More Than 99 Islands

Kujukushima means '99 islands,' but a 2001 survey counted 208 islands that rise above the high-tide line and support plant life. Spread across Saikai National Park near Sasebo, the islands range from broad forested landmasses to tiny dots of rock and green. The best way to see them is from one of the observatories in Sasebo, where the islands extend across the horizon in every direction. On clear days you can make out the Goto Islands to the west. Boat tours from Sasebo also pass close to the islands, and the protected waters make for calm, easy viewing. The variety of shapes carved by geology and sea over time is striking.