The Island’s Shape and Name
The name “Hyotan-jima” means “Gourd Island,” inspired by the island’s outline, which resembles a traditional Japanese gourd. The name is also associated with an older local place name, Hyotan-jima, near the present-day boundary between Tokushima-cho Jonai and Higashi-dekijima-cho.
The island became more widely recognized as a distinctive feature of Tokushima following a proposal made in 1984. During a city-sponsored lecture on attractive urban development, the youth division of the Tokushima Society of Architects and Building Engineers introduced the concept known as the “Hyotan-jima Renaissance Plan.” The proposal helped draw attention to the island’s unique geography and potential as an urban destination.
Hyotan-jima has been selected as one of the “88 Scenic Views of Tokushima,” reflecting its appeal as a landscape where rivers, historic neighborhoods, and the modern city meet.
Natural Environment and Landscape
The island’s highest point is Mount Shiroyama, which rises to 61.7 meters above sea level. Most of the remaining area is low-lying land at approximately 2 meters above sea level, giving the island its generally flat urban landscape.
A river known as the Terashima River once flowed through the island, but it disappeared as the area was reshaped during railway construction. Today, the surrounding waterways remain a defining feature, offering scenic views and a reminder of the role rivers have played in shaping Tokushima.
A Major Transportation Hub
Hyotan-jima is an important transportation center for Tokushima. National Route 192 runs through the island, while National Route 11 crosses it. Their meeting point at the Tokushima-honcho intersection is one of the city’s major traffic junctions.
Tokushima Station is located in the central part of the island and serves as a key gateway to the wider region. Limited-express trains and highway buses connect the city with destinations across Shikoku and beyond, making Hyotan-jima a convenient base for visitors exploring Tokushima Prefecture.
A Commercial and Business Center
The eastern side of Hyotan-jima contains Tokushima’s central business district. Office buildings line the area between Tokushima-honcho and Motomachi intersections, while shopping centers and department-store facilities cluster around Tokushima Station.
The island has long been one of the most commercially valuable areas in the prefecture. Land prices in its commercial and residential districts have ranked among the highest in Tokushima, reflecting its importance as a center for business, shopping, and public transportation.
Visitors can explore shopping complexes and local shopping streets around the station, discovering a mix of established businesses and modern retail facilities. The area provides a convenient introduction to the everyday life of Tokushima as well as a starting point for sightseeing around the city.
Parks and Places to Relax
Despite its urban density, Hyotan-jima offers several green spaces where residents and visitors can relax. Tokushima Central Park is one of the most notable, occupying the grounds of the former Tokushima Castle. The park combines open lawns and greenery with an important historical setting.
Other parks and public spaces are arranged around the island’s waterways, giving people opportunities to walk, enjoy the river scenery, and take a break from the busy city center. These spaces help preserve the island’s appeal as a place where nature and urban life coexist.
The History of Hyotan-jima
Three Islands in the Edo Period
During the Edo period (1603–1868), the area now known as Hyotan-jima consisted of three separate islands: Tokushima, Terashima, and Dekijima. They formed part of the inner defensive area around Tokushima Castle and played an important role in the political and administrative life of the Tokushima Domain.
A moat known as the Hyotan-bori once surrounded parts of the area, with wetlands extending around the islands. Land reclamation gradually altered the landscape, and the waterways were eventually filled in as the city developed.
Transformation in the Modern Era
During the Meiji period (1868–1912), the Terashima River and Hyotan-bori were filled in, bringing the area closer to its present-day shape. The former Tokushima Castle grounds later became Tokushima Central Park, while Tokushima Station was established on Terashima. Dekijima developed into an industrial area.
These changes transformed Hyotan-jima from a landscape shaped by castle defenses and waterways into a modern urban center. The rivers that still surround the island remain an important part of its identity, even as much of its internal landscape has changed.
The Growth of Uchimachi as a Shopping District
From Domain-Era Merchants to a Modern City Center
During the Edo period, Uchimachi flourished as a commercial district where merchants serving the Tokushima Domain conducted business. Its importance temporarily declined after the Meiji Restoration, when the Shinmachi district emerged as a leading commercial center.
The opening of Tokushima Station in 1899 helped revive the area. Shops and businesses gathered around the station, and Uchimachi once again developed into one of the city’s main commercial districts.
Postwar Recovery and Growth
In 1945, during the final months of World War II, the Tokushima air raid destroyed much of Uchimachi. Reconstruction proceeded rapidly after the war, and by the 1950s, major commercial facilities were opening in succession. The district regained its position as a center of shopping and business in Tokushima.
Bus routes also developed around Tokushima Station, strengthening Uchimachi’s role as a public transportation hub. The combination of retail facilities and convenient transport helped attract shoppers from across the city and surrounding region.
The Opening of Amico Building
In the 1970s, the Tokushima Chamber of Commerce and Industry developed plans to modernize the city’s commercial areas, focusing on the station-front district and Shinmachi. One major outcome was the opening of Amico Building in 1983, with the major department store Sogo as its principal tenant.
The new complex significantly increased the area’s appeal as a shopping destination and reinforced Tokushima Station’s role at the center of the city’s commercial life.
Competition from Suburban Shopping Centers
Although the station-front area continued to develop after Amico Building opened, competition intensified from the 1990s onward as large suburban shopping centers and roadside retail stores expanded. One notable development was the opening of Fuji Grand Kitajima in 2001, which featured the prefecture’s first multiplex cinema and attracted many shoppers away from the city center.
In response, businesses in Uchimachi pursued joint sales campaigns and other initiatives to retain customers. Shopping facilities, including Sogo Tokushima and Clement Plaza, coordinated promotional activities, while renovations and the arrival of new chain stores were intended to attract a wider range of shoppers. Loft also opened a store within Sogo Tokushima in 2010.
The district continues to face the challenge of competing with suburban retail developments. Maintaining its appeal will depend on adapting to changing shopping habits, diversifying its retail offerings, and making effective use of its central location and transport connections.
Discover Tokushima Through Hyotan-jima
Hyotan-jima is more than a geographical feature: it is the historic and modern heart of Tokushima City. Its riverside scenery, castle history, shopping districts, transportation links, and public parks reveal how the city has evolved over centuries.
Visitors can explore Tokushima Central Park, browse the shops around Tokushima Station, or enjoy the island’s distinctive waterways on a sightseeing cruise. Whether discovering its history or experiencing its contemporary urban life, Hyotan-jima provides an excellent starting point for understanding the character of Tokushima.