The name of this island comes from the sense that one can see the island very close. It doesn't have any pier. Despite its closeness from the nearest manned island, few people had visited the island before 1988. These two islands became linked by a bridge which constituted a part of Shimanami Highway which connected Honshu and Shikoku, hopping small islands in 1988. The nearby but distant island of Michikajima has no pier to reach by a big boat and we needed a small boat to land there before 1988.
When the highway straddling Seto Inland Sea was planned, a bridge pier was designed on the island. The highway is naturally made for automobiles, but the path for small motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians is also added to the side of the bridge. Additionally, a narrow ramp to the island for those was constructed. At the same time, a campsite was created on the island. I've passed on this highway many times, but I've never visited the island, which has been accessible for only pedestrians and small bikes.
I landed on the island by my bicycle today. Going down the ramp, there was a wide campground equipped with clean toilets, shower facilities and a kitchen with several "kamado" traditional Japanese kitchen stoves. Almost all of the flat space on the island was changed into the campground. The highway runs over a few dozen meters, and the noise of cars will be irritating for campers, but the traffic at night isn't so heavy. The campers would be able to spend some very relaxing hours. And another thing, it is the trove of fresh seafood before them. I'd like to stay there for a whole night with my fishing gear.
Postscript:
The place which pokes out to the sea and moors the boats and the column which supports the bridge are described with one same word, pier. This was new and surprising to me.
(Vocabulary)
manned island 有人島
pier 支柱
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