🗺️ Shinkajima (or Kamishima)神島

Kojima is an island located about 14 kilometers northeast from Toba Port in Mie Prefecture, and approximately 3.5 kilometers west of Irago Cape in Aichi Prefecture. This small island, with a circumference of 3.9 kilometers, is believed to be governed by deities, as its name suggests. The island gained fame as the backdrop for Yukio Mishima's pure love novel "Kōsai" and has also served as a filming location for movies. "Kōsai" is a pure love story depicting the relationship between the fisherman Shinji and the ama (female diver) Hatsue, which has been beloved by the public and adapted into films five times. In 1953, Mishima himself visited Kojima twice for research purposes while writing. The remnants of an observation post used to check the shelling conditions from the Irago Strait during wartime were utilized in filming the climax of "Kōsai." The Yatsushiro Shrine, which has secretly housed hundreds of sacred treasures since the Kofun period, is a place where Shinji and Hatsue once prayed. The Kojima lighthouse, with a history of over a hundred years, also became a stage for the story. As the entire island is mountainous, the houses are arranged in a stepped manner from the port, creating a unique landscape. Another geographical feature is the limestone terrain at the southern end of the island. The "Niwa no Hama," with its white, uneven rocky surface formed by weathered limestone, also appears in "Kōsai." Rich in natural resources, small gray-faced buzzards can be seen in early October, along with large silk butterflies that move with the air currents. In winter, many cormorants nest on the cliffs.

A walking route featuring the story background of "Tides" is available. The small island can be visited as a day trip. There is also a high platform with excellent views, allowing you to overlook the Irahama Waterway.