14 Islands in Hyōgo worth your time

A modern artificial island in Kobe Harbor featuring museums, a water park, and a scenic five-kilometer walking path.

What it is

• An artificial island in Kobe Harbor measuring approximately 595 hectares.
• A residential and commercial area founded in 1972 with a large international population.
• A planned community consisting of the Koyocho-naka, Koyocho-higashi, and Koyocho-nishi districts.

What to see

• The Kobe Fashion Museum which showcases various exhibits on clothing and style.
• City Hill, a five-kilometer walking path that surrounds the central area of the island.
• Dekapatos water park located near the Marine Park Station.
• The Rokko Ohashi Bridge which connects the island to the mainland.

When to go

• March and April for the annual Rokko Island Tulip Festival.

Getting there

• Access the island via the Rokko Liner automated guideway transit system.
• Marine Park Station provides direct access to the southern part of the island.

Official site

www.rokko-island.com

Read more about Rokkō Island

A quiet quarry island in the Ieshima chain known for granite used in Osaka Castle and ancient Yayoi period ruins.

What it is

• A small inhabited island located in the eastern part of the Ieshima Islands.
• A primary center for granite quarrying that provided stone for Osaka Castle walls.
• The site of the Oyama Shrine ruins which contain a Yayoi period settlement.
• A community belonging to Himeji City with a population of twenty-seven people.

What to see

• Active granite quarries that represent the primary industry of the island.
• The natural coastlines of Aoinohama and Tatsunohama beaches.
• The ruins of the former Himeji Municipal Tangashima Elementary School.
• Archaeological remains of an ancient settlement at the Oyama Shrine ruins.

Getting there

• Ferries run from Himeji Port to the island three times daily.
• There are no public transportation systems available once you arrive on the island.

Read more about Tangashima

A 2.5 kilometer sandbar island featuring a historic lighthouse, fortress ruins, and rare coastal wildlife in Setonaikai National Park.

What it is

• A 2.5 kilometer long sandbar island located in Sumoto City.
• Part of the Setonaikai National Park and commonly called Awaji Hashidate.
• An area of 39 hectares formed by cutting channels at both ends.
• Site where Yura Naruyama Castle was reconstructed in 1610.

What to see

• Takasaki Lighthouse situated at the southern tip of the island.
• Ruins of the Yura Fortress batteries remaining on Mount Naruyama.
• Rare fiddler crabs and coastal plants inhabiting the tidal flats.
• Loggerhead turtles that land on the island to lay eggs.

When to go

• The ferry operates daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Getting there

• Take a two minute ferry ride from Yura Port to the island.
• The ferry departs for the island once every hour.

Read more about Narugashima

A historic port island in the Harima-nada sea known for its traditional shrines, stone industry, and cultural lion dances.

What it is

• A populated island in the Harima-nada sea belonging to Himeji City.
• Historically served as a strategic port for ships awaiting favorable winds.
• A center for stone transportation, shipbuilding, and local fishing industries.
• Home to a community of over two thousand residents with local schools.

What to see

• The Ieshima Shrine and Maura Shrine located on the island.
• An Edo period battery site situated at Tenjinbana.
• The Maura Lion Dance, a prefectural important intangible cultural property.

Getting there

• Regular ferry service connects Himeji Port to the island.
• The ferry journey from Himeji Port takes approximately thirty minutes.
• A community bus operates on the island during specific periods.

Read more about Ieshima

A modern regional airport on an artificial island offering quick access to Kobe and high-speed ferry links to Kansai International.

What it is

• A regional management airport located on an artificial island in Chuo-ku.
• Opened for service in 2006 and is nicknamed Marine Air.
• Operates as a major base for Skymark Airlines with international charter flight capabilities.
• Features a single 2,500-meter runway and two terminal buildings.

What to see

• The second terminal building which opened for service in April 2025.
• High-speed ferries departing for Kansai International Airport from the terminal area.
• Views of the 2,500-meter runway used by domestic and charter flights.

Getting there

• The Port Liner automated guideway transit connects to Sannomiya in 18 minutes.
• High-speed ferry service provides a direct link to Kansai International Airport.

Official site

www.kairport.co.jp

Read more about Kobe Airport

A small island in the Naruto Strait converted into a sea fishing park with accessible platforms and rental equipment.

What it is

• A small island with a 250-meter circumference serving as the Maruyama Sea Fishing Park.
• The site faces the Naruto Strait with water depths ranging from five to nine meters.
• A dedicated fishing destination featuring a 150-meter long and three-meter wide platform.
• The park management office is located inside the nearby Gyosaikan seafood market.

What to see

• An arched drum bridge that connects the island to the mainland.
• Walking paths that circle the perimeter of the island.
• Fishing platforms designed for visitors to access the deep surrounding waters.
• Views of the Naruto Strait from the island's edge.

When to go

• The park is closed to visitors every Tuesday and Wednesday.

Read more about Benten Island

A massive artificial island in Kobe featuring a high-tech biomedical cluster, university campuses, and the world-class supercomputer Fugaku.

What it is

• An artificial island in Kobe built using soil from Mount Rokko.
• A major hub for residential, commercial, and port facilities completed in 1981.
• Home to the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster and multiple university campuses.
• The site of the world's largest artificial island at its time of completion.

