Sightseeing
*There are a lot of mosquitoes on Shishijima Island from summer to autumn, so long sleeves and long pants are a must.
Don't forget to bring other insect repellent products as well.
Great camphor tree
The great camphor tree on Shishijima Island was designated as a natural monument of Kagawa Prefecture in April 1971.
It is said to be over 1,200 years old, with a trunk circumference of 12m and a height of 23m, making it the largest tree in the prefecture in terms of branch and leaf area.
The reason why the branches are creeping along the ground is because the trunk was buried several meters deep in a landslide that occurred a long time ago.
The route to the tree has many ups and downs, so please wear comfortable shoes.
Additionally, due to the risk of dead branches falling, access to the roped off area is currently prohibited.
*20 minutes walk from the port
Flower field in the sky
This is a flower field that was created by an old woman living on Shishijima Island and her son and his wife by clearing the forest.
The best time to see the flower field is from April to May, when calendula and moss phlox bloom all over the place.
Many tourists visit for this purpose.
The field is located in a difficult location, so please ask the islanders how to get there.
*15 minutes walk from the port
The highest point
There are no mountains on Shishijima Island, but this is the highest point on the island, at an altitude of 109m.
Islanders cleared the mountain forest and opened the road to it over a period of six months starting in April 2012.
From there, you can see not only the islands of Setouchi, but also the main island of Shikoku to the south and Okayama Prefecture to the north.
*40 minutes walk from the port
(20 minutes walk from great camphor tree)
Lookup point
As you continue along the paved road with the downhill slope towards the great camphor tree on your right, you will see the hut that is the Kusunokura Lookout Point.
You can also climb directly to this point from where that camphor tree is located.
Since it is located halfway up the island, you can see Takami Island, Sanagi Island, etc. from there.
In front of the hut, pyrethrums, which are rare in Japan, are grown.
*20 minutes walk from the port
Goats and Cats
Goats are the island's mascots.
Currently, seven goats are kept.
When they are not in the stable, they may be grazing in a nearby field, so please look for them.
*5 minute walk from the port to the stable
And you walk around the island, you will see stray cats everywhere.
At one time, the number of cats increased to 80, so they were neutered.
but there are still many cats living there.
Going around the island
Currently, there is no road that goes around Shishijima Island, but you can do it by walking on the reefs that appear at low tide.
However, the rocky areas are slippery, and there are some places that require climbing up and down like rock climbing.
Also, if you don't go around the island before the tide comes in, it will be difficult to pass.
So, you'd better start about an hour before low tide and aim to complete the hike within 2 hours.
You can see rocks of various shapes, so if you are confident in your physical strength, please give it a try.
*Average time: 90 minutes