Tomogashima Island

Tomogashima (友ヶ島) is the name of a largely uninhabited island in the Seto Inland Sea off the coast of Wakayama Prefecture. Located within the limits of Wakayama City, the island makes an easy trip from the city center via local train followed by a 20-minute ferry journey from the nearby sleepy port town of Kada.

Due to its position at the entrance to the Osaka Bay, Tomogashima had great strategic importance in defending against incursions by foreign ships. During the Meiji Period (1868-1912), the Japanese army established a modern artillery battery on the island, and in 1888, it was designated a military site and removed from civilian maps. After the Second World War, all Tomogashima's military facilities were abandoned and became ruins, with the island later joining the Seto Naikai National Park and opening to the public.

Exploring the third battery ruins

Today, the island is criss-crossed by walking paths, and visitors can freely explore a number of its military ruins, including four of the five former artillery batteries (the fourth battery being heavily overgrown and unsafe to enter), underground tunnels and an old Navy listening post, while an observation deck located at the top of Mount Takenosu offers some attractive views of the surrounding coastal scenery

Facilities on the island are basic, but there is a small information center and a refreshments stand by the main ferry pier on the northern shore, and visitors can even camp out overnight at the Minamitarumihiroba Campground. Some of the ruins contain areas that are unlit or may be slippery underfoot, so some care and practical footwear are recommended while exploring.

Attractions on the island

  • Ferry pier
    Ferries to the island arrive at this long concrete pier on the north coast, jutting out into the Osaka Bay. A refreshments stand can be found nearby.
  • First battery ruins
    The westernmost of the island's war ruins, the ruins of the first battery are located close to the Tomogashima Lighthouse. Although fairly substantial, the ruins are closed off and cannot be entered.
  • Second battery ruins
    Located along the northwest coast, the second battery ruins are among the most extensive on the island but are partially collapsed and scattered with rubble, making them unsafe to enter.
  • Third Battery Ruins
    The most extensive of the island's military ruins, the third battery includes two open spaces with now empty gun emplacements, and several underground rooms, all of which can be freely explored.
  • Mount Takenosu Observatory
    A short walk from the third battery ruins, the observatory is located at the summit of Mount Takenosu, the highest peak on the island. From here you can take in sweeping views of the Wakayama Coast and Awaji Island.
  • Tomogashima Lighthouse
    Standing 12 meters high, the Tomogashima Lighthouse was built in 1872 by Richard Henry Brunton, dubbed the "Father of Japanese Lighthouses". Restored after the end of the war, it has lit the way for ships sailing through the Kii Channel ever since and is a registered tangible cultural property.
  • Fifth battery ruins
    Located close to the island's north coast, the fifth battery ruins include artillery emplacements, ammunition chambers and turrents.
  • Navy listening post
    Oerlooking the sea from the island's southwest side, this bunker was used by the navy in the final years of the Second World War to listen for enemy submarines. The ruins can be entered, however caution is recommended due to structural damage.

Getting there and around

Kada and Wakayamashi stations are connected by twice hourly local trains along the Nankai Kada Line. The one way journey takes about 25 minutes, costs 370 yen and is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. From the station, it is a 20-minute walk or five-minute taxi ride to Kada Port.

Tomogashima Kisen operates hourly ferries from Kada Port on the mainland to Tomogashima Island. The one way journey takes 20 minutes, with roundtrip tickets costing 2,500 yen. Note that the service is closed for new year's holidays, and operates an infrequent service only on weekends and national holidays in January and February.

How to get to and around Wakayama City

Links and Resources

Japanese

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