Adjoining, the island services the Seto Ohashi Memorial Park. In summer the island is crowded by guests who come to bathe in the sea. From the Jōmon period on, a salt making culture developed. At Nakanda beach earthenware and other finds from that time have been excavated.
The Man'yōshū poet Kakinomoto no Hitomaro paid a visit to the island and composed a tanka and tanka appendage.
According to the novelist Nakagawa Yoichi from Sakaide, Kakinomoto no Hitomaro had a temple/monument erected on Nakanda beach which in 1936 was moved to its present location on Osogoe beach at.
On 9 April 2005 the Kagawa Prefectural Higashiyama Kaii Art Museum, housing the collection of Kaii Higashiyama was opened.

Shimomashima

下真島, part of Marugame, unpopulated.

Shiraishi

白石, part of Marugame, unpopulated.

Shishijima

志々島, part of Mitoyo. area: 0.74 km², circumference: 3.4 km.

Takamijima

高見島, part of Tadotsu, populated. area: 2.33 km², circumference: 6.4 km.

Teshima

手島, part of Marugame, populated. area: 3.41 km², circumference: 10.9 km.

Ushijima

牛島, part of Marugame, populated. One of seven islands on which salt is extracted from seawater. area: 0.7 km², circumference: 4.2 km.

Wasashima

羽佐島, part of Sakaide, unpopulated.

Yoshima

与島, part of Sakaide and one of the seven "salt boiling islands".
The island is crossed by the Great Seto Bridge and a rest area has been built along the highway.
There are in total two parking lots at the rest area. From there the harbour Yoshima-kō in the northern part of the island can be reached. At Yoshima-kō there is a Fisherman's Wharf with restaurants and places selling seafood and souvenirs. It is also possible to go with the Japanese warship Kanrin Maru on a sightseeing pleasure cruise of the Great Seto Bridge.
Public-transit buses and authorized islanders can access the island road 274, "Yoshima line", via a personal card. Non-islanders with car may only get as far as the two parking lots as the gate is closed for them. The southern part of the island can be reached by public bus.