Kozukumi-jima and Ozukumi-jima Islands

This pair of picturesque islands is visible off the coast of Toshijima island. The closer of the two, Kozukumi-jima, is uninhabited and off limits for visiting or fishing. Long regarded as sacred ground by local fisherfolk, it is the site of a Shinto consecration ceremony every July. The larger island, also uninhabited, is Ozukumi-jima. Archaeologists have discovered ancient shell middens dating back to prehistoric times, and many of the shells are from deeper waters, suggesting that the predecessors of ama divers may have plied their trade here. Even today, its waters are renowned for the quality of the seafood. Note that the island is not accessible by public transport.