14 Islands in Tokushima worth your time

A central river island in Tokushima City offering a mix of historic castle ruins, modern shopping, and scenic boat tours.

What it is

• A river island in central Tokushima City surrounded by three different rivers.
• One of the 88 Views of Tokushima featuring the 61.7 meter Mount Shiroyama.
• A former castle site transformed into a modern hub with commercial facilities and parks.
• An area formed through the reclamation of the Terashima River and Hyotan-bori.

What to see

• Tokushima Central Park located on the site of the former Tokushima Castle.
• The Kenchopia yacht mooring facility situated in front of the prefectural office.
• Major commercial buildings including the Amico Building and Clement Plaza.
• A free sightseeing boat that operates a route around the entire island.
• The intersection of National Routes 11 and 192 in the heart of the city.

When to go

• Visit during the Awa Odori festival to experience the island's major cultural event.

Getting there

• Tokushima Station is located directly in the center of the island.

Read more about Hyōtanjima

A historic salt-producing island in Naruto City featuring ancient burial mounds and preserved traditional residences accessible by a free ferry.

What it is

• A residential island in northeastern Naruto City historically dedicated to salt production.
• Development of the island's salt fields began in 1598 by Shinohara Magoemon.
• The local salt industry operated for centuries before being abolished in 1972.
• Home to the Naruto University of Education located in the northern Nakashima area.

What to see

• The Fukunaga House which serves as a preserved historical salt worker residence.
• Takeshima Kofun located at the top of a small hill on the island.
• Takashima Mountain running north to south through the center of the island.
• Fuyo Bridge which connects the island to neighboring Oge Island.
• Views of the Konaruto Strait to the west and south of the island.

Getting there

• The Naruto City Ferry provides free boat transportation to the island.
• Tokushima Prefectural Road 11 passes directly through the island for vehicle access.

Read more about Takashima

An uninhabited island in Tokushima known for steep terrain, subtropical marine life, and the annual Himegami Matsuri festival.

What it is

• An uninhabited island in Mugi Town measuring eight kilometers in circumference.
• A privately owned site selected as one of the Tokushima 88 Views.
• A natural habitat for Machilus thunbergii forests and subtropical fish.
• Entry is restricted and requires obtaining permission from the owner.

What to see

• Steep slopes reaching heights of 200 meters across the island.
• Coral reefs and diverse subtropical fish in the surrounding waters.
• The Katsuo no Tataki rock wall named in early 2024.
• Dense forests of Machilus thunbergii and Psychotria serpens plants.

When to go

• The Himegami Matsuri festival is held annually on the island.

Getting there

• Hire a private boat from Mugi Port to reach the island.
• Landing is only possible at the pier located on the western side.

Read more about Ōshima

A preserved traditional fishing village and quasi-national park island offering rare botanical sights and unique local seafood broth.

What it is

• A small island village designated as a National Important Preservation District for Traditional Buildings.
• Most of the island area belongs to the Muroto-Anan Kaigan Quasi-National Park.
• The island covers approximately 0.65 square kilometers south of the Mugi River mouth.
• A location where a British ship famously anchored in January 1830.

What to see

• Traditional architecture preserved within the historic village district.
• A rare algae habitat designated as a National Natural Monument.
• The endemic plant Carex tebajimensis which was first discovered on this island.
• The Tasukaru Tower which serves as a modern tsunami evacuation facility.

Getting there

• A ferry connects Mugi Port and Tebajima Port in fifteen minutes.
• The ferry service operates six round trips per day to the island.

Official site

tebajima.jp

Read more about Tebajima

A remote sandstone island in Tokushima featuring dense forests, a historic shrine, and protected wetland coastal scenery.

What it is

• A sandstone island located six kilometers east of Cape Kamoda in Anan City.
• Part of the Muroto-Anan Kaigan Quasi-National Park and designated as important wetlands.
• Settled in 1654 by Kanno Soemon and currently home to over one hundred residents.
• A forested landscape where trees cover approximately seventy-five percent of the total area.

What to see

• Tosho Shrine and Shorinji Temple located within the island community.
• A local lighthouse, a post office, and a school building.
• Natural sandstone geological formations along the surrounding coastline.
• Dense forests that span the majority of the island's territory.

Getting there

• A ferry runs from Dashima Port to Ishima Port three times every day.
• The boat journey across the water takes approximately thirty minutes.

Read more about Ishima

A mountainous island in Tachibana Bay connected by bridge, featuring industrial power plants and a history of naval defense.

What it is

• A mountainous island located within Tachibana Bay in Anan City.
• An industrial site housing a thermal power plant and waste disposal facility.
• The former station for the Navy 22nd Assault Unit in 1945.
• A landmass connected to the mainland by the Tachibana Marine Bridge.

What to see

• Mountainous terrain reaching a maximum elevation of 76 meters.
• The Tachibana Marine Bridge connecting the island to the mainland.
• Industrial power stations operated by Shikoku Electric Power and J-POWER.
• Views of Takashima Island located 700 meters to the east.

Getting there

• Access the island via Tokushima Prefectural Road 288.
• Cross the Tachibana Marine Bridge to reach the island from the mainland.

