In 15 minutes
you could be there, enjoying island time
on a island filled with history and art
where time moves differently.
ゆったりとした時の流れを楽しむ、そんな、こころうるおう旅にでかけよう。
  • A parfait with strawberries and a cookie shaped like a boat is on a seawall in front of a very blue ocean.
    ▲A cafe by the sea
  • An empty, narrow road lined by Japanese-style houses on both sides. A cat sits in the middle of the road looking at a large flowering tree to the side with a scooter parked beneath it.
    ▲A simple island lifestyle
  • The Missing Post Office. An older man wearing a post office uniform sits at a counter and is stamping a letter. Behind him, a young woman in a matching uniform arranges letters in a display.
    ▲A home for letters without a recipient
  • Two people stand together on an empty beach facing the ocean. The sea is calm and nearly the same bright, clear blue as the sky. Many islands are visible in the distance.
    ▲A wide expanse of the bluest sea.

Awashima Island Destinations

教室イメージ
  • The outside of the Missing Post Office, a square, concrete building with many windows. There is a sign above the door which prominently features Japan's symbol for post.

  • 漂流郵便局
    The Missing Post Office

  • After serving as the island’s post office for 50 years, this building found new life as an art installation in 2010. Inside, letters from around the world that can’t be delivered are displayed.
    Address: Awashima Island 1317-2 Takuma-cho, Mitoyo
    Hours: 1:00pm-4:00pm on the 2nd & 4th Saturday of each month
    Admission: Free
    Artist: KUBOTA Saya
    Photos courtesy of Yoshinobu Motoda
  • Kubota Saya, the artist who created the Missing Post Office, and Mr. Tanaka, the postmaster of the Missing Post Office, stand together at a counter. They are wearing matching post office uniforms.
    ▲The artist, Ms. Kubota and the postmaster, Mr. Tanaka.
  • A sign in front of the Missing Post Office made of plexiglass in a clear frame. The left side has a description of the artwork in Japanese. The right side has a large emblem which looks like a post stamp and says 'Missing Post Office' in English and Japanese.

  • 武内商店
    Takeuchi General Store

  • The outside of Takeuchi General Store. It is a Japanese-style building set into an alley with many goods visible and large signs saying 'beer' and 'ice cream' in Japanese.
  • Beverages, snacks, and anything else you could need are sold in the island’s only store.
    Phone: 0875-84-7015
    Closed Sundays
  • The Awashima Maritime Museum, a 2-story wooden building that has been painted a bright teal.

  • 粟島海洋記念館
    Awashima Maritime Museum

  • The Maritime Museum is currently closed for repairs.The large, brightly-colored building by the port is the Awashima Maritime Museum. The museum is housed in the original building opened in 1897 as Japan’s first maritime school. Now, it displays maritime company flags and other artifacts related to seafaring.
    Address: Awashima 1541 Takuma-cho, Mitoyo
    Phone: 0875-84-7884
    Hours: 9:00am – 4:00pm
    Closed Mondays (except holidays), 12/28 – 1/3
    Admission: Free
  • Inside a hallway in the Awashima Maritime Museum. The hallway is wooden with white walls and trim painted the same teal as the outside of the building. Many doors and windows line the hallway on either side.
  • The Awashima Maritime Museum as seen from behind. The ocean is visible in front of the teal, 2-story wooden building. Many large windows dot the walls.
  • Accommodations, a restaurant, tennis courts, and more; Le Port is Awashima’s all-in-one stop!
    Address: Awashima 1418-2 Takuma-cho, Mitoyo
    Phone: 0875-84-7878
    Restaurant Hours: 11:30am – 2:00pm
    ★Parking for guests is available at Suda Port
    Visit their Website

  • ル・ポール粟島
    Le Port Awashima

  • The gate to Le Port Awashima, set into a stone wall. A life ring hangs on the gate with 'welcome,' 'Le Port', and 'Awashima' written on it. Le Port Awashima is visible in the background, a rounded 2-story building with many windows.
  • A Western-style hotel room with two twin beds. A large window, couch, coffee table, and bedside table with a lamp are visible.
    ▲Check in to a cozy room
  • Three wooden cabins slightly elevated off the ground are clustered in front of a wooded area.
    ▲Try the cabins for your group outing!
  • Sea fireflies create tiny bioluminescent specks inside and around a wine glass at night.

  • 西浜
    Nishihama Beach

  • A wide, empty beach with islands visible in the distance across a calm sea. The sunset is perfectly centered in frame.
  • Walk 15 minutes from Awashima Port to reach this photogenic beach, perfectly positioned to watch seaside sunsets.
    The sound of the waves makes for the perfect end to a vacation day.

  • アートキャンバスあわしま
    Art Canvas Awashima

  • This traditional family home turned guesthouse is not just a place to stay, it’s a work of art. Many artists who have been invited to Awashima have contributed pieces.
    Address: Awashima 1430-7 Takuma-cho, Mitoyo
    (5 minutes from Awashima Port)
    Phone: 080-7201-8369
  • Interior of Art Canvas Awashima. Many traditional Japanese home features, such as multi-level floors, exposed roof beams, and sliding doors are visible in the largely wood and stone interior.
  • The outside of Art Canvas Awashima, a Japanese-style home with a charred wood and plaster facade. A large painting of a black ant on a white background is painted next to the entrance.

