Want to know more! Islands where you feel the beating of the earth
Mishima Village is composed of three islands, Takeshima, Ioujima, and Kuroshima, which dot between the mainland Kagoshima and Yakushima. Recognized for it’s unique volcano and valuable natural environment, in April, 2022, the village was designated “Mishima Prefectural Natural Park”. In addition, village’s original settlement support and traditional festivals like “Mishima no Kamenshin (Masked Gods of Mishima)” are well talked about. The islands are full of numerous appeals with their great nature, warmth of people living there, and their prized specialties.
Masked God Mendon
An island surrounded by bamboo groves about three hours ferry-ride away from the Kagoshima Port. “Daimyo Takenoko” called King of Bamboo Shoots is famous. Livestock is a huge business there.
The sight of Ioudake mountain with its gentle smoke is breathtaking. The peacocks that roam around Ioujima and the wild and beautiful Higashi-Onsen hot springs are popular.
With the highest Yaguradake mountain with elevation of 622 m, mountains of around 500 m are standing and waterfalls are dotting along the coast of sheer cliffs. “Cluster of Forest Plants of Satsuma Kuroshima” is designated as a natural treasure.
Village-run regular ship, Ferry Mishima, connects Kagoshima Honko Port and the islands four times a week (three hours to Takeshima).
You need to stay more than three days to use Ferry Mishima and travel around the three islands, but if you can’t afford that time, how about taking a 2-day trip on the weekend? If you can make it to the 9:30 a.m. ferry, no reservation is required. That said, be sure to make a schedule and secure a hotel!
| [Day 1] | |
|---|---|
| Morning | After boarding procedure at Kagoshima Honko Port (Kagoshima City South Wharf Ferry Boarding Place), go on board a ferry |
| 9:30～ | Departure to Ioujima |
| 12:30～ | Enjoy landscape of Takeshima on the deck |
| 13:25 | Landing Ioujima. Put your baggage in the hotel and rent an electric bicycle (reservation required) to start sightseeing |
| 17:00 | Return the rental bicycle and stay at the hotel |
| [Day 2] | |
|---|---|
| 10:10 | Go aboard a ferry in Ioujima and leave there to mainland Kagoshima. Get some gifts in the ship. |
| 14:05 | Ferry arrives at Kagoshima Honko Port |
Try to go to the edge of the cliff standing beside the port. Breath-taking view!
Most popular spot in Ioujima. You can take a bath in your swimming suit, so don’t forget to carry it
Hall to worship the soul of the priest “Shunkan”, who was exiled by Tairano Kiyomori. Long mossed trails create a mysterious atmosphere.
Kuroshima has publicly-established, publicly-run shochu breweries, which are rare even in Japan. Here, using a staple of the village, sweet potato, “Honkaku Shochu Mishimamura” is made. The shochu features sweet aroma and pure taste by Kuroshima’s pure water and Beniotome sweet potato that were grown strongly in the fields made by carving out the high-pitched slope of Kuroshima. It is loved along with “Mendon” where Beniotome produced in Ioujima is used.
I moved and settled in Mishima Village as a member of the Cooperation Legion of Regional Revitalization with a passion that I want to engage in work where I can create something with my own hands. I was apprenticed to a major brewing maker before I became a chief brewer at “Mukunokura” newly established in Kuroshima in 2018. My job is so rewarding, because I’m involved in all process of shochu brewing throughout the year — starting with cultivating and enriching soil in January to February for growth of the raw material, sweet potatoes, followed by collecting and raising seedlings before harvesting in Fall, and then preparing, and bottling. What makes me happy the most is a word “delicious” from people who drank my shochu. I hope more people will be interested in Mishima Village through shochus named after Mishima Village: “Mishimamura” and “Mendon”.
“I’m so happy to be in many different processes, but among others, preparation of shochu is when I have to straighten my back.”
"The New Shochu Festival" will be held at Centerrace Tenmonkan Event Square on Saturday, November 30, 2024. In October, a limited edition bottle commemorating the Mishimamura Kabuki performance "Shunkan" will be released. For more information, please see Mishima Shochu Muku no Kura, the Shochu Project article, and the official website （https://mishima-shochu.jp）.
Mishima Village, Kagoshima
三島村役場 Mishima Village Office
099-222-3141
三島村役場 Mishima Village Office
099-222-3141
Address：12-18 Meizan-cho, Kagoshima-shi
WEBSITE : http://mishimamura.com