Innoshima and Murakami Naval Forces: Learning History of Maritime Warriors on a Shimanami Kaido Island

"Innoshima," belonging to Onomichi City, Hiroshima, is an island located almost midway along Shimanami Kaido between Onomichi and Ehime. Long flourishing as a "strategic point of Bingo Channel," during the Warring States period it became one of the bases of the "Murakami Naval Forces" alongside the Iyo Mishima Murakami clan.

Murakami Naval Forces Museum (Imabari City) and Innoshima

The Murakami Naval Forces were a pirate (naval forces) group that dominated the medieval Seto Inland Sea, divided into three houses: Noshima, Kurushima, and Innoshima. A museum to learn Murakami Naval Forces history is in Imabari City, Ehime, but Innoshima also has "Innoshima Suigun Castle," a medieval castle ruin.

Birthplace of Hassaku Citrus

Innoshima is also known as the birthplace of "hassaku," a citrus fruit. Discovered at a temple on Innoshima in the late Edo period, this citrus is still cultivated in Hiroshima, Ehime, and elsewhere, beloved as a specialty product.

Innoshima Suigun Skyline

The "Innoshima Suigun Skyline" running along Innoshima's mountain summit is a driving course overlooking the Shimanami Kaido islands and multi-island beauty. Views on clear days are extraordinary, overlooking the entire Seto Inland Sea.

Access

Car travel within the island from Shimanami Kaido's Innoshima-kita IC. Bicycle and ferry access from Onomichi to Innoshima is also available.