Iki Island: Dec. 27-28, 2018

Japan has 4 major islands – Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku – and about 6800 smaller islands. People live in about 400 islands.

I visited Iki Island, one of small islands which is about 60 kilometers west from Fukuoka City. There lie Tsushima Islands in the west of Iki Island. Both Iki and Tsushima Islands locate between Kyushu and Korean Peninsula.

The island is about 17 km form north to south and 14 km from east to west. The population is about 26 thousand. There are four towns – Gonoura, Katsumoto, Ashibe, and Ishida – under Iki City. The major industries are fishery and agriculture

It took about an hour by a jet wheel ship from Fukuoka to Gonoura port, in the southwest part of Iki. The sky was blue and the air was fresh when I arrived there in the morning of Dec. 27.

There are many beautiful spots in the coasts. Saru-iwa, in the west coast of the island, is one of the examples. I could see the Tsushima Islands behind a monkey-shape rock. (See also the 3ed photo from the top)

Many people live with the sea. There are many fish boats in the port of Katsumoto Town, in the northwest part of the island. Many of the boats are used to catch squids. They use electric lamps to attract squids in the night. (See the 2^nd photo from the top)

I saw old women selling marine products and vegetables on the streets near Katsumoto fishery port. I also found people making ans selling dry fish products in Gonoura. (See the 4th photo)  

Six small statues of Jizo, guardian gods, stand at the seacoast of Yahata in Ashibe Town, in the eastern part of the island. They are called Harahoge Jizo. There is no official record on when and by whom the status were made, but it is said that Jizo statues were built to console the spirits of the dead in the sea. (See the top photo)

The island has many shrines. Some are in the mountainous areas.

Some are in the sea.

The island has been a gateway to Asia. There was a small country in the island in the 3^rd century (1800 years ago) and the Chinese people sometimes visit here, according to historical record in China.

The ruin of the capital of the small country is now called Harunotsuji Iseki. It locates in the southeast part of the island.

The island experienced harsh raids by Yuan dynasty in the 13^th century. Most of the residents were killed. Some monuments remain.

Roads and other infrastructure are well arranged. Foods are delicious. There are many things to talk about in Iki.