Scattered about 25 kilometers from the outside of sasebo bay to the north of Hirado,
Kujukushima are beautiful natural landscapes with a complex interwoven rias coast and islands.
Almost the entire area has been designated as the “Saikai national park”, and the density of islands is the highest in Japan.
Ninety-nine is used as a metaphor for the number that means so much, and the true number of islands is 208.

The little knowledge of Kujukushima

How many islands are there in the Kujukushiama?

According to a survey conducted by local volunteers in 2001,there are 208 islands in the Kujujushima area. Kujuku (99) refers to the wondrous fact that the number of islands is too numerous to count. The name Kujuku was already being used in the middle of the Edo era,showing that these islands were a treasured scenery from times past.

How to count the islands?

The Kujukushima may be seem like many independent islands at high tide,but at low tide, many islands are found to be connected.

About Kujukushima

South Kujukushima

❶ Motono-shima

The name Motono-shima refers to the island's location in the small bay between Kashimae and Kengyuzaki.

❷ Makinoi-shima

A ranch was said to have been located on the island during the Matsuura Clan era, hence the origin of the name.

❸ Yoko-shima

This island is said to look like a lion lying on its side.

❹ Katsura-jima

The festures of this island are particulary striking when viewed from the sky. Trees covers this beautiful island.

❺ Fukashiro-jima

Consisting of two islands, Obuka and Kobuka, Fukashiro-jima exemplifies quintessential South Kujukushima scenery.

❻ Ware-shima

Ware-shima is a rare shaped island that looks as if it has been split evenly in two.

❼ Matsura-jima

With its numerous deep coves, the shape of Matsura-jima is very distinct and the island has become a symbol of South Kujukushima.

❽ Kamenoko-jima

Kamenoko-jima is connected to the mainland by a bridge and is said to be the site of the orgin of pearl cultivation in Kujukushima.

❾ Yokiotoshi
❿ Joga-shima

Legend has it that a lord once dropped an axe when trying to cut down a tree that had gotten in the way of his fishing, hence the word 'yokiotoshi'(dropped axe)and consequently Joga-shima was conered in rough jagged rocks.

⓫ Nagahae-jima

The island has a wide crag known as 'senjojiki'and its beautiful scenery can be admired from excursion boats.

⓬ Moro-shima

The island with the unique shaped rock. See if you can find it!

⓭ Gatagan

The name Gatagan is said to have been derived from saying Gatagakan instead of 'Gatagahigaru' (dried up lagoon) with reference to low tide.

⓮ Kuroko-jima

At low tide, Kuroko-jima looks like one island but at high tide it separates into three islands. The island has beautiful beaches and is one of the islands where pearls are cultivated.

⓯ Kurakake-jima

The name Kurakake-jima comes from the shape of the island ,which resembles a saddle. This island can be reached on foot from the mainland at low tide.

⓰ Makura-jima

Legend has it that Empress jingu's favorite wooden pillow was hurled overboard during a storm and washed up on Makura-jima (literally: pillpw island).

⓱ Ojikase

This island looks like a submarine floating above the surface.

⓲ kanashige-jima

This island has rough,sheer cliff faces on the open seaside and quiet sandy beaches in the coves on the eastern side.

⓳ Torinosu-jima

Torinosu-jima, with its sandy beaches is a popular resting place with sea kayakers.

North Kujukushima

Taka-shima

20 minutes by ferry from Ainourasannbashi, Taka-shima looks like a trapezoid and a triangular shape joined and floating on the horizon and can be viewed from excursion boats. From Bandake on the tip of the island, it is possible to look out over Kujukushima and scenic spots such as Goto and Hirodo.

Kuro-shima

Kuro-shima Cathedral

50 minutes by ferry from Ainourasannbashi, the name Kuro-shima is said to come from 'Cruz(cross) island' and 90% of the island's inhabitants are catholic, Kuro-shima Cathedral, the island's symbol,has been designated as an important national cultural properly.

The club of the most beautiful bays of the world

Using the resources of the gulf for information exchange and information campaigns on tourism and economic development, NGO founded in Berlin, Germany on 10 March 1997. There are 27 member states and 44 bays (October 2018 now).

In Japan, there are four places in Matsushima bay (Miyagi Prefecture),Toyama Bay (Toyama Prefecture), Suruga Bay (Shizuoka Prefecture),Miyazu Bay・Ine Bay (Kyoyo Prefecture). In April 2018, the Kujukushima bay was recognized as the fifth place in Japan and joined the world’s most beautiful bay club.

Matsushima bay

Matsushima bay（Miyagi）

Toyama Bay

Suruga Bay（Shizuoka）

Suruga Bay

Toyama Bay（Toyama）

Miyazu Bay・Ine Bay

Miyazu Bay・Ine Bay（Kyoyo）

Kujukushima has joinedThe club of the most beautiful bays of the world. Mont Saint-Michel bay in France, Hạ Long Bay in Vietnam,Matsushima bay, Miyazu Bay・Ine Bay in Japan and other famous bay at home and abroad have been recognized, it is a great honor.
Join the international institutions, and join the bay at home and abroad hand in hand, not only to the domestic but also to the overseas to carry forward the charm of Kujukushima.
Please also in the future to the Kujukushima publicity efforts to help.

The mayor of Sasebo City Tomonaga Norio