Hakatajima Island
Hakatajima Island is part of the Shimanami Kaidō. It’s the second major island on the Ehime side, located between Ōshima and Ōmishima, and the smallest of the islands.
Hakata Michi no Eki just off the ramp next to the Hakatajima Ōshima Bridge has a nice beach and is a good place to eat or enjoy an ice cream.
The island has a number of wonderful beaches and campsites. The first of these is the secluded Niwatori Kojima Campsite and Beach, which overlooks a narrow channel between islands, with an outcrop of rocks said to look like a hen and its chicks. Just a little further along is Funaori Seto Campsite, which offers a slightly different view of the same channel. Both are excellent places to camp at any time of year. Ōura Beach is a longer, more open beach, with views stretching right over to eastern Ehime.
Furusato Rekishi Kōen is a reconstructed castle with a fine museum and fantastic views. Hakata Island is a centre of salt making, producing high-quality, mineral-rich sea salt. The Hakata Shio salt factory is located near the Furusato Rekishi Kōen, and you can see the salt lagoons where salt is still produced. Old lagoons are now used for raising shrimp. From the reconstructed castle, you can look down on a shipyard, where beautiful vessels are turned out in a bucolic setting.
On the west side of the island, Hirakiyama Park is known as one of the premier sites for viewing cherry blossoms in Ehime. Over one thousand cherry trees are arrayed on a hill topped with an observation tower. The contrast between the mass of pink flowers and the blue sea below is unforgettable.
Information
Name in Japanese: 伯方島
Pronunciation: hakata-jeema
Address: Hakatajima, Imabari, Ehime
