Koshikijima Islands

The Koshikijima Islands (甑島列島, Koshikishima-rettō[1]) in the East China Sea are an island chain located 38 km west of the port city of Ichikikushikino, Kagoshima.

Koshikijima Islands
Native name:
甑島列島 Koshikishima Rettō
Koshikijima Islands
Location in Japan
Geography
LocationEast China Sea
Coordinates31.75328°N 129.78424°E / 31.75328; 129.78424
Archipelagoyes
Total islands11
Major islands3
Area118.68 km2 (45.82 sq mi)
Length39 km (24.2 mi)
Width11 km (6.8 mi)
Administration
Japan
PrefectureKagoshima Prefecture
citySatsumasendai
Demographics
Population5576 (2010)
Pop. density47/km2 (122/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsJapanese

Major islands
IslandCoordinatesarea, km²population (2010)
Kamikoshiki-jima (上甑島)31.834790°N 129.888989°E / 31.834790; 129.88898945.082488
Naka-Koshiki-jima (中甑島)31.802107°N 129.827191°E / 31.802107; 129.8271917.29308
Shimokoshiki-jima (下甑島)31.704047°N 129.723703°E / 31.704047; 129.72370366.272780

Minor islands

All minor islands are currently (as in 2017) uninhabited.

IslandCoordinatesarea, km²
No-jima (野島)31.866071°N 129.960427°E / 31.866071; 129.9604270.11
Chika-jima (近島)31.851494°N 129.950236°E / 31.851494; 129.9502360.10
Futago-jima (双子島)31.862180°N 129.976023°E / 31.862180; 129.9760230.05
Okinoshima (沖の島)31.864498°N 129.984074°E / 31.864498; 129.9840740.02
Benkei-jima (弁慶島)#31.773680°N 129.834574°E / 31.773680; 129.8345740.02
Kasetō (筒島)31.866938°N 129.953346°E / 31.866938; 129.9533460.02
Napoleon Rock31.703060°N 129.687216°E / 31.703060; 129.6872160.01
Yurashima (由良島)[2]31.743005°N 129.755239°E / 31.743005; 129.7552390.01
Matsushima (松島)31.866748°N 129.948315°E / 31.866748; 129.9483150.004
  1. seems to undergo significant erosion and may disappear

History

The islands once consisted of 14 villages, belonging to Shikijima-gun, Satsuma Province (Satsuma no Kuni) during the Meiji period. In 1889, the islands were consolidated into Kami-Koshiki and Shimo-Koshiki villages. In 1897, the islands were merged with Satsuma-gun. Later, Kashima village and Sato village broke off, totalling in 4 villages. In 2004, during "the great Heisei merger", the villages were merged with Sendai, a city that exists on the main island of Kyūshū.

Attractions

The cruise course visiting many scenic coastal rocks and islets is available from Shimo-Koshiki island.[3]

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  1. Teikoku's Complete Atlas of Japan, Teikoku-Shoin Co., Ltd. Tokyo, ISBN 4-8071-0004-1
  2. Yurajima photo
  3. 甑島：国内屈指の断崖･奇岩クルージング！（観光船かのこ）


See also: Koshikijima Prefectural Natural Park


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