Niemonjima

What it is

• The largest and only inhabited island in Chiba Prefecture, located off the coast of Kamogawa.
• A privately owned island held by the Hirano family and designated a Place of Scenic Beauty.
• A historic site where Minamoto no Yoritomo hid in a cave during the year 1180.
• One of the New Japan Top 100 Views featuring rare plants like Solanum aculeatissimum.

What to see

• The island owner's residence which was originally rebuilt in 1704.
• A cave where the samurai lord Minamoto no Yoritomo once took refuge.
• A shrine dedicated to the deity Benzaiten located on the island grounds.
• Kagura Rock where the Buddhist teacher Nichiren is said to have prayed.
• Diverse botanical specimens and rare plants growing across the island landscape.

When to go

• The island is accessible daily between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM.

Getting there

• A five-minute manual ferry ride carries visitors from the Kamogawa coast to the island.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.