5 Islands in Kōchi worth your time

A coastal island in Kochi connected by bridge, famous for a tidal path that appears during low tide to Kanyojo Island.

What it is

• An island located at the mouth of the Matsuda River in Sukumo City.
• A destination connected to mainland Shikoku by the Oshima Bridge.
• Home to Kanyojo Park which offers facilities for camping and swimming.
• A resort location featuring lodging and hot spring baths at Sukumo Resort Yashinoyu.

What to see

• A walking path to Kanyojo Island that appears only during low tide.
• Kanyojo Island situated approximately three hundred meters off the coast.
• Coastal views from the grounds of Kanyojo Park.
• Hot spring facilities overlooking the surrounding waters.

When to go

• Visit during low tide to access the path to Kanyojo Island.

Getting there

• Drive eight minutes from Sukumo Station to reach the island.
• Take a Kochi Seinan Kotsu bus operating between Sukumo Station and Katashima.

Read more about Ōshima

A scenic island in a national park famous for its incredible marine biodiversity, coral reefs, and historic stone breakwaters.

What it is

• An island in Otsuki Town located within the Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park.
• The westernmost point in Kochi Prefecture that is accessible by car.
• A historic site featuring stone breakwaters built by Nonaka Kenzan in the seventeenth century.
• A filming location used for the movie Tsuribaka Nisshi 14.

What to see

• Two bridges that connect the island to the Otsuki Peninsula.
• A white concrete lighthouse first lit in 1946 standing at the highest point.
• Nearly one thousand species of fish inhabiting the surrounding waters.
• Table coral reefs growing in the northern part of the island.
• Stone breakwaters designated as a Kochi Prefecture cultural property.
• Local inlets used for sea bream farming.

Read more about Kashiwa-jima

A remote island in Kochi offering World War II ruins and ancient geological strata within a national park.

What it is

• A small island covering 1.31 square kilometers within Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park.
• A former place of exile for political prisoners with a current population of eighteen people.
• A landmass consisting of Cretaceous strata dating back 100 million years.
• An administrative district of Okinoshima-cho located off the coast of Sukumo City.

What to see

• Remains of World War II artillery batteries and military barracks.
• Mount Ryuzu which serves as the highest point at 252 meters.
• A landscape with no car roads and no food shops.
• Natural rock formations made of ancient Cretaceous strata.

Getting there

• The Sukumo municipal ferry operates two trips per day to the island.

Read more about Uguru Island

Two uninhabited islands in Sukumo Bay accessible by a natural stone path that appears only during low tide.

What it is

• Two uninhabited islands located in Sukumo Bay west of Oshima Island
• A natural site where a tombolo phenomenon occurs during low tide
• A coastal area featuring a park used for swimming and camping

What to see

• A three hundred meter path that appears from the sea
• A walking route covered in stones and oysters leading to the islands
• Kan'yo Island Park located on the Oshima side of the bay

When to go

• Visit during low tide to see the path emerge from the water

Getting there

• Fifteen minutes by car from Sukumo Station
• Free parking is available at the park on the Oshima side

Read more about Kan'yō Island

An inhabited granite island in Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park featuring historic stone-walled settlements and diverse marine activities like scuba diving.

What it is

• An inhabited granite island covering ten square kilometers in southwestern Kochi Prefecture.
• A protected area within the Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park.
• A historic location divided between the ancient provinces of Tosa and Iyo.
• A community recognized for its traditional settlements listed as one of the 100 Island Treasures.

What to see

• Traditional stone walls and stone steps throughout the island settlements.
• Mount Imose, the highest point on the island at 404 meters.
• Natural granite formations that make up the entire island structure.
• Active fishing ports and scuba diving spots in the surrounding waters.

Read more about Okinoshima