Sagishima Island

Sagishima is one of the Geiyo Islands, located 3 km south of Mihara City. It is surrounded by many islands, including Innoshima to the east, Ikuchijima to the south, and Kōneshima to the southwest.

The island’s main industry is agriculture. Specialty products include citrus fruits, melons, watermelons, and leeks grown in terraced fields at the foot of the island. Unusually for an island, there are no fishermen, which is due to the aversion of the islanders to killing. This is reflected in one of the island’s most impressive sights, the Magaiwareiji Jizō. A large egg-shaped boulder sits on the shoreline at Mukōta Port and the side facing the sea is carved with a relief of Jizō, a Buddhist guardian deity. When the tide is high, the water leaves him neck deep. He was carved in 1300. The stone is inscribed with the words, “The Jizo-san has designated a distance of a hundred metres east, west, south, north and west of here as a place where killing is forbidden. Jizo-san, with great divine power, please protect people from falling into all kinds of bad situations”.

Another expression of the islander’s piety is the pilgrimage of 88 sacred places, established in the early 20th century. Stone roadside Buddhist shrines represent the deities of the Shikoku Pilgrimage. A festival to honour these deities is held in January and May.

The island is known as an excellent place for viewing cherry blossom in spring. Three hills dotted around the island have been planted with masses of sakura, and local people and visitors to the island enjoy picnics under the trees. One of these hills, the Shirodani Hanami-en Dōsōjin no Oka, is covered with statues of male and female couples called Dōsōjin, the deities of marriage, childbirth, and longevity.

The little white lighthouse near the port is a nice place to sit and enjoy the view of the sea and passing ships.

Information

Name in Japanese: 佐木島
Pronunciation: sagee-shee-ma
Address: Sagiura-chō, Mihara, Hiroshima