This was published 2 years ago
Shodoshima, Japan travel guide: Island set to be Japan's next big thing
By Lucy Dayman
Angel Road is a natural phenomenon, and the island's key 'love attraction' is incredibly popular with domestic travellers looking to secure their relationships.Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK
This article is sponsored content for the Japan National Tourism Organization
Sitting proudly in the Japan Inland Sea, it's fair to say in recent years the islands of the Setouchi region garnered a fair share of the limelight. Art islands like Naoshima and Teshima are no longer 'secret gems' but more 'must-visit' destinations. The transformation of the area is not a blight on the beauty and uniqueness of the destinations, but a testament to their appeal.
That said, there is something inherently attractive about travelling to a place and feeling like you got there before anyone else did. In other words, the ego-enhancing appeal of finding an untouched gem is strong. So, let me let you in an insider's tip: Shodoshima is in a prime position to be the next island hot spot for those folks who have done the 'art islands' and are looking for their next discovery.
With a diverse culinary scene, excellent nature and plenty of attractions, it's also a prime destination for first-time travellers not content on traversing the well-tourist-trodden paths. As the second-largest island on the Seto Inland Sea and one of the Setouchi Triennale art festival venues, it won't stay under the radar for too long. Here's a guide to some of its key attractions, and a tasting platter of the diversity you'll find here.
Kankakei Gorge
Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK
The landscape of Shodoshima is incredibly diverse, and you can practically read its history in the layers of rock that line the gravity-defying cliff faces of Kankakei Gorge. The area is rich with volcanic soil that over the years formed, its softness carved by the ravages of mother nature to create geologically unique views, best admired from the ropeway accessible Kankakei Gorge.
For those who want to get to know the land more intimately, there are a pair of hiking trails that snake their way along the gorges. Short and steep, they offer the best of both worlds, challenging but accessible. Visiting Japan in autumn? Then to miss the views of this spot in its fiery red and orange glory would be a crime.
Yamaroku Shoyu (soy sauce)
Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK
One thing you'll learn when exploring Japan is that nothing can be too specialised, and you can never take too much care, especially when it comes to the culinary arts. One ideal example is the iconic Yamaroku Shoyu soy sauce brewery. The island is recognised as one of the most soy sauce-centric destinations in the nation, making it the unofficial capital of this ubiquitous brown brew.
Yamaroku Shoyu's blend is brewed with the full utilisation of time, both metaphorically and literally. The brewery uses aged wooden barrels rich with healthy bacteria that add flavour and a level of umami depth you can't get from the supermarket brands. So complex and rich, it can even be poured on ice cream for that salty-sweet umami combination.
Angel Road
Angel Road is a natural phenomenon, and the island's key 'love attraction' is incredibly popular with domestic travellers looking to secure their relationships.
Essentially, it's a sandbar or 'road' that appears and disappears with the tide, typically surfacing in the mid-afternoon, depending on the season. According to the legends of the island, if you cross the sandbar holding hands with that one special person, your wishes will come true. For those not so into the fancifulness of it all, it's a scenic view nonetheless!
Art among the olives
There's something so charmingly earnest and absurd about Shodoshima's public work Regent in Olives. What is it? An egg with a whale on top? A penguin, or an abstract homage to the King of rock 'n roll? Honestly, it doesn't really matter because the joy is in the abstractness of it all, and it's the perfect embodiment of Shodoshima's love of the outdoors, olives and having fun through art.
The best part of Regent in Olives? The owner of the olive orchard in which it has lived since the Setouchi Triennale in 2013, Mr. Iwachan has polished the sculpture every day since its appearance, so when you're there, be sure to take a photo in its infallibly shiny reflection. You can visit this list for a more comprehensive list of art displays dotted throughout the map.
How to get to Shodoshima
Departing Takamatsu or Okayama there are regular ferries. The journey takes about an hour each way, and some options stop at Tonosho, Kusakabe, Ikeda, and Sakate ports on Shodoshima. If you're travelling from Kobe, Shikoku Ferry also operates car ferries between Himeji and Shodoshima's Fukuda Port. Kobe Shodoshima Jumbo Ferry operates multiple routes between Kobe and Sakate Port on Shodoshima every day. Alternatively, the island has many accommodations, so consider booking a few nights there, exploring the island at a leisurely pace and allowing its charms to unfold naturally.
The writer travelled as a guest of the Japan National Tourism Organization.
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