20 Islands in Kagawa worth your time

A historic island in the Seto Inland Sea featuring a preserved samurai-era naval headquarters and traditional architectural districts.

What it is

• A 6.74 square kilometer island that served as the headquarters for the Shiwaku Navy
• The site of the Shiwaku Kinbansho, a former local government office and national historic site
• A venue for the contemporary Setouchi Triennale art festival
• Home to the Kasashima district, a nationally designated preservation area for traditional buildings

What to see

• The Shiwaku Kinbansho historic government building and its grounds
• Traditional architecture within the Kasashima Important Preservation District
• The local elementary school which served as a movie filming location
• Contemporary art installations displayed during the Setouchi Triennale

When to go

• During the Setouchi Triennale art festival dates for special exhibitions

Getting there

• Take a ferry to the island from Marugame or Kojima ports
• Use the community bus to travel between Honjima Port and the Kasashima district

Official site

honjima.justhpbs.jp

Read more about Honjima

A scenic island in the Seto Inland Sea known for its contemporary art museum, ancient stone quarries, and agricultural produce.

What it is

• An island in the Seto Inland Sea belonging to Tonosho Town in Kagawa Prefecture.
• A major venue for the recurring Setouchi Triennial international art festival.
• A center for strawberry, rice, lemon, and olive production with a long history of stone quarrying.
• Home to the Reidenzaki Shell Mound which dates back approximately 9,000 years.

What to see

• The Teshima Art Museum located in the Karato-oka district.
• Mount Danzan which stands 340 meters high at the center of the island.
• Karato no Shimizu, a natural spring used by the local residents.
• Terraced fields and orchards producing local lemons, olives, and strawberries.

When to go

• During the Setouchi Triennial art festival to see additional installations and events.

Getting there

• Access the island via ferries and high-speed boats from nearby ports.
• Travel around the island using the local shuttle bus system.

Read more about Teshima

A screw-shaped island in the Setouchi Inland Sea featuring Japan's first maritime school and unique art installations.

What it is

• A 3.72 square kilometer island formed by three landmasses connected by sandbars.
• Part of the Shiwaku Islands group located in Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture.
• Site of Japan's first maritime school established in 1897.
• A recurring venue for the Setouchi Triennale international art festival.

What to see

• The Maritime Memorial Hall and its martial arts dojo, a designated cultural property.
• A memorial park situated on the grounds of the former maritime school.
• The Missing Post Office, a unique facility located on the island.
• Glowing sea fireflies visible in the surrounding ocean waters.

When to go

• Summer months to observe the sea fireflies in the water.
• During the Momote Festival, an intangible folk cultural property.

Getting there

• Take a fifteen-minute ferry ride departing from Suda Port.

Official site

awashima.website

Read more about Awashima

A scenic island in the Seto Inland Sea known as Onigashima, featuring a large cave and thousands of cherry trees.

What it is

• An island in the Seto Inland Sea designated as part of a National Park in 1934
• Popularly known by the nickname Onigashima in reference to Japanese folklore
• A former direct territory of the Shogunate established in 1672
• A small landmass covering two square kilometers with its highest point at Mount Takato

What to see

• A four hundred meter long artificial cave located near the summit of the mountain
• Protective stone walls called Ote built to shield local houses from seasonal winds
• A replica Moai statue standing on the island grounds
• Approximately three thousand cherry blossom trees planted across the landscape

When to go

• Springtime is ideal to view the three thousand cherry trees in bloom

Getting there

• Take a twenty minute ferry ride from Takamatsu Port to Megi Port

Read more about Megijima

A granite island in the Seto Inland Sea featuring a historic lighthouse and a major bridge parking area.

What it is

• A 1.10 square kilometer island in the Shiwaku chain within Sakaide City.
• A former granite quarry site that was incorporated into the city in 1953.
• The location of the Nishikata site where Paleolithic stone tools were discovered.
• An island connected to Honshu and Shikoku by the Seto Ohashi Bridge.

What to see

• The Nabeshima Lighthouse built in 1872 and connected by a breakwater.
• The Yoshima Parking Area situated on the western ridge of the island.
• Solar panels now occupying the former site of the Fisherman's Wharf.
• The Seto Ohashi Bridge spanning across the island's landscape.

