12 Islands in Miyagi worth your time

A remote inhabited island in Sanriku Fukko National Park known for seabird breeding grounds and a quiet fishing lifestyle.

What it is

• The largest and only inhabited island in the Enoshima archipelago of Miyagi Prefecture.
• A designated part of the Sanriku Fukko National Park covering 0.36 square kilometers.
• A former place of exile during the Edo period with a history of coastal fishing.
• Kusushi Shrine stands on the island and is dedicated to the historical figure Hizume Goro.

What to see

• Breeding grounds for black-tailed gulls and rhinoceros auklets across the island.
• Local coastal fishing operations and shellfish aquaculture facilities near the shore.
• Kusushi Shrine which enshrines the local historical figure Hizume Goro.
• Views of the 3.7 kilometer circumference coastline from the maritime trails.

When to go

• Summer months offer a cool maritime climate suitable for exploring the outdoors.
• Winter visits are possible due to the relatively mild island temperatures.

Getting there

• Take a high-speed boat from Onagawa Port which runs three times daily.

Read more about Enoshima

A six-hectare natural park island in Matsushima connected by a long pedestrian bridge, featuring botanical diversity and ancient historical sites.

What it is

• A six-hectare island in the Matsushima archipelago designated as a prefectural natural park.
• A botanical destination home to over 130 tree species and 200 wildflower species.
• The site of a Bentendo shrine dedicated to the deity Benzaiten.
• A historical location where archaeologists discovered Jomon and Yayoi period pottery.

What to see

• The 252-meter Fukuura Bridge connecting the mainland to the island.
• A network of walking paths and a multi-purpose plaza for visitors.
• An ancient shell mound containing prehistoric pottery fragments.
• The Bentendo shrine building located within the island grounds.

When to go

• Visit from evening until nighttime to see the bridge illuminated.
• Plan around the full moon period when the bridge lights are turned off.

Getting there

• Walk 15 minutes from Matsushima-Kaigan Station to reach the bridge entrance.

Read more about Fukuurajima

A small inhabited island in Miyagi featuring unique caves, stone Buddhas, and a lavender field accessible by municipal ferry.

What it is

• A small inhabited island covering 0.56 square kilometers in Shiogama City.
• Home to approximately 70 residents and the Urato Islands Development General Center.
• Site of the only unified elementary and junior high school in the Urato Islands.

What to see

• Natural caves and traditional stone Buddha statues scattered across the island.
• A seasonal lavender field maintained on the island grounds.
• The local school where students arrive daily via the municipal ferry.

When to go

• August 14th for the annual fireworks festival held on the island.
• October for the autumn festival hosted at Kumano Shrine.

Getting there

• Take the municipal ferry from Shiogama Port for a 31-minute journey.
• Public ferries provide local connections to nearby Ishihama and Sabusawa islands.

Read more about Nonoshima

A small fishing island in Miyagi Prefecture famous for its large cat population and unique cat-shaped architecture.

What it is

• A small island measuring 2.92 square kilometers located west of the Oshika Peninsula.
• A fishing community widely known as Cat Island due to its large feline population.
• Part of the Sanriku Fukko National Park containing two main settlements, Odomari and Nitoda.
• A location where dogs are generally prohibited from entering to protect the local environment.

What to see

• A cat shrine located in the center of the island.
• Manga Island, an outdoor facility featuring lodges shaped like cats.
• The Nitoda Shell Mound, which is a designated prefectural historic site.
• Large numbers of cats living throughout the island and its fishing ports.

Getting there

• The island is accessible by ferry departing from Ishinomaki Port.

Read more about Tashirojima

A scenic island in Sanriku Fukko National Park featuring unique squeaking sand beaches and panoramic mountain views.

What it is

• The largest inhabited island in the Tohoku region, located in Kesennuma City.
• A protected area within the Sanriku Fukko National Park.
• Home to the Oshima Shrine which has a history spanning over 1,000 years.
• A local production hub for camellia oil, blueberries, and yuzu citrus.

What to see

• Kugunarihama beach where the sand makes a squeaking sound when walked upon.
• The summit of Kameyama offering views from 235 meters above sea level.
• Kodanhama Beach, which holds a certified Blue Flag status for quality.
• The Kesennuma Oshima Ohashi Bridge which connects the island to the mainland.

Getting there

• Access the island by crossing the bridge via Miyako Bus public transportation.

Official site

www.oshima-kanko.jp

Read more about Ōshima

The largest island in Matsushima Bay featuring a historic shell mound and one of Japan's three great gorges.

What it is

• The largest island in Matsushima Bay with a circumference of twelve kilometers.
• A residential island home to approximately one thousand two hundred people.
• A former part of the mainland during the last ice age.
• A site containing the nationally designated Satohama Shell Mound.

