We follow in Momotaro’s footsteps with a visit to Onigashima . In the Seto Inland Sea you’ll find an island named Megijima . This island also has another name, though: Onigashima , or “Demon Island.
” This isn’t a mocking, slanderous nickname the island has been saddled with, either. As a matter of fact, Megijima fully embraces its alternate name, even going so far as to prominently display it on guide maps and other tourism information documents. That’s because of its connection to the story of Momotaro .
One of Japan’s most beloved folktales, Momotaro is the tale of a boy who emerged from a peach and became a strong and brave swordsman. With the people of the region suffering under the tyranny of a band of oni (ogre-like demons), the legend says that Momotaro traveled to Onigashima to defeat the monsters in their own stronghold, bringing peace to the region. As with many legends, the exact details that led to its creation have been lost to time, but Megijima, which is officially part of the city of Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, is thought by many to be the Onigashima of Momotaro’s tale, and so we set out to trace Momotaro’s footsteps/boat rides and visit the demon island, and its demon cave .
Megijima has fewer than 200 full-time residents, but the island is easily accessible from the port of Takamatsu , the largest city in Kagawa. The ferry terminal is a five-minute walk from Takamatsu Station, and from there it’s 20 minutes by ferry to Megijima, with de.