When to go

• Visit during the local Bon dance, a national selected intangible folk cultural property.

Getting there

• Take a regular bus service from Sakaide or Kojima to reach the island.

Read more about Yoshima

A scenic island in Kagawa Prefecture featuring historic districts, a natural monument forest, and contemporary art from the Setouchi Triennale.

What it is

• A residential island in Tadotsu Town featuring the Ura and Hama districts.
• The historic home of four crew members from the famous Kanrin Maru ship.
• A designated venue for the international Setouchi Triennale art festival.
• A community centered around Mount Ryuo, which reaches nearly three hundred meters.

What to see

• The Ryuo Shrine forest, which is protected as a prefectural natural monument.
• A nature experience center housed in the building of a former school.
• Traditional residential architecture divided between the upper and lower districts.
• Panoramic views of the Seto Inland Sea from the island's highest peaks.

Getting there

• A regular ferry service connects the island directly to Tadotsu Port.
• The boat journey covers approximately seven kilometers from the mainland coast.

Read more about Takami Island

The largest of the Shiwaku Islands, known for its high-quality stone quarries and historical connection to the Kanrin Maru crew.

What it is

• The largest island in the Shiwaku chain, covering over eleven square kilometers.
• A historic community that provided eleven crew members for the famous Kanrin Maru ship.
• A center for Aoki stone production, a specialty product quarried on the island.
• A rural island incorporated into Marugame City in 1958 with a small local population.

What to see

• Mount Otozu, the highest peak on the island at 312 meters.
• The former Onoe residence, a preserved building dating back to the Edo period.
• Active stone quarries where the local Aoki stone is extracted.
• Local elementary and junior high schools serving the island's residents.

Getting there

• Bisan Ferry provides transportation from Marugame and other nearby islands.
• A community bus operates on the island to connect the various districts.

Read more about Hiroshima

A remote island between Shodoshima and Teshima where hundreds of cattle outnumber the small human population on local farms.

What it is

• A small island located in Tonosho Town between Shodoshima and Teshima.
• Home to two livestock farms raising over four hundred beef cattle.
• A place where the cattle population is larger than the human population.
• The production site for branded Shodoshima Olive Beef.

What to see

• Beef cattle being raised on olive oil extraction residue.
• Local ponds used to provide water for the livestock farms.
• Private boats used to transport livestock off the island.

When to go

• Avoid Sundays and public holidays when boat services are suspended.
• Plan around the single scheduled passenger boat service that operates daily.

Getting there

• Take the passenger boat connecting from Shodoshima or Teshima.
• The scheduled boat service runs only once per day.

Read more about Odeshima

A scenic island in the Seto Inland Sea known for olive groves, soy sauce production, and the world's narrowest strait.

What it is

• A large island in Kagawa Prefecture consisting of Tonosho and Shodoshima towns.
• The historic birthplace of domestic olive cultivation within Japan.
• A major production hub for traditional soy sauce and somen noodles.
• The setting for the famous Japanese novel Twenty-Four Eyes.

What to see

• Dofuchi Strait, officially recognized as the narrowest strait in the world.
• Kankakei Gorge, a designated National Place of Scenic Beauty with dramatic rock formations.
• Mount Hoshigajo, which serves as the highest peak in the Seto Inland Sea.
• The Shodoshima 88 Temple Pilgrimage route circling the island.
• Olive groves and traditional soy sauce breweries located across the landscape.

Getting there

• Access is available only by boat as no bridges connect to the mainland.

Official site

shodoshima.or.jp

Read more about Shōdo Island

A quiet island in the Seto Inland Sea famous for its large cat population and traditional burial mounds.

What it is

• A small island in the Shiwaku chain known for its high population of cats.
• The island is divided into two main settlements called Honura and Nagasaki.
• Local life centers around small-scale fishing and vegetable farming for the few remaining residents.
• A former elementary school on the island now serves as a guest house for visitors.

