Seijima Area | The Spirit of Osettai (Pilgrim Hospitality)Passed Down Through Generations, Sei Island

A total of 16 artists gathered on one island!

“SAY YES” focuses on Seijima as it is, with nothing superfluous, and 16 artists will present various works both indoors and outdoors at venues such as the former Seijima Junior High School, former Seijima Elementary School, and former Seijima Kindergarten.

Experience the pilgrimage on Seijima

A pilgrimage modeled after the Shikoku 88 Temple circuit can be experienced on Seijima in 2-3 hours. It is an event where you can visit temples and 88 Jizo statues on the island and experience “osettai” (pilgrim hospitality). About 200 years ago, when a kind-hearted fisherman helped a monk by giving him a boat ride, 88 monks disembarked from the boat that should have carried only one person. Since then, good things continued to happen on the island, which led to the practice of placing stones and enshrining them at locations corresponding to Kobo Daishi’s places at the 88 sacred sites of Shikoku.

An autumn festival inheriting history and tradition

The autumn festival of Seijima’s Hachimangu Shrine, although the island is now connected to the mainland due to reclamation, was originally a festival of a remote island, and it continues to be held as an inheritance of memories from when it was an island. The portable shrine (mikoshi) carried out from Hachimangu in the Honura district goes around the Nishiura, Kitaura, and Takeura districts, returns to the Honura district, and then is placed on a fishing boat to go out to sea in a ritual called “Funatogyo.” The sight of fishing boats gathering with magnificent large catch flags fluttering and circling the island is spectacular.

“Funatogyo” is a religious ceremony to pray for marine conservation and a good catch while crossing the sea, and a newly built ship of that year is used for this purpose. Although the number of fishing boats has decreased compared to the past due to population decline, all islanders dedicate their efforts to this important festival that inherits history and tradition.

A quiet hideaway cafe located on a hill overlooking the sea.

You can spend a relaxing time here.

During the exhibition period, in addition to a seven-tiered Hina doll display, the cafe exhibits “hanging Hina dolls,” which are rare in Kagawa Prefecture.

The “Chocolate Roll” is wheat-free and generously filled with fresh cream.

The baked donuts are super fluffy! They’re not fried, so they’re healthy and you can eat as many as you like!

Pancakes are available by reservation only, so please make your reservation by the day before.
Shaved ice is available all year round.
※Pancakes and shaved ice cannot be provided during the Setouchi Triennale Spring session.

One of the attractions of Seijima is, above all, the beautiful scenery overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. Especially at sunset, the sea and sky are dyed orange, creating a fantastical landscape. You can also enjoy walking along the coast or fishing, and spend peaceful moments surrounded by nature.

Access and Ways to Enjoy the Island

Since Seijima is connected to the mainland, it is easy to visit. On the island, there are various ways to enjoy yourself, such as taking historical walks in a peaceful atmosphere. The charm is being able to spend a relaxed time.

Why not spend a soul-healing moment on Seijima, where history and nature are interwoven?