Honjima island [本島]

Honjima is a small island in Seto Inland Sea (Seto Naikai).
It is located right between Shikoku Island and Honshu Island (Okayama Prefecture) and is about 12 km north of Marugame city.
And it is about 25 km west of Takamatsu city.

Honjima is the center of Shiwaku Islands with 28 small island. Great Seto Bridge runs about 2 km east of the island.

Honjima is about 4 km from east to west and about 3 km from north to south in width.

Since ancient times, pirates had lived in these islands.
They became a strong team with weapons and high skills of sailing.

Since the 16th century, the team was employed by the government as a navy and was called "Shiwaku-suigun".
They kept guard of the route of Seto Inland Sea, and it fought on the sea as a government army when a war occured.

After the end of feudal Edo Period in 1868, the suigun had been abolished.
So, the people in the islands became fishermen, but the islands has declined.

Honjima was the base island of such Shiwaku-suigun.

The ferry from Marugame Port arrives at Honjima Port on the southeastern coast.

There is Kogarasu Shrine (木烏神社) about 400 meters west of the port.

It is a Shinto shrine established in 1674.

In the precinct, there is an old theater Chitose-za (千歳座) built in 1862.
At that time, seeing a play was prohibited by Edo Government.
So it is said that this theater was built under the pretext of the storehouse of this shrine.
Surely, it looks like a storehouse, but it is said that it changes to a theater easily.

There is Shiwaku-kinbansho (塩飽勤番所) about 800 meters north of the port.

It was the branch office of Edo Government.
It was built in 1797, and the gate was built in 1841.

The building is used as the museum, and we can see the old books and documents about Shiwaku Islands from the 16th to 19the centuries.

There is Kasashima district (笠島) on the northeast coast about 1 km north of Shiwaku-kinbansho.

The pirates had lived in this place, then the district became a main port town of Shiwaku-suigun in the 17th century.

Many old houses remain along the narrow streets in this district.
Because of the old town of the navy, narrow streets made the action of the enemies difficult.

The buildings were constructed by the excellent carpenters in Shiwaku Islands.

The main street is called "Matcho Street".

"Machinami Hozon Center" by Matcho Street is former Sanagi Residence built in the 19th century.
It was the redidence of a merchant, and is used as the tourist information center.

To enjoy this island, it is convenient to use a rental bicycle.
We can rent it at the port.

How to get here

To Marugame Port, about 5 minutes on foot from JR Marugame station.
From Marugame port to Honjima, about 35 minutes. (8 services a day)

Other Tourist Attractions in Kagawa Prefecture

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