What to see

• Numerous cats that inhabit the island and roam freely through the settlements.
• The Nagasaki burial mounds which are designated as tangible folk cultural properties.
• Mount Koto stands as the highest peak on the island at 248 meters.
• Renovated school building that has been converted into local accommodation.

Getting there

• Tadotsu Steamship operates regular ferry services connecting the mainland to the island.

Read more about Sanagi Island

A small fishing island in the Seto Inland Sea featuring traditional festivals and views of the massive Seto Ohashi Bridge.

What it is

• A small island in the Seto Inland Sea belonging to Sakaide City.
• A community primarily focused on trawl fishing and diving for shellfish.
• An island that became part of Sakaide City in 1953.
• A location where the Seto Ohashi Bridge passes directly overhead.

What to see

• The Seto Ohashi Bridge which opened in April 1988.
• Budo Island which is accessible from the main island by foot.
• Traditional fishing boats used for local shellfish and trawl industries.

When to go

• The Momote Festival which is a designated prefectural intangible folk cultural property.

Getting there

• Public transportation is available via the Kotosan Bus service.
• Non-resident cars are prohibited from using the highway ramp to enter the island.

Read more about Hitsuishijima

An island in the Seto Inland Sea known for its contemporary art museums, traditional architecture, and scenic national park landscapes.

What it is

• An island in the Seto Inland Sea within the Setonaikai National Park
• A center for contemporary art established through the Benesse Project
• A major producer of yellowtail and seaweed for Kagawa Prefecture
• A former industrial site where a copper smelter was built in 1917

What to see

• The Chichu Art Museum which opened to the public in 2004
• The Ando Museum located inside a renovated traditional wooden house
• Jizo-yama which is the highest peak on the island at 122.8 meters
• Geological formations consisting primarily of biotite granite

When to go

• During the Setouchi Triennial art festival held every three years

Getting there

• Take a ferry from Takamatsu Port for a journey of approximately one hour

Official site

naoshima.net

Read more about Naoshima

An inhabited island in the Seto Inland Sea famous for dried sardine production and ancient Kyoto-style dialects.

What it is

• An inhabited island in the Seto Inland Sea belonging to Kanonji City.
• A historic location featuring the Ibuki Hachiman Shrine established in 1124.
• A production hub for Ibuki Iriko dried sardines with a unique local dialect.
• A venue for the contemporary Setouchi Triennale art festival.

What to see

• The Ibuki Hachiman Shrine which dates back to the twelfth century.
• A prehistoric site containing stone tools from the Paleolithic era.
• Spherical norite rock formations on Enjojima designated as a natural monument.
• Traditional sardine processing facilities located across the small island.

Getting there

• Take a regular ferry from Kanonji Port to Maura Port.
• The ferry journey from the mainland takes approximately 25 minutes.

Read more about Ibukijima

A remote island in the Seto Inland Sea known for its former granite quarries and abandoned hotel ruins.

What it is

• A small island in Sakaide City formerly centered on the granite quarrying industry.
• A nearly uninhabited location with only one household remaining as of 2020.
• An area designated by Japan Post as difficult for mail delivery.
• A landscape shaped by industrial history with numerous ponds created by quarrying activities.

What to see

• The ruins of the abandoned Hotel Aqua Koyoshima.
• Numerous ponds scattered across the island landscape from previous granite excavation.
• Views of the Seto Ohashi bridge which provides the island with water and electricity.

Getting there

• No scheduled ferry or public transport routes have served the island since 2006.
• Access requires hiring a chartered boat from ports such as Sakaide.

Read more about Koyoshima

A quiet island in Kagawa Prefecture featuring two small settlements, a historic temple, and traditional seaweed and orange farming.

What it is

• A small island in Marugame City with a circumference of 4.2 kilometers.
• A rural community with a population of eight people as of 2018.
• An island divided into two main settlements named Satoura and Koura.
• A center for seaweed farming and mandarin orange cultivation.

What to see

• Gokuraku-ji Temple, which is a designated cultural property of Marugame City.
• The highest point of the island reaching an elevation of 95 meters.
• A local guest house named Island Girl for overnight stays.
• Coastal views 7.7 kilometers north of the Marugame City mainland.

