The Islands of Toba Bay

The Toba region encompasses the city of Toba on the mainland; the four major outlying islands of Kamishima, Toshijima, Sugashima, and Sakatejima; and numerous smaller, uninhabited islands. Kamishima is known as the setting of The Sound of Waves, a bestselling book by the novelist Yukio Mishima (1925–1970). Toshijima is the final resting place of Kuki Yoshitaka (1542–1600), the distinguished naval commander of the Warring States period (1467–1600). Sugashima is home to the beautiful and sacred Shirongo-hama beach. And finally, Sakatejima, the island closest to Toba, is linked by legend to Princess Yamatohime-no-mikoto, founder of Ise Jingu Grand Shrine. All the islands make excellent day trips from Toba.