Awashima Island Travel Tips

Awashima Island (粟島) is a unique star-shaped island located just 4.5 kilometers off the western coast of Kagawa Prefecture. Once a thriving port during the Warring States era, it was home to the Shiwaku Navy, known for producing the finest sailors of their time. To honor this maritime legacy, the Meiji Government established the National Sailor School on the island in 1897, which operated for 90 years, training sailors who went on to serve on historic vessels, such as the Kanrin Maru, Japan’s first ship to cross the Pacific Ocean.

Today, the former sailor school is preserved as the Awashima Marine Memorial Park, where visitors can explore exhibits of maritime tools, ship models, and other relics. The small island, with its weathered wooden houses and narrow paths, offers a nostalgic atmosphere. A hike to Jonoyama Viewpoint provides stunning views over the island, and visitors can experience Awashima’s contemporary art scene, as the island hosts installations from the Setouchi Triennale art festival. Despite its decline after the school’s closure in 1987, Awashima has found a new cultural identity, combining history and art.