Getting there

• Passenger ships connect Marugame Port to Satoura Port in 15 minutes.
• Visitors must bring supplies as there are no shops or vending machines.

Read more about Ushijima

A scenic 500-meter sandbar appearing twice daily at low tide, connecting islands and designated as a romantic Lover's Sanctuary.

What it is

• A 500-meter sandbar connecting Maejima Island to the Yoshima Islands.
• A designated Lover's Sanctuary and one of Shikoku's 88 Water Views.
• A filming location for the television drama Love Letter.
• A natural path that appears and disappears twice daily with the tides.

What to see

• The tidal path emerging from the sea to connect multiple islands.
• Views of the Yoshima Islands from the edge of the walkable path.
• The surrounding coastal scenery of the Seto Inland Sea.

When to go

• During the two daily low tide windows when the sandbar is visible.

Getting there

• Accessible by local bus departing from Tonosho Port.
• Ferries connect nearby ports to Takamatsu, Okayama, and Himeji.

Read more about Angel Road

A quiet island in the Seto Inland Sea known for its unique geology, former tungsten mining, and sunflower cultivation.

What it is

• A small island in Marugame City with a land area of 3.41 square kilometers.
• Home to a tiny community of eighteen people as of April 2018.
• Site of the only operating tungsten mine in the Shikoku region.
• A center for growing sunflowers and Kagawa Hontaka chili peppers.

What to see

• The Teshima Nature Education Center located in a former school building.
• Northern mountains composed mainly of Paleozoic slate formations.
• Southern mountains featuring gneissose granite and pegmatite veins.
• Remnants of the Teshima Mine which produced ferberite and tungsten.

Getting there

• Take a boat from Marugame Port via Hiroshima and Oteshima islands.
• The island is located 21 kilometers north of the Marugame Port.

Read more about Teshima

A tiny inhabited island under the Seto Ohashi Bridge featuring traditional shrines and unique elevator access from the highway above.

What it is

• A small inhabited island in the Shiwaku chain within the Seto Inland Sea
• Part of Sakaide City since its incorporation in nineteen fifty-three
• A residential community with a population of ninety-four people
• An area of zero point one six square kilometers beneath a major bridge

What to see

• The massive Seto Ohashi Bridge structure passing directly over the land
• Daitengu Shrine and Hatsuta Shrine located on the island grounds
• The Sakaide Municipal Iwakuro Elementary and Junior High School buildings
• Views of the surrounding Hitsuishijima and Yoshima islands

Getting there

• Access the island via an elevator from the bridge bus stop
• The island connects to the mainland via the Seto Ohashi Bridge

Read more about Iwakurojima

A small Inland Sea island featuring a historic granite lighthouse, seasonal daffodils, and a large population of local cats.

What it is

• A 1.34 square kilometer island located in the Seto Inland Sea near Takamatsu.
• A host venue for the Setouchi Triennial international contemporary art festival.
• A community known for its large population of cats living across the island.
• Home to a historic lighthouse established at the northern tip in 1895.

What to see

• The Ogijima Lighthouse built from unpainted local Aji granite.
• Approximately 11 million daffodils planted along the island walking trails.
• Mount Komi which reaches an elevation of 213 meters.
• The Rock Sea area designated as a city natural monument.

Getting there

• Take a ferry from Takamatsu Port for a journey of approximately 40 minutes.

Official site

ogijima.info

Read more about Ogijima

An uninhabited island in the Seto Inland Sea that serves as a structural foundation for the massive Seto Ohashi Bridge.

What it is

• An uninhabited island located in the Seto Inland Sea within Kagawa Prefecture.
• A small landmass belonging to the Shiwaku Islands covering about 646 square meters.
• A site that underwent significant artificial development for the construction of the Seto Ohashi Bridge.
• A former natural island reshaped by blasting work in 1979 to support bridge infrastructure.

What to see

• The massive Seto Ohashi Bridge passing directly over the island.
• The North Bisan-Seto Bridge main tower standing on the north side.
• A shared anchor block for the bridge system located on the south side.
• The unique industrial landscape of a bridge built directly onto a small island.

Read more about Mitsugoshima