Iki, Coastal city in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
Iki is a coastal town in Nagasaki Prefecture that covers five inhabited and seventeen uninhabited islands within the Iki-Tsushima Quasi-National Park. The islands sit in the Tsushima Strait between Kyushu and the Korean Peninsula.
Excavations at the Harunotsuji site uncovered evidence of an ancient kingdom and the earliest known port in Japan, revealing extensive trade networks. These findings show how the position of the islands made them a hub for goods moving between regions.
Sumiyoshi Shrine hosts performances of traditional music and dance each December, art forms passed down through generations on the island. The town's 150 Shinto shrines remain active in daily life, woven into routines and seasonal rhythms.
Ferries dock at three terminals in Ashibe, Ishida and Gonoura, while Iki Airport offers connections from Nagasaki Airport. The ferry journey takes longer but allows views of the strait and surrounding islands.
Kojima Shrine sits on an isolated island that becomes reachable on foot only when the tide recedes, exposing a walkway. Visitors can enter the shrine grounds for a few hours each day before the tide rises again and closes off access.
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