Around the Island

What to know

In addition to the major attractions covered on other pages, Shodoshima is dotted with many smaller sights worth exploring.

For those who enjoy scenic drives, the Shodoshima Skyline road winds along the island's interior mountains, starting near a gorge close to the monkey park and stretching about ten kilometers to Kankakei Gorge. Along the way, observation decks at Utsukushihara Kogen highlands near the upper ropeway station offer lovely views of Shodoshima and the Seto Inland Sea below.

Like its larger neighbor Shikoku, Shodoshima has its own pilgrimage route visiting 88 temples. The Shodoshima 88 Temple Pilgrimage begins near Sakate Port and proceeds clockwise around the island. The temples range from grand complexes with stately halls to simple single buildings. Walking the entire route takes about two weeks.

Since at least the early Edo Period (1603–1868), Shodoshima has been renowned for its high-quality stone. After Osaka Castle was destroyed in 1615, large quantities of stone were quarried on the island and shipped to Osaka for reconstruction. Some of these stones were left behind and can still be seen, especially around the island's northeastern tip.

An interesting spot to view the stones is the former site of a stone-cutting workshop, where many partially cut stones were abandoned after the workshop closed and are now surrounded by forest. Another related site is the Osaka Castle Stones Michi no Eki, a small roadside station with a museum displaying tools and quarrying techniques alongside several dozen would-be castle stones.

Near Tonosho Port lies the Angel Road, a sandbar that connects three small islands to Shodoshima. Twice a day during low tide, visitors can walk along the sandbar. It is said that couples who cross it hand in hand will find happiness together. Some people write romantic wishes on small wooden plaques (ema) and hang them on a tree branch in hopes they will come true.