Shikinejima

Shikinejima (式根島) a volcanic island in the Izu Islands (伊豆諸島) and administered by the Tokyo (東京都) Metropolitan government, Japan, lies south of Tokyo and east of the Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka prefecture.

The island is the smaller inhabited island in Niijima-mura, or Niijima village, which also contains the larger, neighboring Niijima and the smaller, uninhabited Jinaijima. Niijima-mura is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

Shikinejima is 3.9 km² and has a population of about 600 people. Kanpiki Mountain is the highest point on the island, 99m above sea level. The island has 2 natural hotsprings.

To get to Shikinejima, there are ferries leaving from Takeshiba Sanbashi Pier, in Tokyo, operated by Tokai Kisen. Ferries also leave from Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. A village operated ferry also makes several daily crossings between Niijima and Shikinejima. The crossing is approximately 10 minutes.

Main industries on Shikinejima include fishing and tourism.

The island has a number of secluded beaches, hot springs, two shrines, and one temple.

Education

The island has one elementary school, Shikinejima Elementary School and one junior high school, Shikinejima Junior High School. High school students either travel by ferry, daily, to Niijima toattend Niijima High School or attend a boarding school elsewhere.

ee also

References

External links

* [http://www.niijima.com/sh/ Shikinejima homepage, in Japanese]
*wikitravel
* [http://www.secret-japan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=100 Secret Japan's description of Shikinejima]
* [http://www.mikesblender.com/indexblog168.htm ShikineJima experience]
* [http://www.tokaikisen.co.jp/ Tokai Kisen Ferry, in Japanese]
* [http://shikinejima.blogspot.com/ Trip to ShikineJima]