Gotō Islands

TheGotō Islands(五島列島,Gotō-rettō, literally: "five-island archipelago")areJapanese islandsin theSea of Japan.They are part ofNagasaki Prefecture.
There are 140 islands, including five main ones:Fukue Island(福江島,Fukue-jima),Hisaka Island(久賀島,Hisaka-jima),Naru Island(奈留島,Naru-shima),Wakamatsu Island(若松島,Wakamatsu-jima), andNakadōri Island(中通島,Nakadōri-jima).The northernmost island isUkujima.
The group of islands runs approximately 85 km (53 mi) from Osezaki Lighthouse,Fukue Islandto Tsuwazaki Lighthouse,Nakadōri Island. Its center is nearNaru Islandat about32°49′N128°56′E﻿ / ﻿32.817°N 128.933°E﻿ /32.817; 128.933.
To the north isTsushima Islandin theTsushima Straitand to the east is Kyūshū and the rest of Nagasaki Prefecture. It is about 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the port ofNagasaki. TheTsushima Current(a branch of theKuroshio) passes around the islands.
The southern of the two principal islands, Fukue, measures approximately 25 kilometres (16 miles) north-to-south by 25 kilometres (16 miles) east-to-west; the northern, Nakadōri Island, measures approximately 40 kilometres (25 miles) north-to-south by 30 kilometres (19 miles) east-to-west at its widest point. Most of Nakadōri Island, however, is quite narrow, measuring less than 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) wide for much of its length. Some dome-shaped hills command the old castle town of Fukue. The islands are highly cultivated; deer and other game abound, and trout are plentiful in the mountain streams.
As a result of a merger on August 1, 2004, the city ofGotōwas established. It occupies Fukue, Hisaka, and Naru islands, and seven inhabited ones. The town ofShin-Kamigotō, itself the product of a simultaneous, separate merger in 2004, occupies Nakadōri and Wakamatsu islands, two of the five main islands of the Gotō archipelago, in addition to the small inhabited islands of Arifuku, Kashiragashima, Hinoshima, Ryōzegaura, and Kirinoko and a great number of uninhabited islets.
The small island ofKabajimais east of Hisaka Island and northeast of Fukue Island.It belongs toGotō City.
In 2005, there were 76,311 inhabitants on the islands.
An important historical element is the roots of Christianity in Japan within the islands.  Some of the inhabitants are descended from Christians of the Catholic Church ("Kakure Kirishitan"), who came to their faith upon theintroduction of Christianity to Japanvia Portuguese missionaries in the late 16th century.  These Japanese were many times persecuted and tortured by the Japaneseshogunatesfor their beliefs, all the way into the earlyMeiji period.Until recentlyHanare Kirishitans still lived there; the majority either returned to Catholicism after it was legalized in the 19th century or reverted to earlier practices. The islands have numerous Catholic churches, the oldest and most famous of which is Dōzaki church, built in 1868 and located about 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) north of Fukue port. The islands are part of theArchdiocese of Nagasaki.
Marine products, such asoystersandsea urchins, are the main products of the island. The naturalcamellia oilof Fukuejima is famous in Japan for cosmetic use.Kankoro Mochiis a confectionery andspecialty foodof the Gotō Islands made from sliced, sundriedsweet potatocombined withmochi.
Fukue City is a typicalcastle city. The historic castle in Fukue,Ishida Castle, was built last of all castles in Japanese history because year after the castle was completed Japan underwent theMeiji Restoration. Today, the castle is used as the Goto high school and is contributing to the education of young people. Most of the castle area inside the stone walls are opened for public.
TheGotō-Fukue Airport(FUJ/RJFE)is on Fukue Island.
Ferry services from Nagasaki and Sasebo are offered by Kyusyu Shosen Co. Ltd. Both standard ferry and hydrofoil services operate.
There are also regular bus services on Fukue island.