Kojima island [幸島]
Kojima
Monkeys in Kojima
Photo by Miyazaki Prefecture
Kojima is a small island located about 12 km north of Cape Toi.
And, it is at about 25 km south of the center of Nichinan city.
"O" in the word is pronounced long, so it is read as "Kôjima".
And it is sometimes read as "Kôshima".
It is only about 200 meters off the coast, but the sea between the beach of the mainland and the island is very shallow.
There are various wild animals in this island.
Especially, the wild monkeys are well-known.
They wash potatoes in seawater before eating.
And many of them walk on two legs with holding potatoes in both hands.
The unique behaviors were found by the investigative group of Kyoto University in the 1950s.
The researchers showed that non-human primates had some cultures for the first time in the world.
We can see the monkeys in the island.
But this island is an uninhabited island, and there is no shop and no information center.
A small boat is operated from the mainland.
But you must make a reservation in advance.
If you visit at low tide, the island and the mainland are connected and you can go to the island on foot.
How to get here
By local train for Aburatsu, Nango or Shibushi of JR Nichinan Line, about 1 hour 20 minutes from Miyazaki to Nichinan.
By route bus for Kojima-iriguchi, 1 hour and 10 minutes from Nichinan station.
