Last Updated: Sep 13, 2025

See Shodoshima

The Seto Inland Sea’s Second Largest Island

This story was originally published on donnykimball.com and has been syndicated here on Medium.

The area around Japan’s Seto Inland Sea is one of my favorite parts of the country. Home to thousands of islands, this beautiful body of water belies many secrets and hidden gems. Few of them, though, can hold a candle to the likes of Shodoshima. Officially the second largest island in the Seto Inland Sea after Awaji, Shodoshima is a popular destination often referred to as the “Mediterranean of Japan” due to its warm climate and the fact that it was the first place in the country to successfully cultivate olives. These days, guests to the island can learn all about this legacy at Shodoshima Olive Park.

In addition to its fame as Japan’s so-called “Olive Island,” Shodoshima is also blessed with some beautiful displays of nature. From its spectacular gorges to its breathtaking terraced rice fields, there are few places in Japan that boast such an impressive and eclectic array of natural wonders. There’s even a disappearing sandbar known as Angel Road that emerges at low tide. As if this alone weren’t enough reason to come, Shodoshima is also one of the venues for the famed Setouchi Triennale, meaning that there are ample outdoor installations strewn about the island for art lovers to enjoy.