Shodoshima
Japan
2025
Best Known For:
Governance
Environmental Sustainability
Value Chain Integration
Contact
This island thrives where tradition and tourism grow together
Shodoshima Town lies in the southeastern part of Shodoshima Island in Kagawa Prefecture, within the Seto Inland Sea and Setonaikai National Park. Surrounded by dramatic coastal landscapes and shaped by the volcanic beauty of Kankakei Gorge, the island blends natural splendor with deep cultural roots. It is home to Shodoshima Rural Kabuki, an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, and traditional industries such as salt making, soy sauce brewing, and somen noodle production. The island’s climate and ocean currents support vibrant agriculture and fisheries. Despite its remoteness, the island has always been open to innovation, cultivating olive farming and stone quarrying through sea-bound trade. In 2023, the two towns on the island united under a shared vision to promote sustainable tourism. Their goal is to transform from being consumed by tourism to being sustained by it. This unified approach ensures that the island’s unique way of life continues to evolve while protecting its natural and cultural legacy for generations to come.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Two towns now work as one for a better future.
Once separated by administrative boundaries, the two towns on the island have come together with a single goal: to shape a sustainable future through tourism. Since 2023, they have been working under the principle of “One Island,” a shared vision that reflects the unity needed to preserve a fragile, remote environment. Tourism efforts have been consolidated through a central tourism association, which developed the island’s first long-term tourism strategy, built around 10 core strategies and 30 specific action plans. This collaborative framework aims to shift the island’s identity from a destination consumed by tourism to one supported and uplifted by it. By aligning their efforts, the towns can better protect the landscape, preserve traditions, and improve livelihoods for residents. This new, united approach demonstrates how governance rooted in cooperation can respond to complex challenges with clarity and purpose. Together, they are building a future where tourism is a force for sustainability, not strain.
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Sustainability is a way of life, not just a goal.
For generations, the people of this island have relied on self-sufficiency and care for their surroundings to survive and thrive. That same mindset now shapes their approach to tourism. With deep respect for their natural and cultural resources, the community has embraced international sustainability standards to guide its growth. This commitment has earned them recognition among the Top 100 Sustainable Tourism Destinations in both 2021 and 2022, and a Green Destinations Silver Award in 2024. But beyond awards, the island’s success lies in its values, protecting what it has while creating space for thoughtful, respectful tourism. Sustainability here means more than just reducing impact; it means strengthening identity, supporting livelihoods, and ensuring that each visitor experience contributes to the well-being of the place. Rooted in the challenges of island life, the community has chosen a path that honors the past while building a future grounded in care, resilience, and renewal.
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Tourism grows from what locals have always done.
The island’s tourism is not built from the outside, it grows naturally from daily life, local industries, and deep cultural traditions. Located in the heart of Setonaikai National Park, the island has long relied on what it can produce: soy sauce, somen noodles, salt, olives, and more. Today, these very elements form the basis for immersive tourism experiences, such as soy sauce brewery tours or somen-splitting workshops. Visitors don’t just observe, they take part in what makes the island special. Cultural expressions like rural kabuki performances bring even more depth to the story. Events like the Setouchi Triennale, held every three years, elevate these local features onto the global stage while staying true to the island’s spirit. This is tourism that arises from life itself, turning the ordinary into something extraordinary for visitors while preserving it for those who call the island home. It is sustainable, creative, and deeply rooted in place.
