Gotō Islands

The Gotō Islands are an archipelago located in the Sea of Japan. These islands belong to the Nagasaki Prefecture. The group consists of 140 islands in total. Five islands serve as the main centers of the group. These are Fukue, Hisaka, Naru, Nakadōri, and Ukujima. The archipelago stretches from the Osezaki Lighthouse on Fukue Island to the Tsuwazaki Lighthouse on Nakadōri Island.

The islands sit near Tsushima Island to the north. The larger island of Kyūshū lies to the east. The Tsushima Current, a branch of the Kuroshio, flows around the islands.

The geography of the islands is varied and rugged. The southern principal island is Fukue. It measures a specific width and length from north to south and east to west. The northern principal island is Nakadōri. At its widest point, it has a measurable width and length. However, much of Nakadōri is quite narrow. Some dome-shaped hills rise above the old castle town of Fukue. The land is highly cultivated for various uses. You can find deer and other game throughout the area. Trout are also very common in the mountain streams.

Administrative changes shaped the islands in recent years. On August 1, 2004, the city of Gotō was established. This city was created through a merger. It occupies Fukue, Hisaka, and Naru islands. It also includes seven inhabited islands. At the same time, the town of Shin-Kamigotō was formed. This town also resulted from a merger in 2004. It covers Nakadōri and Wakamatsu islands. It also includes several smaller inhabited islands like Arifuku, Kashiragashima, Hinoshima, Ryōzegaura, and Kirinoko. Many uninhabited islets are also part of this town.

The history of the islands includes significant maritime events. During "Operation Road's End" on April 1, 1946, US forces scuttled several submarines. These were former Imperial Japanese Navy submarines. More than 24 submarines were sunk off the Gotō Islands. These included first-class submarines like the I-156 and I-157. They also included many second and third-class submarines. For example, the Ro-50 and the Ha-103 were among them. Later, on February 3, 1948, the US Navy sank the Japanese destroyer Hanazuki as a target.

A deep religious history defines the local culture. In the late 16th century, Portuguese missionaries introduced Christianity to Japan. Some inhabitants became followers of the Catholic Church. These people were known as "Kakure Kirishitan." They faced intense persecution by the Japanese shogunates. This lasted until the early Meiji period. Many people eventually returned to Catholicism after it was legalized in the 19th century. Today, the islands are part of the Archdiocese of Nagasaki. The Dōzaki church is a famous landmark. It was built in 1868 north of Fukue port.

The islands produce several unique goods. Marine products like oysters and sea urchins are main exports. Fukuejima is famous for its natural camellia oil. This oil is used widely in cosmetics. There is also a specialty food called Kankoro Mochi. This confectionery is made from sliced, sun-dried sweet potato combined with mochi. For visitors, Fukue is a typical castle city. It contains Ishida Castle. This was the last castle built in Japanese history. Shortly after its completion, the Meiji Restoration occurred. Now, the castle serves as the Gotō high school. The public can still walk within the stone walls.

Traveling to the islands is quite simple today. The Gotō-Fukue Airport is located on Fukue Island. You can also use ferry services. These services run from Nagasaki and Sasebo. Kyusyu Shosen Co. Ltd. operates these ferries. They offer both standard ferry and hydrofoil services. On Fukue island, there are also regular bus services. The islands even appear in popular culture. The documentary Tora-san in Gotō was filmed over 22 years. It began in 1993 and was released in 2016. It tells the story of a family of udon noodle makers. Other media like the manga Barakamon also feature the islands.