Tsushima Island Guide

From Fukuoka: JR Kyushu's Beetle jetfoil hydrofoil runs from Hakata Port to Izuhara (Tsushima's main town) in approximately 2h20min (¥9,200 one-way) or to Hitakatsu (north end) in 1h10min. Camellia Ferry runs an overnight ferry from Hakata to Izuhara (6 hours, ¥3,000–6,000). ANA operates daily flights from Fukuoka to Tsushima Airport (35 minutes, ¥10,000–20,000) with connections to Nagasaki on some routes. From Korea: Daea Express and JR Kyushu Beetle run jetfoils from Busan to Izuhara (about 1h10min, ¥5,000–8,000 one-way); Tsushima is one of the easiest Korean day-trip destinations from Busan. The island is 82km long; a rental car is essential to explore beyond the towns. Bus service is very limited.

The Tsushima yamaneko (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) is a critically endangered subspecies of the Asian leopard cat, found only on Tsushima — one of Japan's rarest wild animals with an estimated population under 100 individuals. The cats are nocturnal and extremely shy; wild sightings require significant time and local knowledge. The Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center (run by the Ministry of the Environment) in Kamiagata Town houses rescued cats and provides educational exhibits in English and Japanese. The center offers the best chance to see the cats up close. Several nature tour operators run nighttime observation drives on forest roads where cats occasionally cross, but sightings are not guaranteed. The cats look like small, spotted house cats with wild patterning; they feed on small birds, rabbits, and reptiles.

Watatsumi Shrine (Watatsumi Jinja or Kaijinji) at Mitsushima, Tsushima is built at the water's edge with a series of red torii gates descending stone steps into the sea. The shrine is dedicated to Watatsumi, the Japanese sea god, reflecting Tsushima's ancient maritime importance as a waystation on the Korea-Japan sea route. At high tide, the lower torii gates are surrounded by water, creating the most photogenic image. The shrine is relatively unknown outside Japan (limited international visitors compared to Miyajima) but equally atmospheric. The surrounding bay is quiet and forested. The walking path around the cove from Mitsushima town takes about 30 minutes. The site is free to visit and easily reached from central Tsushima by car.

Spring (April–May) is ideal — azalea blossoms on the hillsides, comfortable hiking temperatures, and the Korean day-trip market is less crowded than summer. Summer (June–August) is warm and suitable for sea kayaking and snorkeling; the island is greenest and most photogenic. Autumn (September–November) brings clear skies and forest colors — the cedar and cypress forests turn beautiful tones. Winter is mild (rarely below 5°C) and very quiet — the island's deer and wild cats are more visible in winter. Typhoon season (August–September) can disrupt ferry schedules. The Tsushima Yamazaru Festival (November, at Kokubun-ji temple ruins) celebrates the island's culture. Korean tourist traffic peaks in summer and Golden Week; the north end of the island is quieter than Izuhara.

Tsushima's cuisine reflects its position between Japan and Korea. Rock oysters (iwagaki) are farmed in the island's clean inlets and are a seasonal specialty from December–August — large, briny, and eaten raw. Roe of the nearshore fish (flying fish, horse mackerel) is processed locally. Honey from the endangered Tsushima honeybee (another species unique to the island) is prized. Azuki beans from Tsushima are used in traditional sweet rice cakes (kakimochi) and azukimai (rice with red beans). Korean-influenced dishes appear in some restaurants reflecting the large Korean visitor population. Rokubee is a traditional cold noodle dish made from dried bracken and potato flour, eaten with a sweet soy broth — unique to Tsushima and served at traditional restaurants in Izuhara.