Tsushima Island
Islands Japanese island between Korea and Kyushu, wartime history
Tsushima Island, in Nagasaki Prefecture between Kyushu and Korea, offers rugged coastlines, fishing villages, camellia forests and seafood. Ferries connect to Kyushu and Busan; visitors come for hiking, beaches and local shrines.
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Tsushima Island is a Japanese island in Nagasaki Prefecture situated in the Korea Strait between Kyushu and the Korean Peninsula. It comprises two main islands connected by causeways and is notable for its strategic maritime location and distinct island ecology.
The island supports coastal scenery, beaches, wooded interior hills and small towns with ferry connections to Kyushu. Natural highlights include native wildlife and shoreline habitats; the island is one of the few places where the endangered Tsushima leopard cat occurs as a local subspecies.
Tsushima has a long history as a maritime transit point and saw naval action in the Russo-Japanese War at the 1905 Battle of Tsushima in nearby waters. Modern Tsushima is oriented toward fisheries, tourism and local services centered on its ports and towns.
Geographically the island lies closer to the Korean Peninsula than to mainland Japan’s main islands, and ferries connect its ports with Nagasaki and Fukuoka on Kyushu.
- Geographic role: Tsushima is part of Nagasaki Prefecture and lies in the Korea Strait between Kyushu and the Korean Peninsula, making it ecologically and historically significant as a maritime crossroads.
What to See #
- Kami- and Shimo-shima: Kamino-shima (upper island) and Shimo-shima (lower island) are the two main landmasses of Tsushima, linked by roads and forming the island's primary inhabited areas.
- Izuhara (main town): Izuhara is the island's principal urban centre and ferry port, serving as the administrative and commercial hub for visitors arriving by sea.
How to Get to Tsushima Island #
Tsushima Island (Nagasaki Prefecture) is reached by scheduled ferries from Fukuoka (and other Kyushu ports) into the island’s main ports, or by air to Tsushima Airport (IATA: TSJ) with flights from Fukuoka and Nagasaki. Izuhara is the island’s principal town and transport hub.
On arrival at the port or airport local buses and taxis connect to Izuhara and other settlements; ferries and flights schedules vary seasonally so check operators’ timetables before travel.
Tips for Visiting Tsushima Island #
- Plan your arrival by either the overnight ferry from Busan to northern Tsushima (Hitakatsu) or by a domestic flight into Izuhara; Izuhara is the island's main service hub and a good base for exploring south and central Tsushima.
- Rent a car or scooter as soon as you arrive-public transport on the island is limited and a vehicle is the most practical way to reach remote beaches, historic shrines and observation points scattered across the two main towns.
- Include both Izuhara's town sights and the quieter northern villages in your itinerary-many visitors stop at one port and miss the island's contrasting coastal scenery and small cultural sites inland.
Best Time to Visit Tsushima Island #
Aim for spring or autumn for the most comfortable weather and fewer heavy rains; summer brings humidity, rain and some typhoon risk.
