Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There are approximately 120 residents on Takara. The islanders are dependent mainly on
fishing and seasonal tourism. There are four
minshuku
inns available for tourists. The town
also has a free public
onsen
with separate facilities for men and women. The island is ringed
and crisscrossed by a series of roads and virtually no place is inaccessible. You can even drive
to the top of Imakira. There's a great observation platform and viewpoint up there.
Approach to Takarajima.
Great limestone cave and Kannon-dō shrine.
The name Takarajima literally translates as “Treasure Island” and the few travel brochures
one finds on the Tokaras usually make the claim that Takara was the inspiration, if not the
actual burial place, of pirate's gold, believed to be at the center of Robert Louis Stevenson's
work
Treasure Island
. The tourist information map displayed at the harbor where the ferry
arrives states: “As the name Takarajima (Treasure Island) implies, there is a legendary story
that says Captain Kidd once hid his treasures on this island. There is a limestone cave which
is believed to be the place where treasures were hidden. This island has been visited by many
explorers and bounty hunters from all over Japan and the world.”
The legend has it that Kidd and his men attacked Takarajima seeking food and cattle from
the island's inhabitants. They were refused and as a result 23 of the pirates landed and burned
the inhabitants alive in a lime cave. Afterwards, it is said that Kidd hid his treasure in the
cave and never came back for it due to his execution in England. In real life, Captain William
