Ōmishima Island

Ōmishima Island (大三島) is the largest island in the Geiyo Islands chain, and the westernmost which accommodates the Nishiseto Expressway between Honshu and Shikoku. It is located in the Seto Inland Sea. The island's highest peak is Washigatozan (鷲ヶ頭山) at an altitude of 437 m.

Geography
Ōmishima is kidney-shaped and together with Ōsakikamijima on the west encloses the calm bay of Utena, where the primary seaport of Miyaura is located. The island's Utena Dam reservoir is the primary freshwater source for Ōmishima itself and the nearby Hakata.

History

 * 1541 - Tsuruhime fights Ōuchi Yoshitaka fleet
 * 1874 - post office established
 * 1979 - Ōmishima bridge connecting to Ehime Prefecture complete
 * 1991 - Tatara Bridge connecting to Hiroshima Prefecture complete
 * 16 January 2005 - the towns (including Ōmishima, Ehime) and villages of the island were merged into city of Imabari, Ehime

Transportation
Ōmishima is connected to the mainland of Honshu and Shikoku islands by bridges of Nishiseto Expressway (Shimanami Kaidō). Also, ferry is available to Ōsakikamijima, Okamura Island and Ōkunoshima (Rabbit Island). Ōmishima Island is served by the national Route 317.

Attractions

 * The salt factory
 * Historical and marine museum
 * Ōyamazumi Shrine
 * Toyo Ito Museum of Architecture, Imabari
 * The entire Ōmishima Island is designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty

Notable residents

 * Shozo Fujita - historian
 * Tsuruhime - priestess and warlord