What to see

• The Kobe Ohashi Bridge connecting the island to the central city.
• The facility housing the powerful supercomputer known as Fugaku.
• Modern urban infrastructure designed for the Kobe Port Island Exposition.
• A specialized campus zone dedicated to higher education and research.

Getting there

• Access the island via the Port Liner automated guided transit system.

Read more about Port Island

A scenic Japan Heritage island linked to creation myths, featuring a historic stone tower and ancient poetic significance.

What it is

• An uninhabited island in Awaji City designated as a certified Japan Heritage site.
• A legendary location associated with the mythical Onogoro Island from Japanese creation stories.
• A designated scenic spot that inspired a poem by the famous poet Saigyo.

What to see

• A stone tower situated at the top of the island honoring a page named Matsuomaru.
• A pedestrian bridge that connects the small island to the mainland.
• Distinctive rock formations and scenery visible from the mainland viewing areas.
• The island exterior, as public entry has been prohibited since December 2018.

Getting there

• Located a five-minute drive from the Awaji Interchange.

Read more about Eshima

A protected river island and Ramsar site in Toyooka providing a vital habitat for Oriental storks and rare plant species.

What it is

• A river island located in the Maruyama River within Toyooka City
• Designated as a Ramsar site in June 2012 for its ecological importance
• A natural habitat for Oriental storks and the rare Schizocosa avida spider
• The largest natural habitat for the plant species Persicaria praetermissa

What to see

• Oriental storks that use the island as a natural habitat
• Rare plant life including large populations of Persicaria praetermissa
• The remaining island area following flood prevention excavation in 2007
• Views of the Maruyama River six kilometers from the Sea of Japan

Getting there

• Genbudō Station is located on the left bank near the island

Read more about Hinosojima

A small island in Setonaikai National Park featuring unique rock formations and shrines linked to Japan's creation myths.

What it is

• A small island located four point six kilometers south of Awaji Island.
• The southernmost point of Hyogo Prefecture within the Setonaikai National Park.
• A quiet area with no traffic lights known for pike conger production.
• A site composed of rare Sambagawa metamorphic belt crystalline schist.

What to see

• Kamitategami Rock is a thirty meter tall sea stack on the coast.
• Onokoro Shrine enshrines the creator deities Izanagi and Izanami.
• The Nushima Lighthouse stands at the summit of the island.
• Coastal views of the unique crystalline schist rock formations.

Getting there

• Ferries connect Nushima Port to Habu Port on Awaji Island.

Official site

nushima-yoshijin.jp

Read more about Nushima

A densely populated fishing island in the Ieshima archipelago known for its active harbor and local shrines.

What it is

• A small inhabited island in the central Ieshima group belonging to Himeji City.
• The primary industry is fishing and it maintains a population of nearly two thousand people.
• The smallest inhabited island in the archipelago despite having its second largest population.

What to see

• Ebisu Shrine and Benten Island are key landmarks located on the island.
• The active fishing harbor and local schools serving the island community.
• A community bus provides a circular route around the island for visitors.

Getting there

• Boze Kisen operates twelve daily boat trips from Himeji Port.
• A ferry connects Boze Naza Port to Ieshima Amade Port.

Official site

boze.or.jp

Read more about Bōze Island

A sacred, uninhabited island in Setonaikai National Park housing the seventh-century tomb of Hata no Kawakatsu within a protected forest.

What it is

• An island in Sakoshi Bay designated as part of Setonaikai National Park.
• The site of the mid-seventh century tomb of Hata no Kawakatsu.
• A protected area where public entry is historically prohibited due to its sacred status.
• A national natural monument featuring a forest of Castanopsis sieboldii and Ilex integra trees.

What to see

• A dense forest included in the list of Hyogo's 100 Forests.
• The tomb of Hata no Kawakatsu located on the island grounds.
• A natural monument landscape with a circumference of 1,630 meters.

Getting there

• The island is located a 15-minute walk from JR Sakoshi Station.

Read more about Ikishima

An artificial island in Hyogo featuring a large yacht harbor, residential parks, and a unique pedestrian bascule bridge.

What it is

• An artificial island in Nishinomiya City created through land reclamation between 1981 and 1989.
• A multi-district area containing residential zones, educational facilities, and a medical center.
• A coastal hub featuring the Shin-Nishinomiya Yacht Harbor for public use.

What to see

• The Shin-Nishinomiya Yacht Harbor which serves as a major public facility on the island.
• Gozenhama Bridge, a bascule bridge designed specifically for pedestrians and bicycles.
• Nishinomiya Marina Park City, a large residential development located in the 4-chome district.
• The Hanshin Expressway Route 5 Wangan Line which spans across the island.

Read more about Nishinomiya-hama

Japan's largest inland sea island offers scenic national park views, famous whirlpools, and a rich mythological history as Japan's first island.

What it is

• The largest island in the Seto Inland Sea and part of a designated National Park.
• A region traditionally known as the first island created in the Japanese archipelago.
• An agricultural hub famous for dairy farming and the cultivation of local onions.
• A territory divided into three cities belonging to the Hyogo Prefecture.

What to see

• The Naruto whirlpools located in the waters off the southern coast.
• Mount Yuzuruha, which serves as the highest peak on the island.
• The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge connecting the northern tip to mainland Honshu.
• The Onaruto Bridge which links the southern end of the island to Shikoku.

Read more about Awaji Island