Things to do in Katsumotoura on Iki island! - walking map

Iki is an isolated island in Nagasaki Prefecture. The island can be reached in approximately 30 minutes by plane from Nagasaki Airport and in approximately 60 minutes by high-speed boat from Hakata Port in Fukuoka Prefecture. It is popular because it is easily accessible from Kyushu and because you can visit it together with other sightseeing spots!
Now we are focusing on Katsumoto town of Iki and here are the highlights while your visit in Katsumoto town.

About Katsumoto town

Katsumoto is northernmost town of Iki island, Nagasaki prefecture.
Take a promendade in this town,which flourished in the past as the station for envoys frome Korean Penisula and the whaling base,and you will find scenery that evokes nostalgia and suggests the place’s historical background and local people‘s warmth.

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Recommended Spots around Katsumoto town

Around Katsumoto town, there are many attractive for sightseeing including cruse tour to uninhibited island of "Tatsunoshima" (famous for its view of the crystal clear, turquoise blue ocean water, and its uniquely shaped cliffs; all of which can only be seen from the boat.

Shomo Shrine

This guardian shrine of Katsumoto Town was built over 1,300 years ago.
Empress Jingū from Japanese mythology is enshrined here, and historical sites associated with her are located nearby.
The front gate and stone walls that surround the shrine pavilion were donated by the Sengoku period warlord Katō Kiyomasa (1562-1611). Another warrior named Nabeshima Naoshige (1538-1618) gifted the rear gate engraved with his family crest. The chōzubachi (a water basin for ritual hand-cleansing) on the shrine premises is a giant tridacna clam given by the Pacific island nation of Palau.
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Site of Katsumoto Castle

Katsumoto Castle is located on a hill with a wonderful view of Katsumoto Port and Tsushima Island. It is said that it was completed in just four months in 1591 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a military commander who unified Japan, to be a supply base for when he dispatched his troops to Korea. Currently, part of the site of the castle has been turned into a park. The stone wall of the front castle gate, which is all that remains, reminds us of those times. The spectacular views from the observation deck are also a highlight. You will even find the gravesite of Kawai Sora, a pupil of the haiku poet Matsuo Basho and someone who died on Iki Island, near the park. You will be able to experience history even more deeply if you tour the site with a local guide.
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Iki Dolphin Park & Resort

Iki Dolphin Park & Resort is a popular spot. You can interact with lovely dolphins up-close in a park that occupies a natural cove on Iki-no-shima. There are experiences available that allow you to actually touch and feed the dolphins. There is no doubt you will be soothed by them. Of course, you can also take your photograph together with the dolphins. In addition, we recommend you appreciate Iki with a day camp and barbecue that take advantage of the rich nature of the island. There is a stylish cafe where you can look outside on the premises. You can enjoy coffee, fluffy pancakes and wonderful dishes made with local ingredients (e.g., Iki beef).
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Tatsunoshima Sightseeing Cruise

The uninhabited island, Tatsunoshima, is located 2km off the coast of the northern edge of Iki, Katsumoto Harbor. Regular boat tour is available every 1-2 hours from March through November. Enjoy the view of the crystal clear, turquoise blue ocean water, and its uniquely shaped cliffs; all of which can only be seen from the boat.　You can also go onto the island where you can enjoy the sparkling white sand beach and swimming in the beautiful turquoise blue water!
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For the first visitors to Iki island

There are many must-visit places on Iki island including a shrine called "Mont Saint-Michel of Japan", Saruiwa (Monkey Rock) created by nature over many years looks just like a monkey and local specialties. Please have a look the highlight of Iki island when you are considering or have decided to visit Iki island.

Highlight of Iki island

Access to Iki island from Hakata port (Fukuoka)

There are High-speed boats and ferries operate from Hakata Port to Iki. By high-speed boat, it takes approx. 1 hour to go to Iki.
To reach Hakata Port, take the bus from the Hakata Exit of JR Hakata Station. From Fukuoka Airport, take the subway for approx. 5 mins. towards Hakata Station and then transfer to the bus.
Take Bus No. 99 and get off at the last stop, making sure not to accidentally take the "To International Terminal" bus. The bus ride takes approx. 20 mins., but is often delayed, so make sure to leave plenty of time.
After getting off the bus, pay attention to which building you enter. For high-speed boats, buy a boarding ticket at Terminal 1 which is right in front of you, but for a ferry, buy a boarding ticket at Terminal 2 in the back.