Megijima
island in Seto Inland Sea, Japan
Megijima (女木島, めぎじま) is an island located in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan, north of the city of Takamatsu, and is part of Kagawa Prefecture. It has an area of 2.66 km2, a coastline of 8.9 km, and a population of about 200. Megijima is a popular destination in summer on account of its public beach and close proximity to Takamatsu City (approx. 4 km). Additionally, with over 2000 cherry blossom trees, Megijima also sees an influx of visitors during the springtime when people congregate for cherry blossom viewing.
The island has been linked to the mythical island Onigashima ("island of ogres"), visited by the folktale character Momotarō. The caves at the top of Washigamine Summit, as the home of the ogres from that story, are a popular tourist spot. There is an observation platform at the peak of Washigamine Summit where one can get a 360 degree view of the Seto Inland Sea.
Megijima is also one of the host sites of the Setouchi Triennale. During the festival period, many temporary and permanent art exhibitions are installed across the island.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Megijima” is island in Seto Inland Sea, Japan. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Megijima, island and Seto, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “island in Seto Inland Sea, Japan” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
Maps, plans, fabric surveys and administrative records can establish how the site’s name, extent and function changed over time. The source revision retrieved here is dated Feb 10, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q339004. Authority coordinates are 34.395, 134.049. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 2000.
A single description cannot reconcile every naming convention, rebuilding phase or administrative transfer associated with a place. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
- Historic place names
- Jurisdictional context
- Routes into maps and plans
Contemporary maps, plans, listed-building records, estate papers and the responsible local or national archive.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Megijima”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Megijima primary sources, Megijima archive and Megijima research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Megijima”?
- What physical evidence or contemporary plan supports the description?
- Which authority defined the place, boundary or structure at the relevant date?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Megijima” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.