What to see

• Mount Otakamori which serves as the highest peak at one hundred six meters.
• Sagakei Gorge which is designated as one of Japan's three great gorges.
• The Satohama Shell Mound historic site.
• The Matsugashima Bridge connecting the island to the mainland.

Getting there

• Access the island by car via Prefectural Road 27.
• Cross the Matsugashima Bridge to reach the island from the mainland.

Read more about Miyato Island

A quiet fishing island in Sanriku Fukko National Park known for its large cat population and historic Russian trade ties.

What it is

• A small island covering six square kilometers in the Pacific Ocean near Ishinomaki City.
• Part of the Sanriku Fukko National Park featuring two main settlements called Ajichi and Futawatashi.
• Site of the first trade between Japan and Russia which occurred offshore in 1739.
• A former place of exile during the Edo period now supported by the fishing industry.

What to see

• A large population of cats living throughout the island settlements.
• A statue of explorer Vitus Bering located at Shirahama Beach.
• A local medical clinic operating inside a former elementary school building.

Getting there

• Regular ferry service connects the island to Ishinomaki and Ayukawa ports.

Read more about Ajishima

A tiny inhabited island in Miyagi known for its vibrant rapeseed fields and traditional cabbage seed production.

What it is

• The smallest inhabited island in Shiogama City, covering only 0.15 square kilometers.
• A residential community home to approximately 20 people.
• A production center for oyster spat and pure Sendai Hakusai cabbage seeds.
• A cultivation site for rapeseed flowers used for seeds and edible specialties.

What to see

• Extensive fields of rapeseed flowers cultivated across the island landscape.
• A primary forest featuring Machilus thunbergii trees.
• Views of the nearby uninhabited islands known as the Eboshi Archipelago.

Getting there

• Take the municipal ferry from Shiogama Port directly to the island.
• The ferry journey from the mainland port takes 52 minutes.

Read more about Hōjima

The largest of the Urato Islands, this historic port features rice paddies, a unique statue, and significant maritime history.

What it is

• The largest island in the Urato Islands covering 1.45 square kilometers.
• A former rice transshipment port used during the Edo period.
• The birthplace of two of the first Japanese people to circle the globe.
• The site where the Sendai clan built the Western-style warship Kaiseimaru.

What to see

• The Shibari Jizo statue which serves as a local landmark.
• Rice paddies located across the island landscape.
• The anchorage site where Enomoto Takeaki's fleet stayed during the Boshin War.

Getting there

• The Shiogama municipal ferry reaches the island in 44 minutes.
• A free ferry connects the island to nearby Nonoshima and Hojima.

Read more about Sabusawa Island

An island in Ishinomaki featuring a manga museum, historical shipbuilding sites, and a park currently undergoing redevelopment.

What it is

• An island in the Kitakami River commonly known as Mangattan Island.
• A historic site for shipbuilding dating back to the Edo period.
• The location of the Ishinomaki Mangattan Museum which opened in 2001.
• A former residential area being developed into a public park.

What to see

• The Ishinomaki Mangattan Museum housing approximately 4,000 original manga drawings.
• A ten-meter tall Statue of Liberty located in Nakaze Marine Park.
• The Ishinomaki Saint John the Apostle Orthodox Church, a designated cultural property.
• A replica of the San Juan Bautista ship launched on the island.

Read more about Nakaze

An uninhabited island in Miyagi Prefecture serving as a protected breeding ground for rare seabirds and a National Natural Monument.

What it is

• An uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean belonging to the Oshika Archipelago.
• A designated National Natural Monument and Miyagi Prefecture Wildlife Protection Zone.
• A protected breeding ground for Black-tailed gulls and Rhinoceros auklets.
• Part of the Sanriku Fukko National Park covering approximately 90,000 square meters.

What to see

• Diverse bird populations including Black-tailed gulls and Rhinoceros auklets.
• The island landscape which reaches a maximum elevation of 47 meters.
• Streaked shearwaters which were confirmed on the island in 1973.

Read more about Ashijima

A populated island in the Urato chain featuring Jomon period ruins and a historic residence reachable by boat from Shiogama.

What it is

• The most populated island in the Urato Islands with two main settlements.
• A former base for sea otter hunting covering less than one square kilometer.
• Home to approximately 170 residents and the local Urato Post Office.

What to see

• The Katsurashima Shell Mound dating back to the prehistoric Jomon period.
• The former residence of Kozo Shiraishi located on the island.
• Two distinct residential settlements named Katsurashima and Ishihama.

Getting there

• A boat trip from Shiogama Port takes 23 minutes to reach the island.

Read more about Katsurashima