Teshima, Island in Marugame, Japan
Teshima is an island in the Seto Inland Sea, part of the city of Marugame in Japan. Its center rises into a gentle mountain, while the coast is dotted with three small fishing villages connected by a circular road.
People have lived on Teshima for more than 14,000 years. A defining moment in its recent past was the illegal dumping of large amounts of toxic waste, which was only removed around the year 2000 and transported to the neighboring island of Naoshima for processing.
In summer, sunflowers cover the fields, and in autumn, red peppers called 'Kagawa hontaka' appear across the land, known locally as the 'phantom pepper'. Old temples and shrines are still part of daily life here and can be visited on foot along the small roads.
The island is reached by boat from Marugame Port, and the crossing is straightforward. There are no shops or vending machines on the island, so bringing snacks, drinks, and enough cash before boarding is a good idea.
Teshima is home to an art museum shaped like a water droplet that contains just one single exhibit. Visitors must remove their shoes and stay silent inside, making the experience unlike any other museum visit.
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