Goto Islands
Encyclopedia
The are Japanese islands in the East China Sea
, off the western coast of Kyūshū
. The islands are a part of Nagasaki Prefecture
.
There are 140 islands in total, including five main islands:
,
,
,
, and
.
The group of islands runs approximately 85 km (52.8 mi) end to end and its center is located at 32°45′03"N 128°27′30"E.
To the north is Tsushima Island
in the Tsushima Strait
, and to the east is Kyūshū and the rest of Nagasaki Prefecture. The island is about 100 km away from the port of Nagasaki. Tsushima Current (a branch of the Kuroshio
) passes around the islands.
The southern of the two principal islands, Fukue Island, measures approximately 25 km north-to-south by 25 km east-to-west; the northern, Nakadori Island, measures approximately 40 km north-to-south by 20 km east-to-west at its widest point. Most of Nakadori Island, however, is quite narrow, measuring less than 6 km wide for much of its length. Some dome-shaped hills command the old castletown of Fukue. The islands are highly cultivated; deer and other game abound, and trout are plentiful in the mountain streams.
As a result of a merger in 2004, the city of Gotō
was established. It occupies Fukue Island, Hisaka Island, Naru Island, and seven other inhabited islands. The town of Shinkamigotō
, itself the product of a 2004 merger, occupies Nakadōri Island and Wakamatsu Island.
sect, and until recently Hanare Kirishitans still lived there, but the majority either returned to Catholicism after it was legalized in the 19th century or reverted to earlier practices. The islands have numerous Catholic churches, the oldest and most famous of which is Dozaki church, built in 1868 and located about 6 km north of Fukue port.
s and sea urchin
s, are the main products of the island.
Natural camellia oil
of Fukuejima is famous in Japan for cosmetic use.
(FUJ/RJFE) is located on Fukue Island.
Ferry services from Nagasaki and Sasebo are offered by Kyusyu Shosen Co. Ltd.
Both standard ferry and hydrofoil services operate:- http://www.kyusho.co.jp/kouro/index.html
East China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
, off the western coast of Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
. The islands are a part of Nagasaki Prefecture
Nagasaki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. The capital is the city of Nagasaki.- History :Nagasaki Prefecture was created by merging of the western half of the former province of Hizen with the island provinces of Tsushima and Iki...
.
Geography
,
,
,
, and
.
The group of islands runs approximately 85 km (52.8 mi) end to end and its center is located at 32°45′03"N 128°27′30"E.
To the north is Tsushima Island
Tsushima Island
Tsushima Island is an island of the Japanese Archipelago situated in the middle of the Tsushima Strait at 34°25'N and 129°20'E. The main island of Tsushima was once a single island, but the island was divided into two in 1671 by the Ōfunakosiseto canal and into three in 1900 by the Manzekiseto canal...
in the Tsushima Strait
Tsushima Strait
is the eastern channel of the Korea Strait, which lies between Korea and Japan, connecting the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea.The Tsushima Strait is the broader eastern channel to the east and southeast of Tsushima Island, with the Japanese islands of Honshū to the east and northeast, and...
, and to the east is Kyūshū and the rest of Nagasaki Prefecture. The island is about 100 km away from the port of Nagasaki. Tsushima Current (a branch of the Kuroshio
Kuroshio Current
The Kuroshio is a north-flowing ocean current on the west side of the North Pacific Ocean. It is similar to the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic and is part of the North Pacific ocean gyre...
) passes around the islands.
The southern of the two principal islands, Fukue Island, measures approximately 25 km north-to-south by 25 km east-to-west; the northern, Nakadori Island, measures approximately 40 km north-to-south by 20 km east-to-west at its widest point. Most of Nakadori Island, however, is quite narrow, measuring less than 6 km wide for much of its length. Some dome-shaped hills command the old castletown of Fukue. The islands are highly cultivated; deer and other game abound, and trout are plentiful in the mountain streams.
As a result of a merger in 2004, the city of Gotō
Goto, Nagasaki
is a city in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. It comprises the south-west half of the Gotō Islands in the East China Sea, some 100 kilometers from Nagasaki. The city consists of 11 inhabited and 52 uninhabited islands...
was established. It occupies Fukue Island, Hisaka Island, Naru Island, and seven other inhabited islands. The town of Shinkamigotō
Shinkamigoto, Nagasaki
is a town located in Minamimatsuura District, Nagasaki, Japan.The town was established on August 1, 2004 after the merger of the towns of Arikawa, Kamigotō, Narao, Shin'uonome and Wakamatsu, all from Minamimatsuura District...
, itself the product of a 2004 merger, occupies Nakadōri Island and Wakamatsu Island.
Demographics
Many of the inhabitants are descended from Christians of the Catholic-derived Kakure KirishitanKakure Kirishitan
is a modern term for a member of the Japanese Catholic Church that went underground after the Shimabara Rebellion in the 1630s.-History:Kakure Kirishitans are called the "hidden" Christians because they continued to practice Christianity in secret. They worshipped in secret rooms in private homes...
sect, and until recently Hanare Kirishitans still lived there, but the majority either returned to Catholicism after it was legalized in the 19th century or reverted to earlier practices. The islands have numerous Catholic churches, the oldest and most famous of which is Dozaki church, built in 1868 and located about 6 km north of Fukue port.
Products
Marine products, such as oysterOyster
The word oyster is used as a common name for a number of distinct groups of bivalve molluscs which live in marine or brackish habitats. The valves are highly calcified....
s and sea urchin
Sea urchin
Sea urchins or urchins are small, spiny, globular animals which, with their close kin, such as sand dollars, constitute the class Echinoidea of the echinoderm phylum. They inhabit all oceans. Their shell, or "test", is round and spiny, typically from across. Common colors include black and dull...
s, are the main products of the island.
Natural camellia oil
Tea oil
Tea seed oil is an edible, pale amber-green fixed oil with a sweet, herbal aroma. It is cold-pressed mainly from the seeds of Camellia oleifera but also from Camellia sinensis or Camellia japonica....
of Fukuejima is famous in Japan for cosmetic use.
Transportation
The Gotō-Fukue AirportGoto-Fukue Airport
, is a third class airport located southwest of Gotō, Nagasaki Prefecture, off the western coast of Kyūshū, Japan. The airport also serves the city of Fukue. It is also known as .-External links:*...
(FUJ/RJFE) is located on Fukue Island.
Ferry services from Nagasaki and Sasebo are offered by Kyusyu Shosen Co. Ltd.
Both standard ferry and hydrofoil services operate:- http://www.kyusho.co.jp/kouro/index.html