Shimoshima Island, Amakusa

Shimoshima (下島, Shimoshima) is the largest island in the Amakusa archipelago. Its coasts are washed by Ariake Sea, Amakusa-nada sea, East China Sea and Yatsushiro Sea. Most of Shimoshima Island is administered as part of Amakusa city, with 67 km2 patch on north-west coast belonging to Reihoku town. The island's highest peak is Mount Tenjiku 538.4 m (1,766 ft).

Shimoshima Island
Native name:
下島 Shimoshima
Shimoshima Island
Location in Japan
Geography
LocationAriake Sea, East China Sea
Coordinates32°26′11″N 130°5′1″E
ArchipelagoAmakusa
Area574.01 km2 (221.63 sq mi)
Length44 km (27.3 mi)
Width21 km (13 mi)
Coastline301.2 km (187.16 mi)
Highest elevation538.4 m (1766.4 ft)
Highest pointmount Tenjiku
Administration
Japan
PrefectureKumamoto Prefecture
Demographics
Population87191 (2000)
Pop. density152/km2 (394/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsJapanese

Transportation

The Shimoshima is connected to Kamishima island and through it to Kyushu mainland by Amakusa-seto Oohashi bridge (completed in 1966) and pedestrian bridge over 70-meter wide tidal channel. It is also connected by Ushibukahaiyao Bridge to the Gezu Island on the southern tip. The national roads serving the island are the Route 266, Route 324 and Route 389.

The Amakusa Airfield on the north of the island provide a scheduled services to the Itami Airport, Fukuoka Airport and Kumamoto Airport since opening in 2000.

The public transportation inside the island is provided by the extensive bus network with the hub in Hondo Bus Center near the bridge to the mainland.[1]

At least five ferry lines also connect the Shimoshima island to other islands in Kagoshima, Kumamoto and Nagasaki prefectures.

Climate

Shimoshima Island is located in the humid subtropical climate zone (Köppen Cfa), with four distinct seasons. The island never sees snowfall during the winter. Spring in Shimoshima Island starts off mild, but ends up being hot and humid. The summer tends to be Shimoshima's wettest season, with the tsuyu (梅雨, tsuyu, "plum rain") — the rainy season — occurring between early June (average:Jun.7) to late July (average:Jul.21). The island's weather is affected by the nearby Liman current while being shielded from the warm Kuroshio Current by the Kyushu island, resulting in wetter and colder climate than should be expected at lower 30's latitudes.

Climate data for Hondo, Shimoshima (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 10.5
(50.9)		 11.9
(53.4)		 15.2
(59.4)		 20.6
(69.1)		 24.9
(76.8)		 27.5
(81.5)		 31.2
(88.2)		 32.4
(90.3)		 29.0
(84.2)		 23.9
(75.0)		 18.2
(64.8)		 13.0
(55.4)		 21.6
(70.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.1
(43.0)		 7.0
(44.6)		 10.0
(50.0)		 14.8
(58.6)		 19.0
(66.2)		 22.5
(72.5)		 26.4
(79.5)		 27.1
(80.8)		 23.9
(75.0)		 18.6
(65.5)		 13.2
(55.8)		 8.2
(46.8)		 16.4
(61.5)
Average low °C (°F) 1.9
(35.4)		 2.5
(36.5)		 5.3
(41.5)		 9.5
(49.1)		 13.9
(57.0)		 18.5
(65.3)		 22.7
(72.9)		 23.1
(73.6)		 20.1
(68.2)		 14.2
(57.6)		 9.0
(48.2)		 4.0
(39.2)		 12.1
(53.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 84.0
(3.31)		 92.7
(3.65)		 150.7
(5.93)		 164.3
(6.47)		 193.8
(7.63)		 357.3
(14.07)		 356.1
(14.02)		 213.1
(8.39)		 194.5
(7.66)		 92.5
(3.64)		 99.9
(3.93)		 79.3
(3.12)		 2,075.9
(81.73)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 106.2 125.6 150.7 176.4 181.9 132.0 182.2 212.3 184.9 189.3 145.4 127.3 1,914.8
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[2]

Attractions

See also

References
  1. "Access Information - Timetables (Airline, Bus) - Amakusa Treasure Island Tourism Association". t-island.jp. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  2. "本渡　平年値（年・月ごとの値）　主な要素". Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  3. "天草キリシタン館ホームページ". city.amakusa.kumamoto.jp. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  4. "天草ドルフィンワールド水族館｜WEB水族館". web-aquarium.net. Retrieved August 3, 2017.


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