"It's a nice place.
Hikotto Land Beach Hikoshima Toll Charge Old Arata Ferry Terminal Fish Lock (Canal)"

katsuya

"I visited this place while researching Maharajima (a manga about an inhabited island). I arrived at the haunted spot around 6am.
I didn't feel as much pressure as I thought I would, but after that I drove to Tsunoshima Island in Yamaguchi Prefecture. That day, I found two dead cats on the road. This is the only day in 2024 that I've seen two dead bodies in one day."

the traveler wolf

"How to read place names

The names of places in Hikoshima contain the history of nearly 800 years and the stories of the development that surround them.

Some place names are very appropriate from a topographical perspective, but there are also difficult names that are difficult to read. Some places are already being changed to easier readings, and it is unsettling to think that such places will be the first to be renamed to arbitrary names.

In Shimonoseki, ``Amidaji'' became ``Amidaji'' and ``Topama'' began to be called ``Sotohama'', and in Hikoshima, ``Bishade'' has recently been called ``Mushada''.

So, I picked up a few difficult place names and ones that are easily misread, hoping that they might be of some help in the new address system.

Odo (Odo)
Located in the western area of Ama-go, opposite Komon on the Shimonoseki side, it is an abbreviation of Oseto.

Amanago
One of the seven bays on Hikoshima, it is called "Amanigo" by the elders.

Oi
Between Amanago and Honmura, it was called Omura before the war. Oinoyama is located here.

Honmura
Includes Honmachi, Shinmachi, Nakamachi, Uzukimachi, Ushiroyama, and Nagasakimachi.

Kogabara
The area around where Honmura Elementary School is currently located.

Fujigasato
The area from the mountain behind Honmura Elementary School to the area around Daiichi High School.

Wakinta
Kifune Shrine in Omachi and the area behind it.

Nagoura
A residential area on the upland side of Honmura Honmachi, near Hyakudan Pass.

Higashiyama
A hilly area sandwiched between Honmura Honmachi, Uzukimachi, and Sakomachi. The proposed site for the Second Junior High School.

Sato
The area on the left side of the bottom of Uzuki Pass heading towards Nishiyama. The birthplace of Hikoshima development.

Sako
It is sandwiched between Honmura and Nishiyama, and grows rapidly towards Arata.

Nishiyama
The westernmost point of Hikoshima, west of Sako, has Hataka, Watase, and Sazaenose.

Haedomari
A corner of Nishiyama, an international fishing port. It is now famous as a landing site for frogs.

Takenokojima
It is connected to the mainland by a bridge from the westernmost point of Nishiyama.

Shibori
It is halfway between Arata and Honmura Nagasakicho, and the sea used to extend from the rotary to here.

Bishade
A valley area that is part of Honmura Nagasakicho and connects Fukuura.

Emuka
From the rotary area to around Hikoshima Junior High School.

Shuya
The area from around Hikoshima Junior High School to Enoura Elementary School.

Fukuura
Includes Kakezaki, Anja, Sukisaki, Nakanohama, etc.

Shiohama
The opposite bank of Fukuura. Includes Oyama, Okinoshiota, Yakanoshiota, and Ryugujima.

Sumakura
The area around Sumakura Elementary School from the entrance of Fukuura to Danjitsuzumi.

Tanokubi
The southernmost point of Hikoshima. Includes Yamatokohana, Jinde, Kariyagasako, etc.

Deshimatsu
The coast between Tanokubi and Enoura, including Hime no Mizu.

Sugita
Part of Enoura, including Deshimatsu and the branch point to Yamanaka. Also includes Koinosu.

Enoura
Including Sugita, Kamasaki, Horikoshi, and Shuya.

Mutsurejima
An island floating in the sea west of Shimonoseki, 5km northwest of Hikoshima.

Funashima
Originally written as Funajima, it is now better known as Ganryujima.

The above are the main place names and how they are called in Hikoshima, but I will list a few that remain as small wards and are relatively easy to misread.

Ushigahana, Tanada (also written as Tanden), Tao (mountain pass), Utsushi (stone striking), Ebita, Isaura (also written as Isanda), Okenta (also written as Okemuta), Kasashi (capstone), Toso (distant rocks), Kaizokudomari (pirate's port), Manaita (raw board), Kanegatsuru (gold string).

I thought about writing a detailed account of each of these place names, but space doesn't allow for it, so I'll rewrite it and publish it later under the title "Hikoshima Place Names Study".

When I looked into the names of Hikoshima places based on historical records and traditions, I found that they have all been changed two, three, or four times.

It is believed that the names of the places have changed with each land reclamation and development under the feudal domain since the pioneering period 800 years ago, and there is a sense of the history that is full of life there.

Excerpt from "Hikoshima Various" by Yoshihiro Tomita"

KAZUYOSHI MATSUMOTO