Naoshima Islands - Let's go to Naoshima

A group of islands scattered in the center of the Seto Inland Sea between Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture and Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture. Although they are close to Tamano City in terms of distance, all islands except Ijima (the northern part of which is Tamano City) belong to Naoshima Town, Kagawa Prefecture. The area is made up of 27 islands of various sizes, centered around Naoshima (7.8 square kilometers), but only three islands are inhabited: Naoshima (3,281 people), Mukaejima (20 people), and Byobujima (33 people). The rest are uninhabited. Ushigakubijima Island, which once had a few households of inhabitants, is now uninhabited (there are only two registered residents). It is made up of granite, and the highest point is Naoshima Jizo Mountain, which is 123 meters high. During the Edo period, it was a shogunate territory and was under the control of the Kurashiki magistrate. Drinking water is supplied from Tamano City through an undersea pipe. Miyanoura Port on Naoshima is the main transportation hub, with regular services available from Uno Port (Tamano City) and Takamatsu Port.

[Yoshiaki Sakaguchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

瀬戸内海中央部、香川県高松市と岡山県玉野市の間に点在する島嶼(とうしょ)群。距離的には玉野市に近いが、井島（北部は玉野市）以外は香川県直島町に属す。直島（7.8平方キロメートル）を中心に大小27の島々からなるが、人が居住するのは直島（3281人）、向(むかえ)島（20人）、屏風(びょうぶ)島（33人）の3島のみで、他は無人島である。数世帯の住民がいた牛ヶ首島(うしがくびじま)も現在は無人となっている（住民登録は2人）。花崗(かこう)岩からなり、最高点は直島地蔵(じぞう)山の123メートル。江戸時代は天領で、倉敷代官支配地。飲料水は玉野市から海底パイプにより給水される。直島の宮浦港が交通の中心で、宇野港（玉野市）・高松港から定期便がある。

［坂口良昭］

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