Shikoku’s leading tour provider since 2011​
Search

Ōshima Island

The first major island on the Ehime side of the Shimanami Kaidō with scenes of rice paddy, shrines, temples, and cherry blossom.

Ōshima Island

Ōshima means ‘big island’ although as islands go, it’s quite small. It’s the first major island on the Ehime side of the Shimanami Kaidō.

Ōshima is mountainous with several steeply sloping peaks. The road through the valley isn’t flat either. It passes through scenes of rice paddy, shrines, temples, and cherry blossom. The island is a source of high-quality stone for building and statuary, and parts of the mountains have been cut away in quarries. There’s even a Stone Culture park in the middle of the island.

On the west side of the island is the Rose Garden which boasts 400 varieties. These are best viewed from June to late autumn. Next to the garden is the Yoshiumi Local Culture Center with its fascinating museum of armour, weapons and daily life going back two centuries. The Murakami Suigun Museum also repays a visit.

Ōshima is also home to the I-S Shipyard, a more interesting and visually appealing place than you might think. It stands at the end of a beautiful sandy beach where local people gather seaweed to eat. From the island, you can see the spectacular eddies and whirlpools caused by the peculiar tides in the Inland Sea.

Information

Name in Japanese: 大島

Pronunciation: ōshima

Address: Yoshiumi, Imabari, Ehime

Related Tours

8 Days
¥278,000

Experience the most beautiful and interesting temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage in seven days.

View Details
6 Days
¥278,000

Experience the best that Shikoku has to offer in five days.

View Details
Kominka outside
8 Days
¥298,000

A tour for families or friends, staying in the most characterful kominka and ryokan of Shikoku.

View Details
Temple 12 Shosanji lion dog in the mist
8 Days
¥358,000

Visit the most beautiful and interesting temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage and walk the toughest trails.

View Details

Related Points of Interest