Suō Ōshima

Overview

Suo Oshima is an island floating in the Seto Inland Sea off the eastern coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture; its formal name is Yashirojima. As the flagship island of the Suo Oshima group within the Boyo archipelago, it covers about 138 square kilometers, making it the third-largest island in the Seto Inland Sea after Awaji and Shodoshima. With its warm climate, tangerine orchards and blue-sea scenery, it is affectionately known as the Hawaii of the Seto Inland Sea, and the whole island forms the single town of Suo-oshima (population around 20,000).

Highlights

• ●The scale of the third-largest island in the Seto Inland Sea
• ●Scenery woven from mountains rising to 691 meters and the blue sea
• ●A mild climate and tangerine groves that earn the nickname Hawaii of the Seto Inland Sea
• ●Easy access via the Oshima Bridge linking it to Honshu

History

The name Yashirojima derives from the island once being a large island belonging to the old Suo Province, and it has long been widely known by its popular name, Suo Oshima. As a strategic point of maritime traffic in the Seto Inland Sea and an island with a history of emigration and shipping, it has nurtured a distinctive culture of its own. For detailed history and historic sites, a visit to the island's museums or a look at official information will deepen your understanding.

Map

33.9167, 132.2667 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Cross the Oshima Bridge from Obatake on the Honshu side onto the island
2. 2Enjoy Seto Inland Sea views from coastal beaches and viewpoints
3. 3Savor the island's specialty tangerines, citrus and seafood
4. 4Take in the vistas from higher ground and enjoy the gentle island pace

Did you know?

💡 Suo Oshima is the third-largest island in the Seto Inland Sea, covering roughly 138 square kilometers. Its highest point reaches an elevation of 691 meters, and the way a single island embraces everything from lowland villages to mountain heights gives it a scale that is uniquely its own.

Nearby spots