Kurushima

Overview

Kurushima is an inhabited island in the Seto Inland Sea, lying at the western side of the Kurushima Strait, at the mouth of Hashihama Bay in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture. It sits just 240 meters off the Shikoku mainland and forms part of the Geiyo archipelago as one of the Kurushima Islands. At only about 0.04 square kilometers, it is tiny; a low hill of 47 meters rises at its center, while a fishing harbor and settlement nestle on the southeast side. It is a quintessential Inland Sea islet whose life has always turned with the swift currents of the Kurushima Strait.

Highlights

• ●An inhabited island just 240 meters off the Shikoku mainland
• ●The swift Kurushima Strait, said to lend the maddening-tide name
• ●The 47-meter central hill and the tradition of Kurushima Castle
• ●Inland Sea island life around the southeast harbor and settlement

History

The 47-meter hill at the island's center is said to have once held Kurushima Castle. Separated from the Shikoku mainland by only a slender stretch of water, the island faces the strategic waters of the Kurushima Strait, a stage in a history where those who mastered the tides mastered the sea. The island's name is said to come from kuruu shio, the maddening tide, referring to currents so fast and shifting that the phrase was worn down into Kurushima. For the castle site and the island's fuller history, please consult official and on-site information.

Map

34.1181, 132.9694 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Cross by ferry from the Hashihama side and land on Kurushima
2. 2Walk the fishing harbor and settlement to sense island life
3. 3Reflect on the 47-meter central hill and the Kurushima Castle tradition
4. 4Watch the swift strait currents and enjoy the multi-island scenery

Did you know?

💡 The place name Kurushima is said to derive from kuruu shio, the maddening tide, born of the strait's fast and complex currents worn down into the island's name. Though only 240 meters from the Shikoku mainland, the water between is among Japan's swiftest. People live on this islet of just 0.04 square kilometers, and Kurushima Castle is said to have stood at its center, making it a small island that concentrates a rich maritime history.

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