Ikuchijima

Ikuchijima (生口島) is one of the Geiyo Islands in the Seto Inland Sea, belonging to Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan. Ikuchijima is administered as part of Onomichi city. There are bridges connecting Ikuchijima to the mainland (Honshū) via Innoshima and to Shikoku via Ōmishima Island. The highest peak of this 31.21 km2 island is Mount Kanno at 472.3 m.

The Wajinden (c. 290) notes that slaves (生口) were kept in the area and the island's name may come from this. In The Inland Sea, Donald Richie describes the island as “a smaller Sardinia, a greener Corsica”. The main crop on Ikuchijima today is citrus, and the island is now known as "lemon island of Japan".

History

 * April 1, 1889, Ikuchijima was formally demarcated into Nishiikuchi-gun, Kitaikuchi-gun, Myōga-gun and Minamiikuchi-gun
 * April 1, 1937, Nishiikuchi-gun merged into Setoda.
 * April 1, 1944, Kitaikuchi-gun and Myōga-gun merged into Setoda.
 * April 1, 1955, Minamiikuchi-gun merged into Setoda.
 * July 27, 1970, Bridge connection to Takane Island opened.
 * December 8, 1991, Bridge connection to Innoshima and Ōmishima.
 * January 10, 2006, Setoda, along with the city of Innoshima, was merged into the expanded city of Onomichi

Attractions

 * Kōsan-ji temple
 * Outdoor island-wide monument park
 * Hiking and cycling routes
 * Sunset-view beach hotels
 * Lemon orchards - Ikuchijima is known as "Lemon Island" in Japan.