Nakadori Island

Location of Nakadōri Island (Nakadōri-jima) in the Gotō Islands

Nakadōri Island (中通島, Nakadōri-jima) is an island in the Gotō Islands, Japanese islands in the East China Sea, off the western coast of Kyūshū. The islands are a part of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan.

Geography

The island is roughly the same shape as a left hand held with the thumb and index finger extended. Thus, it is relatively long, narrow, and very mountainous. The roads are quite narrow and very curvy.

History

The island has been subject to two distinct periods of prosperity. These were the era of active trade with China until the 13th century and a more recent whaling boom that lasted until about fifty years ago. Both of these periods made this small rural area quite famous throughout Japan. The island has many interesting artifacts from both of these periods.

In August 2004, the five towns: Kamigotō, Shin-Uonome, Arikawa, Narao, Wakamatsu merged into a new town, appropriately named Shin-Kamigotō (shin means "new").

See also

• Shin-Kamigotō, Nagasaki - Information on the municipality that has been created through the merger of all of Nakadōri-jima's formerly independent towns.
• Gotō Islands - Information on the island chain to which Nakadōri-jima belongs.