The Koshikishima Islands (甑島列島, Koshikishima-rettō[1]) in the East China Sea are an island chain located 38 kilometres (21 nmi; 24 mi) west of the port city of Ichikikushikino, Kagoshima.

Koshikishima Islands
Native name:
甑島列島 Koshikishima Rettō
Koshikishima Islands is located in Japan
Koshikishima Islands
Koshikishima Islands
Location in Japan
Geography
LocationEast China Sea
Coordinates31°45′12″N 129°47′03″E / 31.75328°N 129.78424°E / 31.75328; 129.78424
Archipelagoyes
Total islands11
Major islands3
Area118.68 km2 (45.82 sq mi)
Length39 km (24.2 mi)
Width11 km (6.8 mi)
Administration
Japan
PrefectureKagoshima Prefecture
CitySatsumasendai
Demographics
Population5576 (2010)
Pop. density47/km2 (122/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsJapanese

Major islands

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Island Coordinates area, km² population (2010)
Kamikoshiki-shima (上甑島) 31°50′05″N 129°53′20″E / 31.834790°N 129.888989°E / 31.834790; 129.888989 45.08 2488
Naka-Koshiki-shima (中甑島) 31°48′08″N 129°49′38″E / 31.802107°N 129.827191°E / 31.802107; 129.827191 7.29 308
Shimokoshiki-shima (下甑島) 31°42′15″N 129°43′25″E / 31.704047°N 129.723703°E / 31.704047; 129.723703 66.27 2780

Minor islands

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All minor islands are currently (as of 2017) uninhabited.

Island Coordinates area, km²
No-jima (野島) 31°51′58″N 129°57′38″E / 31.866071°N 129.960427°E / 31.866071; 129.960427 0.11
Chika-jima (近島) 31°51′05″N 129°57′01″E / 31.851494°N 129.950236°E / 31.851494; 129.950236 0.10
Futago-jima (双子島) 31°51′44″N 129°58′34″E / 31.862180°N 129.976023°E / 31.862180; 129.976023 0.05
Okinoshima (沖の島) 31°51′52″N 129°59′03″E / 31.864498°N 129.984074°E / 31.864498; 129.984074 0.02
Benkei-jima (弁慶島)# 31°46′25″N 129°50′04″E / 31.773680°N 129.834574°E / 31.773680; 129.834574 0.02
Kasetō (筒島) 31°52′01″N 129°57′12″E / 31.866938°N 129.953346°E / 31.866938; 129.953346 0.02
Napoleon Rock [ja] 31°42′11″N 129°41′14″E / 31.703060°N 129.687216°E / 31.703060; 129.687216 0.01
Yurashima (由良島)[2] 31°44′35″N 129°45′19″E / 31.743005°N 129.755239°E / 31.743005; 129.755239 0.01
Matsushima (松島) 31°52′00″N 129°56′54″E / 31.866748°N 129.948315°E / 31.866748; 129.948315 0.004
  1. seems to undergo significant erosion and may disappear

History

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The islands once consisted of 14 villages, belonging to Shikijima-gun, Satsuma Province (Satsuma no Kuni) during the Meiji period. In 1889, the islands were consolidated into Kami-Koshiki and Shimo-Koshiki villages. In 1897, the islands were merged with Satsuma-gun. Later, Kashima village and Sato village broke off, for a total of four villages. In 2004, during "the great Heisei merger", the villages were merged with the city of Sendai, on the coast of Kyushu.

Important Bird Area

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The islands have been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because they support populations of Japanese wood pigeons and Pleske's grasshopper warblers.[3]

Attractions

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The cruise course visiting many scenic coastal rocks and islets is available from Shimo-Koshiki island.[4]

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  1. ^ Teikoku's Complete Atlas of Japan, Teikoku-Shoin Co., Ltd. Tokyo, ISBN 4-8071-0004-1
  2. ^ Yurajima photo
  3. ^ "Koshikijima islands". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  4. ^ 甑島:国内屈指の断崖・奇岩クルージング!(観光船かのこ)