Eshima Island is a small, uninhabited island located off Iwaya in Awaji City, at the northern tip of Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture. Known for its striking natural rock formations and rich cultural heritage, it is recognized as part of a Japan Heritage story and designated as a scenic spot by Awaji City. Despite its small size, Eshima has long captured the imagination of visitors and poets, making it one of the area’s most distinctive landmarks.
Eshima is traditionally regarded as one of the possible locations of Onokoro Island, a mythical island featured in Japan’s creation mythology. According to ancient legend, the deities Izanagi and Izanami created the Japanese islands, and places associated with this story have become important sites in the cultural history of Awaji Island.
The island was once connected to the mainland, but the continuous action of waves over many years is said to have shaped it into the isolated rocky formation seen today. Set against the waters of the Akashi Strait, Eshima is admired for its unusual contours, sculpted by the sea and wind. Its distinctive appearance may be one reason it came to be associated with the legendary Onokoro Island.
At the top of Eshima stands a stone monument associated with Matsuomaru, a figure remembered in connection with Taira no Kiyomori’s renovation of Owada no Tomari, a port near present-day Kobe. According to tradition, Matsuomaru became a human sacrifice to ensure the success of the harbor works. The monument was erected to commemorate him and pray for his soul.
This story adds a historical and spiritual dimension to the island’s natural beauty. The monument is one of Eshima’s notable features and reflects the legends and traditions that have been passed down along the coast of the Seto Inland Sea.
Eshima has been admired as a scenic destination since ancient times and has appeared in Japanese poetry and literary works. The Heike Monogatari, or The Tale of the Heike, includes an account associated with the period when the Taira clan moved to its new capital at Fukuhara in 1180. According to the story, people enjoying the height of their prosperity crossed the Akashi Strait from Suma to admire the moon over Eshima and held poetry gatherings beneath the night sky.
The celebrated Buddhist poet Saigyō also praised the island in a poem recorded in the Sankashū, his collection of poetry. The poem evokes the moon reflected in the waves near Eshima as shorebirds call in the night. Such literary references show how the island’s coastal scenery inspired generations of poets and travelers.
Today, Eshima remains one of the best-known scenic spots in northern Awaji Island. Its rugged rock formations and location beside the Akashi Strait make it an appealing stop for visitors exploring the island’s northern coastline.
At night, the island is illuminated, creating a dreamlike scene against the surrounding darkness and water. The combination of natural beauty, mythology, historical tradition, and nighttime lighting gives Eshima a distinctive atmosphere. It is a memorable place to pause, enjoy the coastal views, and discover the legends associated with Awaji Island.
Eshima lies near Iwaya at the northern end of Awaji Island, with views toward the Akashi Strait. It is approximately five minutes by car from the Awaji Interchange on the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway, making it an easy stop on a sightseeing trip around northern Awaji Island.