Iki-Tsushima Quasi-National Park

A quasi-national park centered on the scenic coastal areas of the two islands of Iki and Tsushima in Nagasaki Prefecture. Iki and Tsushima are stepping-stone islands between the Kyushu mainland and the Korean peninsula, and since ancient times have played a role as a relay point for cultural exchange between Japan and the continent. They were designated as a national park in 1968 (Showa 43) for their natural beauty and abundance of historical sites. The designated area is 119.46 square kilometers.

Iki and Tsushima are home to many Yayoi ruins, such as Harunotsuji Ruins (Iki), and ancient tombs, including Oni-no-Iwaya Tomb (Iki) and Hotokoyama Tomb (Tsushima). During the Tenpyo period, island temples were built, and there are 29 Shikinaisha shrines on Tsushima and 24 on Iki. On Tsushima, the Korean-style mountain castle Kanata Castle was built, a Sakimori (guard) was stationed, and eight beacons were set up, including Mount Tatera. Iki and Tsushima also have many historical sites from the Mongol invasions of Japan. The northern tip of Tsushima is only 50 kilometers from Korea, and the mountains of Korea can be seen from mountainous areas such as Mount Korai. The mountainous region is a semi-plain with an elevation of around 500m, and includes monadnocks such as Mt. Yatate (649m), and the bird breeding grounds of Mt. Ontake (home to the Japanese paradise flycatcher, pitta, etc.) have been designated a national natural monument. The main tourist attraction is the drowned valley scenery of Aso Bay, with the nearby Ofunakoshi Strait and Manzeki Strait. Iki is a low-lying plateau island made of basalt, and the settlements are divided into farming settlements on the plateau and fishing settlements on the coast. The most spectacular natural scenery is the sea cliffs of Jagatani (Tatsunoshima). Both Sakyohana and Makizaki have excellent views of sea cliffs, caves, and grazing animals. The beautiful sandy beaches of Tsutsukihama and Nishikihama are crowded with swimmers. In addition, the marine park includes Iki's Tatsunoshima, Tenagashima, and Tsumagashima, and Tsushima's Aso Bay and Kanzaki. There are regular air routes from Iki Airport, Tsushima Airport, Fukuoka Airport, Nagasaki Airport, and other airports, as well as boat services from Hakata Port and other airports.

[Yasuyoshi Ishii]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

長崎県の壱岐、対馬2島の海岸景勝部を中心にした国定公園。壱岐、対馬は九州本土と朝鮮半島との間に飛び石状に分布し、古来、日本と大陸との文化交流の中継地としての役割を果たした国境の島で、自然美とともに史跡に富む島として、1968年（昭和43）指定された。指定面積119.46平方キロメートル。

　壱岐、対馬には原の辻(はるのつじ)遺跡（壱岐）などの弥生(やよい)遺跡や、鬼ノ窟(いわや)古墳（壱岐）や保床(ほとこ)山古墳（対馬）をはじめとする古墳が多く、天平(てんぴょう)時代には島分寺(とうぶんじ)が建てられ、式内社は対馬に29座、壱岐に24座を数える。対馬には、朝鮮式山城の金田城(かなたのき)が築かれ、防人(さきもり)が置かれて、竜良(たてら)山など8か所に烽(とぶひ)が設けられた。また壱岐、対馬には元寇(げんこう)の史跡も多い。対馬の北端は韓国との距離わずかに50キロメートルで高麗(こうらい)山などの山地からは韓国の山々が望まれる。山地は標高500メートル内外の準平原で、矢立(やたて)山（649メートル）などのモナドノック（残丘）を有し、御岳の鳥類繁殖地(みたけのちょうるいはんしょくち)（サンコウチョウ、ヤイロチョウなど）は国の天然記念物に指定されている。観光の中心は浅茅(あそう)湾の溺れ谷(おぼれだに)の景観で、付近に大船越(おおふなこし)瀬戸や万関(まんぜき)瀬戸がある。壱岐は玄武岩からなる低平な台地状の島で、集落は台地上の触(ふれ)（農業集落）と海岸の浦（漁業集落）に分化している。もっとも豪壮な自然景観は蛇ヶ谷(じゃがたに)（辰(たつ)ノ島）の海食崖(がい)である。左京(さきょう)鼻と牧崎はともに海食崖・洞穴と放牧の景観が優れている。筒城(つつき)浜、錦(にしき)浜の砂浜は美しく海水浴客でにぎわう。また、海域公園には壱岐の辰ノ島、手長島、妻ヶ島、対馬の浅茅湾、神崎がある。交通は、壱岐空港、対馬空港に福岡空港、長崎空港などから定期空路があり、博多(はかた)港などからの船便もある。

［石井泰義］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例