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Tobishima, located in the Sea of Japan off the coast of Sakata Citythe only remote island in Yamagata Prefecture. It has an area of approximately 2.75 square kilometers and a circumference of about 10 kilometers. The population is 169 (as of December 2022), and fishing is the main industry. During the Edo period, it was abustling port where Kitamae shipswinds stopped to come and go from Sakata, and it is said that as many as 400 ships stopped there annually.
Because the warm Tsushima Current flows around the island, it remains warm throughout the year, with an average annual temperature of over 12°C and snowfall of less than 10 cm. The island also boasts natural landscapes that reveal its formation, as well as Jomon period ruins,the Chokaisan-Tobishima Geoparkmaking it a great place to explore nature as part of
Tobishima Island, where people have lived since the Jomon period
Tobishima separated from the Eurasian continent about 19 million years ago, and it is said that undersea volcanic deposits rose due to crustal movement, and then over millions of years, due to erosion by waves and wind, it took on its current shape. Due to its proximity to the mainland, relatively warm climate, and abundant seafood, people lived on the island during the Jomon period. Pottery from the Jomon period dating back about 6,000 years has been discovered at ruins on the island
It was called "Todo Island" because there were many sea lions living there
Although there are no accurate records remaining from the Heian period through the Muromachi period, human bones believed to date back to the Heian period have been found at a site known as "Tekiana."
The island came to be called "Tobishima" in the early Edo period; before that, it was known by several names, including Miyakojima, Watarishima, Wakarejima, and Todojima."Todojima"was named because there were many sea lions living there, and the name "Todojima" appears frequently in Edo period documents. It is said that "Tobishima" evolved from "Todo."
According to one theory,when Mount Chokai erupted, a part of the mountain that was ejected became "Tobishima,"but that is merely a popular misconception.
During the Edo period, squid was used as tax
From the Sengoku period onward, the lords of Tobishima changed hands several times, including the Yuri, Muto, Mogami, and Sakai clans. The first lord in the Edo period, the Mogami clan,"squid tax" (ikazei), whichbegan collecting a tax from the islanders in the form of a
Later, the Sakai clan, who became the lords of the Shonai domain, also continued the "squid tax," butrequired the payment of squid itselfchanged it to a system where they
Katsuura Port flourished as a port where Kitamae ships waited for the wind to blow
Katsuura Port flourished as a result of Kitamaebune ships calling at the port
From the Edo period through to the Meiji period, Tobishima was said to have been the port of call for 400 to 500 Kitamaebune ships each year
In an era before railroads or trucks, Kitamae-bune ships made a huge fortune traveling between Osaka, Tohoku, and Hokkaido, calling at ports along the Sea of Japan coast. However, Sakata Port, the original loading and unloading port, was susceptible to the effects of northwesterly seasonal winds, and ships could not enter the port in bad weather. For this reason, Katsuura Port on Tobishima Island, located off the coast of Sakata and not exposed to northwesterly winds, was the perfect port for waiting out the wind
Sakata has been hit by major fires and earthquakes in the past, and there are almost no ship registers remaining that record the Kitamae ships that called at the port and their crews
Although it was unclear what kinds of ships and how often they docked, Tobishima Island never suffered a major fire or other disaster, sopassenger logbooks remained at the 13 inns that served as boat lodgings during the Edo period and the 9 that remained after the Meiji era. Since it is believed that these ships then entered Sakata Port, these logbooksbecame valuable historical documents.
Tobishima Island is attracting attention as part of the "Mount Chokai-Tobishima Geopark"
Tobishima Island is said to have been formed more than 10 million years ago, and it features strangely shaped rocks and caves formed from the deposits of an underwater volcano and the erosion of waves, and is also home to various legends. It has beenthe "Chokaisan-Tobishima Geopark"designated as
Located around Katsuura Port at the southern tip of Tobishima Island, the area features a series of rock formations including Tateiwa and Kashiwagiyama, which served as windbreaks for Katsuura Port. A promenade runs along the coast,"Sainokawara,"which is littered with volcanic rocks, and the rocks that show streaks of lava flows.
on Kashiwagi MountainThe Tobishima daylilyand is designated as a natural monument of Sakata City.
Tobishima daylilyis a flower found only on Tobishima and Sado Islands, and is related to the Nikko daylily.
The large colony in Onogame on Sado Island is famous, but it is said that they once bloomed all over Tobishima. Recently, their numbers have decreased, and conservation efforts are being carried out
Gotorohama Beach is characterized by its mille-feuille cliffs
On the southwestern part of the island,"Gotoro Beach,"there is a 20-meter-high cliff that resembles a mille-feuille pastry in layers. It is made up of alternating layers of volcanic bombs and ash ejected from an underwater volcano, indicating that Tobishima Island was once at the bottom of the sea.
Misumi Island, where traces of a former volcano remain
Oshakujimais a small, rugged island located about 1 km west of Tobishima, made up of rhyolite, a type of rock formed when magma solidifies on or near the Earth's surface.
In the cave on the north side, formed by wave erosion,"dragon scales,"known asgolden-colored rock facesand it has been revered by islanders and sailors as a sacred place where the dragon god resides.
Araki Coast, selected as one of the "100 Best Beaches in Japan"
, formed from conglomerate tuff and pumice ejected from an underwater volcanoArasaki Coast, is a coast known for its beautiful sunsets over the Sea of Japan, and has been selected as one of "Japan's Top 100 Beaches." The surrounding area is also home to natural habitats of plants such as the Tobishima daylily, making it the most scenic spot on Tobishima Island.
"Japan's Top 100 Beaches," a "Bell of the Beach" has been installed on a hill overlooking the coast.
Hanatozaki Observatory, the easternmost point where you can also see Mt. Chokai
located at the easternmost point of Tobishima Island,Hanatozaki,is a scenic spot offering views of Mount Chokai to the north and Katsuura Port to the south. There is a covered observation deck where you can enjoy the scenery.
"Tekiana" where human bones from the Heian period were discovered
"Teki-ana"is a cave located between Katsuura Port and Hanatozaki, where22 human remains and artifacts, believed to date back to the Heian period, were discovered in 1964. Many mysteries remain, such as why people lived there during the Heian period.
Take the regular ferry from Sakata Port to Tobishima
My love of travel led me to work for a travel magazine some time ago, and now I work as a travel writer for an online publication. I have visited all 47 prefectures in Japan, focusing on the Tohoku region, and I enjoy soaking in hot springs and experiencing traditional Japanese culture, including old townscapes, lifestyles, and performing arts and crafts