  • 海ほたる
    Sea Fireflies

  • Sea fireflies are actually a type of bioluminescent crustacean. Naturally, they are small sparks of light in the sea, but when prepared by Le Port Awashima for its guests (from June – Sept.), they cover the shore in glittering light.
    *The below photos are from Le Port Awashima’s Sea Firefly Appreciation Event. Sea fireflies do not naturally appear as in these pictures.
  • Thousands of sea fireflies dot the shore. In the distance, lights from the town are visible on a different island.
  • A closeup of the shoreline covered in sea fireflies.
    ▲Thousands of sea fireflies light up the shore

  • あわろは食堂
    Awaloha Cafe

  • Continue past the Maritime Museum to reach Awaloha cafe, a delicious lunchtime stop. They use ingredients sourced from Awashima Island itself, and have delicious seasonal parfaits and smoothies!
    Address: Awashima 1619 Takuma-cho, Mitoyo (6 mins. from the port)
    Open: Friday – Sunday, Holidays May through October
    Hours: 11:00am – 5:00 pm
    Phone: 090-3181-8360
  • Four different meal sets as seen from above. All include many small dishes surrounding one main dish. A shared cup of chopsticks and seasonings are in the middle of the table.
  • Seats face the wall that is made entirely of windows. The seawall and beyond that the sea and other islands are visible.

  • 城山
    Mt. Jonoyama

  • The view from the top of Mt. Jonoyama facing East. Islands, Shikoku, and the Seto Ohashi Bridge are all visible in the distance.
  • At 222 meters tall, Mt. Jonoyama is the highest point on the island. Take the approximately 1-hour hike to the top to see a 360-degree panoramic view!
    But be careful, with lots of stairs and steep slopes, this hike shouldn’t be undertaken lightly!
  • A large laurel tree as seen from below. The sun is visible through the upper branches and the tree is surrounded by a bamboo grove.

  • 梵音寺のタブノキ
    The Ancient Laurel Tree

  • Bon-onji Temple is home to a massive laurel tree, standing over 12.5 meters tall. It flowers in May, and grows dark purple fruit in August and September.
    To find it, go up the stone stairs on the left of the shrine grounds.
    Address: Awashima 1604-1 Takuma-cho, Mitoyo (8 minutes from the port)

  • 馬城八幡神社の鳥居
    Maki Hachimanjinja Shrine’s Torii Gate

  • One of several shrines in the area devoted to Hachiman, the god of archery and war. It’s best known for its waterside torii gate, which is especially impressive at high tide when the water comes right up to the base. It’s said that the gate was placed by the sea because of the ocean’s cleansing effect on visitors.
    Address: Awashima, Takuma-cho, Mitoyo
    (15 minutes from Awashima Port)
  • The torii gate at sunset. The gate is located at the edge of the water and is silhouetted against the yellows and purples of the sunset. Fishing equipment is visible behind the gate.
  • The torii gate during the day. A man leans against the inner right side of the gate facing the sea, which has reached almost to the base of the gate. The sky and sea are both a clear blue.
  • Located in the Kami Shinden area of Awashima Island, the locals have filled this garden with flowers and art pieces made from recycled buoys.
    See if you can find some of your favorite characters!
    ★The garden is private property; please be respectful.
    Address: Kami Shinden, Awashima, Takuma-cho, Mitoyo
    (3 minutes from Kami Shinden Port or 1 hour from Awashima Port.)

  • ぶいぶいガーデン
    Buoy-Buoy Garden

  • A statue made of 2 buoys to look like a jizo statue. Japanese text decorates a wooden plank below the statue.
  • Many statues made of buoys that look like jizo statues. The statues are arranged in rows. No two have the same face or expression.

  • 民宿　ぎんなん
    Guesthouse Gin-nan

  • The forearms of someone seated before a window with a view of the sea. They are holding a cup and pair of chopsticks and have seaweed held in the chopsticks.
    ▲Reserve 3 days in advance for a delicious lunch!
  • The pride of this guesthouse is their home-cooked meals, which use homegrown vegetables and locally- caught seafood. They only make 5 lunches each day, so be sure to reserve it in advance!
    Address: Awashima 2217 Takuma-cho, Mitoyo
    (5 min. from Kami Shinden Port)
    Phone: 0875-84-6448

Getting to Awashima

map showing Shishijima Island, Awashima Island, and the portion of Kagawa prefecture that is closest to them with relevant ports marked.

Address Awashima, Takuma-cho, Mitoyo, Kagawa, Japan
(香川県三豊市詫間町粟島)
Ferry Info Suda Port　→　Awashima Port (15 min. one way)
Phone: 0875-83-3204 (Jpn Only)
Ferry Timetable
Water Taxi Water Taxi Iseya
Phone: 0875-84-6753 (Jpn Only)
(Please contact the company directly with questions)

Getting to Suda PortBus Schedule

Takuma Line: Runs everyday. Take the bus bound for Nabuto.
Takuma-Mino Line: Runs Monday – Sunday, except holidays. Take the bus bound for Ohama.
Takuma
Station
Bus
20 min.
Suda
Bus Stop
Walk
Suda Port

Map of AwashimaGuide Map Pt 2Guide Map Pt 1

Model Itineraries

The best way to get around the island is on foot or by bike!
Awashima
Port
5 min.
Awashima
Maritime
Museum
5 min.
Missing
Post Office
10 min.
Nishihama
Beach
15 min.
Awashima
Port
Awashima
Port
Walk 1 hr
or
Bike 30 min
Buoy-Buoy
Garden
Kami Shinden
Port
3 min
Buoy-Buoy
Garden
2 min
Guesthouse
Gin-nan

  • Island Rental Bikes

  • Rental bikes are available for ￥500/day.
    Everything is self-service. Please pay by putting your money into the mural’s mouth.
    Find them about halfway between Awashima Port and Le Port Awashima
  • 島のレンタサイクル

  • Contact

  • Mitoyo Tourism and Exchange Authority
    Phone: 0875-56-5880 (Closed Tuesdays)
  • Email Us