Koshikijima Islands

Native name: 甑島列島 Koshikishima Rettō
Koshikijima Islands Location in Japan
Geography
Location	East China Sea
Coordinates	31°45′12″N 129°47′03″E / 31.75328°N 129.78424°E / 31.75328; 129.78424
Archipelago	yes
Total islands	11
Major islands	3
Area	118.68 km2 (45.82 sq mi)
Length	39 km (24.2 mi)
Width	11 km (6.8 mi)
Administration
Japan
Prefecture	Kagoshima Prefecture
City	Satsumasendai
Demographics
Population	5576 (2010)
Pop. density	47/km2 (122/sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Japanese

The Koshikijima Islands (甑島列島, Koshikishima-rettō^[1]) in the East China Sea are an island chain located 38 kilometres (21 nmi; 24 mi) west of the port city of Ichikikushikino, Kagoshima.

Major islands

Minor islands

All minor islands are currently (as of 2017) uninhabited.

1. seems to undergo significant erosion and may disappear

History

The islands once consisted of 14 villages, belonging to Shikijima-gun, Satsuma Province (Satsuma no Kuni) during the Meiji period. In 1889, the islands were consolidated into Kami-Koshiki and Shimo-Koshiki villages. In 1897, the islands were merged with Satsuma-gun. Later, Kashima village and Sato village broke off, for a total of four villages. In 2004, during "the great Heisei merger", the villages were merged with the city of Sendai, on the coast of Kyushu.

Important Bird Area

The islands have been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because they support populations of Japanese wood pigeons and Pleske's grasshopper warblers.^[3]

Attractions

The cruise course visiting many scenic coastal rocks and islets is available from Shimo-Koshiki island.^[4]