Olive Park

What to know

Shodoshima is where olive cultivation first took root in Japan. Its Mediterranean-like climate made it ideal for growing olives, and the first successful harvest was in 1908. Since then, the island has become a leading producer of Japanese olives and olive oil, earning it the nickname "Olive Island."

Today, the olives are primarily a tourist attraction, best experienced at Shodoshima Olive Park (小豆島オリーブ公園, Shōdoshima Olive Kōen). This working olive grove sits on the very site where the first olives were successfully cultivated a century ago. The park features pleasant walking paths through the hillside and a replica of a Greek windmill.

A small museum teaches visitors about the history of olive cultivation on Shodoshima. There is also a restaurant, café, and shops where you can sample and purchase a variety of olive-related products, including olive oil, olive candy, olive cosmetics, olive noodles, and olive ice cream.

The complex also houses a public bathhouse called Sun Olive, fed by hot spring water pumped from a depth of 1.6 kilometers. The baths are gender-separated and offer eight different tubs, some with lovely views over the island and the sea.

Olive Park is located along the main bus line between Tonosho and Kusakabe Ports. The nearest bus stop is Olive ga Oka (オリーブヶ丘), just a short walk from the park.

From Tonosho Port, take a bus bound for Sakate (坂手), Fukuda Port (福田港), or Eigamura (映画村). The one-way trip takes 25 minutes, costs 500 yen, and buses run 1-2 times per hour.