Native name: 篠島 | |
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 Aerial photograph of Shinojima | |
  Shinojima  Shinojima | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Mikawa Bay,Aichi Prefecture, Japan |
| Coordinates | 34°40′30″N137°0′15″E / 34.67500°N 137.00417°E /34.67500; 137.00417 |
| Area | 0.94 km2 (0.36 sq mi) |
| Coastline | 8,200 m (26900 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 49 m (161 ft) |
| Administration | |
Japan | |
| Prefecture | Aichi |
| District | Chita |
| Town | Minamichita |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1,653 (2015) |
| Ethnic groups | Japanese |
Shinojima (篠島) is an inhabitedisland inMikawa Bay on thePacific coast of Japan.[1] The island is administered as part of the town ofMinamichita inAichi Prefecture, Japan. As of 2015[update], the island's population was 1,653 inhabitants in 622 households. All of the island is within the borders of theMikawa-wan Quasi-National Park.
Shinojima is located approximately 10 kilometers from eitherChita Peninsula orAtsumi Peninsula and three kilometers south ofHimakajima. The highest point on the island is 49 meters, and is located in approximately the center of the island. Settlement is concentrated in a single hamlet. The total area of the island is 0.94 square kilometers. The island is rocky, and is surrounded by numerous offshore rocks and reefs.
Shinojima has nine smaller associated islands - Kijima, Oisojima, Chikimijima, Nojima, Matsushima, Togamejima, Hirashima, Koisojima, and Nakatejima. Due to modern landfill work, Koisojima and Nakatejima are now physically attached to the main Shinojima island.
Shinojima has been inhabited since at least theJōmon period. On Koisojima, archaeologists found ancient pottery dating back to the early Jomon period, roughly 9000 ago. At Shimei Shrine, a shell mound was unearthed containing jomon pottery, notched deer antlers, and bone and antler tools. Archaeological layers containing pottery, stone tools, accessories and other items dating to the late Jomon, roughly 4000 years ago, have been found throughout the island.[2] archaeologists have also foundYayoi period andKofun period remains.
Long associated withIse Shrine, the island is mentioned in theNara periodMan'yōshū poetry anthology. It has supplied salted and driedsea bream to the shrine for use as offerings since before the Nara period. These offerings are made three times a year. The salted sea bream are first blessed in the Obendai Dedication Ceremony on Shinojima, before being transported to Ise City by fishing boat. Finally they are offered to the deity at the Gojoden in the Ise Shrine as part of a Shinto festival.[3]
Due to its connection with Ise Shrine, during these earlier periods, Shimojima belonged to the Shima Province (later Ise Province),[4] despite its geographical distance. During the reconstruction of Ise Shrine every twenty years, one of the buildings from Ise Shrine is always dismantled and Ishipped to Shinojima, where it is re-erected as thehonden of the local Shimmei Jinja, founded in 771 AD.
During theEdo period, it was part of the holdings ofOwari Domain under theTokugawa shogunate and contained a fishing settlement.Kato Kiyomasa is said to have used granite quarried on Shinojima in the construction ofNagoya Castle. With the establishment of the modern municipalities system after the start of theMeiji period, the island was organized as a village withinChita District, Aichi. It merged with surrounding towns and villages to form the town of Minamichita on June 1, 1961.
The waters around Shinojima are teeming with fish, and support strong fisheries of red snapper, oysters, fugu, and conger eel. The island catches the most whitebait (shirasu) of any fishery area in Japan.[4] Because of the ready availability of seafood, it appears in many of the regional dishes of the island.[5]
The area around Shinojima is a breeding ground for the endangered Red Sea turtle.[6]
In August 2024, actor and celebrity Junior Chihara was appointed tourism ambassador for Shinojima. He became a fan of the island after travelling there for a TV show he was a part of.[7]
Shinoshima Gion Festival - held in July (July 13 in 2024), this is the island's major festival.[7]
The Shinojima music festival has been held in early August since 2007. In returned in 2024 after a five-year hiatus due to the COVID epidemic.[8]
Shinojima is 10 minutes by high speed ferry, or 20 minutes by car ferry from Morozaki Port, 30 minutes by high speed ferry from Kowa Port, and 25 minutes by high speed ferry from Irago Port.[9] Ferries to and from the island are run by Meitetsu.
Media related toShino Island at Wikimedia Commons
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