Sakushima Island

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Get lost in the beauty
of an Island of Art

Stroll along relaxing beaches and a coastline whose moods change by the time of day. Or walk among wildflowers as you indulge in a taste of the four seasons.
Sakushima Island is an island of both natural and manmade art. Traditional village scenes of retro black-walled Japanese houses greet you after a nearly 25-minute boat ride from Isshiki Port upon your arrival to one of Aichi's small islands in the middle of Mikawa Bay. The island's good-old, inviting atmosphere mixes with modern motifs.

Of particular popularity are the artistic architectural spots which dot the island, earning it the nickname "Island of Art". Take for example one of the posterchild pieces: Ohirune House—meaning the "Nap House". This boxed structure adopts the black walls of the island's west-side village houses as it sits quietly on the coast, allowing you to take in the sounds of the waves and feel the ocean breeze on your face, becoming one with the natural surroundings. On the island's east side is East House with a brilliant white color tastefully setting it apart from the natural ocean background.
Another is Apollo, modeled after the Apollo 10 spacecraft and known as the island's secret hideout. And then, there's Seagull Parking Lot on Oura Swimming Beach with countless seagulls who twist and turn with the wind. Sakushima Island—the Island of Art—welcomes you to take a walk along its shores and streets as you discover its art and forget time.

Lend your ear to the villages' scenes and scapes

Art is certainly one of Sakushima Island's main draws, but it doesn't stop there. Fresh short-neck clams, octopus, oysters, sea cucumbers, and other rare seafood you won't typically see at the market as well as locally procured vegetables are available all around and in delectable dishes.
The island is also home to a rich history. Geological strata have given up their bounty of ancient items from the Jomon era, such as earthen vessel fragments, as well as those from the Yayoi era, including seashell mounds, earthen vessels, and approximately 50 tumuli. The shipping industry during the Edo period too enjoyed a long history, which in turn helped the island prosper. And on a more cultural note, numerous shrines built during the Taisho period yet lost to time thereafter were resurrected thanks to the island's art boom, and you can now take a tour of the Sakushima Island's 88 Kobo Shrines.

As you can tell from the complete absence of stoplights, the island has a laid-back culture with townscapes and roads reminiscent of yesteryear, old ladies pushing carriages, and other scenes which soothe your otherwise throttled mind. The island just may seem to become your home away from home, as you find yourself coming back time and time again to bask in its simple, casual lifestyle escaping the grasp of society.

SPOT OVERVIEW

Location	〒444-0416 Sakushima, Isshiki-cho, Nishio-shi, Aichi
Fee	Free to walk around the island
Parking	Available, free of charge (1,000 spaces around Isshiki Port)
Phone number	0563-72-9607 (Sakushima Island Promotional Section, Nishio City Hall)

Note: This page may not be current due to update time differences between site databases.
Should accuracy be critical, please verify this information using a direct source, whenever possible.

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ACCESS

Access by public transport

From Nagoya Station, take the Meitetsu train bound for Kira Yoshida Station and get off at Nishio Station. Take the Meitetsu Tobu Kotsu Bus's Nishio–Isshiki Line, get off at Isshiki Sakana Hiroba, and take the ferry to Sakushima Island.
Access by car

To Isshiki Port: Approx. 35 min. (18.6 km) southeast from Handa Interchange on Minamichita Road via Routes 34, 52, 265, 247, and 476.