Read more about Kokatsu Island

The largest island in Tokushima Prefecture, featuring scenic mountains and famous local produce within the Setonaikai National Park.

What it is

• The largest island in Tokushima Prefecture covering approximately seven square kilometers.
• A designated part of the Setonaikai National Park facing the Naruto Strait.
• A center for local cultivation of Naruto Kintoki sweet potatoes and wakame seaweed.
• A mountainous landscape featuring the peaks of Oge, Mitsuishi, Naruto, and Hanami.

What to see

• The Onaruto Bridge which connects the island to neighboring Awaji Island.
• The Konaruto Bridge linking the island to the mainland of Shikoku.
• The Naruto Skyline road providing a connection to nearby Shimada Island.
• Views of the Naruto Strait and the Kii Channel from the coastline.

Read more about Ōge Island

An uninhabited island in Naruto Strait featuring a lighthouse, unique plant communities, and views of powerful tidal currents.

What it is

• An uninhabited island located in the Naruto Strait within Setonaikai National Park.
• A natural site composed of distinct sandstone and mudstone layers reaching twenty-five meters high.
• A protected area home to warm-region plants including the Ubame oak.
• The site of the Naruto Tobishima Lighthouse which was established in April 1983.

What to see

• The Ibuki plant community which is designated as a prefectural natural monument.
• The Naruto Tobishima Lighthouse standing on the island's terrain.
• Strong tidal currents in the surrounding waters of the Naruto Strait.
• Views of nearby Hadaka Island and Omoe Island from the coast.

Read more about Tobishima

A large island in Naruto City featuring ancient settlement remains, scenic observatories, and traditional shrines connected by the Horikoshi Bridge.

What it is

• The second largest island in Tokushima Prefecture covering 5.7 square kilometers.
• A part of Naruto City connected to Shikoku by the Horikoshi Bridge.
• Site of former Heian period settlements and a central fault line.
• A landmass with no rivers containing local shrines and a hot spring.

What to see

• The Yomigami Observatory offering views of the surrounding area.
• Awai Shrine and Shimatsu Shrine located on the island grounds.
• Remains of historical settlements dating back to the Heian period.
• The Naruto Shimadajima Onsen hot spring facility.
• The Horikoshi Bridge which serves as the main access point.

Read more about Shimada Island

An uninhabited island in Tokushima featuring rare sea island tumulus groups and dramatic cliffs rising over twenty meters.

What it is

• An uninhabited island located east of Hiuchizaki in Tokushima Prefecture.
• A site containing a rare group of five horizontal stone chamber tombs discovered in 1922.
• A territory measuring one point five kilometers from east to west.
• A natural landform reaching a maximum elevation of eighty-four meters.

What to see

• Dramatic cliffs with heights exceeding twenty meters surrounding the island.
• Five horizontal stone chamber tombs located within the sea island tumulus group.
• Natural forests growing across the eastern side of the island.
• Flat western terrain covered in dense vegetation.

Read more about Maiko Island

A small island in a quasi-national park featuring an underwater park, a marine museum, and a traditional shrine.

What it is

• A 0.4 square kilometer island located 100 meters off the coast of Kaiyo Town
• Part of the Muroto-Anan Kaigan Quasi-National Park connected by a bridge
• A local base for tuna fishing with a peak reaching 97.6 meters
• Home to an underwater park and the Marine Jam ocean museum

What to see

• The Takegashima Shrine situated on the island
• An underwater park located in the northwestern area
• A bamboo grove measuring 50 meters square
• The Marine Jam ocean museum

Getting there

• Accessible by car from Shishikui Station

Official site

www.takegashima.com

Read more about Takegashima

An uninhabited rocky island in Setonaikai National Park directly beneath the massive Onaruto Bridge in the Naruto Strait.

What it is

• An uninhabited island located in the western part of the Naruto Strait.
• A protected area that forms part of the Setonaikai National Park.
• A small landmass situated approximately 100 meters offshore from Aigahama.

What to see

• The Onaruto Bridge which passes directly over the island.
• A main tower of the Onaruto Bridge standing near the island.
• Distinctive exposed rock surfaces across the island terrain.
• Views of Tobishima Island located to the southeast.

Read more about Hadaka Island

A small island in Anan City featuring a national monument of rare tropical Akou plants at their northern limit.

What it is

• A small island in Tachibana Town also known as Omote Bentenjima.
• The island has a circumference of approximately 120 meters and reaches 17 meters in elevation.
• The terrain is composed of alternating layers of sandstone and shale.
• It serves as the northern limit for wild Akou tropical plants.

What to see

• A community of Akou tropical plants designated as a national monument since 1922.
• Views of nearby islands including Ura Bentenjima and Kokatsujima.

Read more about Bentenjima

An uninhabited sub-island in Tokushima Prefecture offering a remote coastal landscape within the Ijima-cho district.

What it is

• An uninhabited sub-island of Ijima located in Anan City.
• A small landmass covering a total area of 0.23 square kilometers.
• Part of the Ijima-cho district in Tokushima Prefecture.

What to see

• Coastal views situated six kilometers east of Cape Kamoda.
• The surrounding waters between Ijima and Maejima islands.

Read more about Tanagojima