Online dictionary of geography and travels in Japan: island

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Amami island

奄美大島
alternative words: Amamioshima island, Amamioshima, Amami oshima, Amami
keywords: island , kyushu , okinawa
related topics: Kagoshima Prefecture , Okinawa Prefecture
related web sites: http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~amamicf/
explanation: Biggest island located between Kyushu and Okinawa islands. Its surface is about 709 km2 and the population 79,000. Thanks to its subtropical climate, man cultivates bananas, pineapples, sugar canes and papayas. Its specialty is Oshima-tsumugi, a kind of pongee. After the World War II it had been occupied by Americans but return back to Japan in 1953.

Awaji Island

淡路島
alternative words: Awajishima Island, Awaji-shima Island, Awajishima, Awaji-shima, Awaji shima, Awaji
keywords: island , shikoku
related topics: Hyogo prefecture , Naruto bridge , Akashi bridge , Akashi strait , Inland sea , Osaka bay
related web sites: http://www.awaji-is.or.jp , http://www.awaji-kotsu.co.jp
explanation: Located in Inland Sea (Setonaikai) between Honshu and Shikoku islands before Osaka, it closes Osaka bay from the west. Its surface is 595km2. The climate is mild and the culture of fruits and vegetables have been developed. Recently Honshu and Awaji islands as well as the latter and Shikoku have been linked by 2 long bridges. Japanese mythology says that it would be the first island created by Gods, Izanagi and Izanami. A part of the island belongs to "Setonaikai National Park".

Enoshima

江ノ島江の島
alternative words: Enoshima island, Eno shima, E no shima
keywords: island , kanagawa , tourist resort
related topics: Kanagawa prefecture , Kamakura city , Fujisawa city
related web sites: http://www.enoden.co.jp , http://www.246.ne.jp/~mirabeau/enoshima/
explanation: Islet located on Sagami bay in south Kanagawa prefecture, near Kamakura, Enoshima is one of the most popular sea resorts near Tokyo. Enoshima has been also a famous center of Benzaiten cult since Kamakura period. At low tide, Enoshima is connected to the main land with a sand bank. Now you can reach there through 2 bridges at anytime and admire a splendid view on Sagami bay from Enoshima tower. It is accessible from Ofuna station through a monorail.

Etorofu Island

択捉島
alternative words: Etorohu Island, Etorof Island, Iturup Island
keywords: hokkaido , island , territorial dispute , volcano
related topics: Kuril Island , Kunashiri Island
related web sites: http://www.hoppou.go.jp/syashinkan/etorohu/ , http://www.hoppou.go.jp/gakusyu/shima/etorofu.html , http://www.kashmir3d.com/panorama/etorofu/etrpanorama.html
explanation: Essentially volcanic, Etorofu is the largest island among Kuril chain with 3184 km2. In the north, it is separated with Uruppu Island by Etorofu Strait while in the south with Kunashiri Island by Kunashiri Strait. The culminate point is Mt. Sanpu of 1580m. Kondo Juzo built a stele in 1798, claiming its belonging to Japan. In December 1941, Japanese naval fleet left Hitokappu bay in Etorofu Island to attack Pearl Harbor. Now occupied by Russia, it is one of the 4 islands that Japan is claiming a return back.

Habomai Island

歯舞諸島
alternative words: Habomai Islands, Habomaishoto, Habomai-shoto, Habomai shoto, Habomai
keywords: hokkaido , island , territorial dispute
related topics: Hokkaido Prefecture , Kuril Island
explanation: Group of small islands located in the offing of Nemuro peninsula. The main islands are Shihatsu and Suisho with total surface of about 100 km2. Strictly speaking, it is not a part of Kuril chain which is of a volcanic origin while Habomai has been formed by a rising of sea terrace. With Etorofu, Shikotan and Kunashiri islands, it forms so called "northern territory", of which return back is always claimed by Japan. Currently nobody is living there excepting Russian coast guards.

Hachijo island

八丈島
alternative words: Hachijojima island, Hachijojima, Hachijo-jima, Hachijo jima
keywords: island , tokyo , volcano
related topics: Izu islands , Izuoshima island
related web sites: http://www.town.hachijo.tokyo.jp , http://www.ne.jp/asahi/science-city/tsukuba/HTML/hathtm/hachi.htm , http://www.8jou.com/index.htm
explanation: Located about 300 km south from Tokyo on Pacific Ocean, Hachijojima is the second largest island after Oshima island and the most southern island among 7 Izu islands. Composed by 2 volcanoes, Mt Hachijo fuji (854m) and Mt Mihara yama (701m), race fields and an airport are spreading between them. Its surface is 69 km2 and the population 9,000. During Edo period, Hachijojima was a famous exile place for convicted. Hachijojima belongs to Fuji Hakone Izu national park.

Hokkaido Prefecture

北海道
alternative words: Hokkaido, Hokkai do, Hokkaidou
keywords: hokkaido , island , prefecture , region , tourist resort
related topics: Sapporo city , Hakodate city , Mt. Daisetsu , Lake Mashu , Rishiri island , Mt. Usu , Lake Toya , Shiretoko peninsula , Kuril island
related web sites: http://www.pref.hokkaido.jp , http://dtravel.inetg.com/hokkaido/hokkaido.html , http://www.hokkaido-np.co.jp
explanation: Hokkaido is a prefecture, a region and an island at the same time. Its surface is 83,519 km2 and the population 5.6 millions. The prefectural office is at Sapporo City. There were few Japanese until the end of 19th century because of a chilly climate. Its main industry is: fishing, coal mining and western style agriculture, thanks to its large surface , like dairy farming and soybean culture. The tourism is also popular because of a beautiful landscape created by many active volcanoes.

Honshu island

本州
alternative words: Honshu, island of Honshu
keywords: island
related topics: Mt. Fuji , Tokyo prefecture , Japan
explanation: The biggest island of Japan with the surface of 228,000 km2. It runs from the northeast to the southwest by describing a crescent and inflating toward Pacific ocean. The mountains over 3000m high are concentrated in its center with Mt Fiji (3776m) as the culminating point. The climate is temperate excepting for the moderately cool northeast region because of a cold current, Oyashiwo which runs down along the Pacific coast. The capital Tokyo is located on Honshu island.

Iki island

壱岐
alternative words: Iki
keywords: island , kyushu
related topics: Nagasaki prefecture , Tsushima island , Tsushima strait , Fukuoka city
explanation: Island located between Tsushima island and Kyushu proper. Though tiny (only 138 km2), it has played a major historic role with Tsushima island because of its geographic position between Korea and Japan. For that reason, it was included among 8 major islands created first by God Izanagi in Japanese mythology. The island is composed essentially of a low plateau and people cultivate rice, fruits and vegetables. Fishing is also prosperous. You can reach there by plane or boat from Fukuoka.

Iriomote island

西表島
alternative words: Iriomotejima island, Iriomotejima, Iriomote jima
keywords: island , okinawa , tourist resort
related topics: Okinawa prefecture , Ishigaki island
related web sites: http://www.iriomote.com , http://www.town.taketomi.okinawa.jp/island/iriomote.htm
explanation: Located in the west of Ishigakijima, Iriomotejima is the last big island in Okinawa island chain. Few people is living there and most of the island is covered with mountains and subtropical forests inhabited by rare wildcats, Iriomote yamaneko, while mangrove trees flourish at mouths of rivers. The surface is 287km2 and the island belongs to Iriomote national park. You can reach there from Isigakijima island by hovercraft.

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