Shodoshima . This is the island most worthy of a sojourn, (and make it at least a three day escape), from the urban throb. It's name means the island of little beans but the beans here are now olives - the only microclimate in Japan that allows for the proliferation of olives and it is said the virgin oil here is so pure it can be sipped like water. While oil should probably never be imbibed as liquid, much about this island merits the attention of the fussiest of foodies.

Find Shodoshima in southern Japan, 250 miles from Okinawa in the Seto Island Sea or Inland Sea, a water body reaching distances of 250 miles along a strait bounded by Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku with more than 3,000 islands by some estimates and ferries and bridges running between the larger masses. Shodoshima, spanning 60 square miles, is the second largest of these islands and is rich in a history that has not changed much with the years. Its mountainous terrain flows thick with cedar and conifer forests, and limestone cliffs that hide shrines, temples, ancient grave yards, odd museums, towering Buddha structures and postcard villages.

Temple Heaven

On the island are 88 temples that are the holy destinations of Buddhist pilgrims each Autumn. During the 8th Century, envoys sent to China by the Imperial family brought back a “new religion,” one that the monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi) introduced as Shingon Buddhism to fishermen on a nearby larger island called Shikoku. Kukai, who taught that enlightenment could be achieved through the recitation of Buddhist scriptures, inspired construction of the 88 temples (“8” is a holy number symbolizing all of humanities passions and desires) on Shikoku where seekers now make month-long pilgrimages. However, shortly after establishing the route on the 7,063-square-mile Shikoku Island, Kukai fashioned a "mini-route" of 88 temples and worship sites on Shodoshima (less than 1 percent the size of Shikoku), which can be completed in a one-week visit --easier on pilgrims and tourists alike.

Climb the endless steps or snake the tempting pull rope to the precipice-faced Emonnotaki temple, the 81st in the series, and get the “Goma” ceremony treatment. Meet the priest, who burns wooden sticks -- on which you write your name and priority wishes, and the priest then asks Buddha to fulfill your every dreams. The fire roils with sesame oil, spices, and incense to also feed Buddha's mouth. Surely the wish will be granted now.
The Nishinotaki Temple is the oldest on the island, the 42nd in the series and a favorite among pilgrims for its spectacular location above Angel Road, which connects four islands at low tide. The altar inside the cave is one of the places where Kukai meditated some 1,200 years ago once he put the dragon in its place. Supposedly, there was a dragon living in the midst that prevented the rain from falling so it fell upon Kukai to work his magic. Kukai tricked the dragon into slipping into a jar and it is said that although Kukai is long gone the dragon is not. He is still sleeping in that jar inside the cave at Nishinotaki Temple. Visitors are implored not to open that jar if they find it.

Other spectacles to enjoy on Shodoshima include the Kankakei Gorge and the money park. The gorge is an easy walk down (about a mile) with views of the sea and the islands, shaded by cedars, pocked by waterfalls and brooks and sweetened with the promise (rarely delivered) of wild monkey encounters.

For the Food

Food lovers will appreciate two unusual museums on the island: one dedicated to soy sauce and the other to noodles.

Soy sauce or shoyu production began on Shodoshima in the 1600s, thriving because of the island's good source of salt and convenient access to marine transportation. Today, the island is the fourth largest soy sauce producing region in Japan with over 30 factories on the island and the Marukan company, which has processed Osaka-grown soy beans into shoyu since 1897, opened the Soy Sauce Historical Museum in the picturesque port town of Uchinomi to celebrate this fact. Displays in English explain the meticulous process from harvesting through roasting, mashing, fermenting, aging and crushing a wheat, soy, malt and sea-water mixture eventually leading to that perfect liquid component for flavoring sushi. The gift shop sells the rarified sauce and moromi (unrefined soy sauce, often used as a dip), and an adjoining shop scoops out volumes of soy sauce ice cream.

Hand-stretched somen or thin vermicelli-style noodles are a Shodoshima delicacy that can be learned about at the Shodoshima Tenobe Somen Museum, where a free factory tour is topped off with a 35-minute make-your-own somen with chopsticks experience (500 yen).

In October, rice harvesting can be witnessed on abundant terraced rice fields (there are few of these in Japan) scattered around the island. This is also a time for olive harvesting. In fact, Autumn, with its warm, dry weather, colorful harvests and ancient festivals that celebrate them, is possibly the ideal time to go - if harvests festivals are of interest. On Shodoshima taiko drum floats from each locality converge at a sacred shrine accompanied by bearers chanting and lifting huge floats to display their strength and skill in rolling the floats at 180-degree arcs and lifting them above their heads. Children are decked out in traditional garb and strapped inside the highly decorated palanquins and have only occasionally fallen out.

Shodoshima is a destination for anyone in search of the exotic. Rare culinary treasures from the Inland Sea, include Whiting, Sea Bream, Turban, and Abalone, all served with sake and rice. Namako or Sea Cucumber, known for its “sea smell” and crunchy texture is an extremely popular Shodoshima delicacy, and noted aphrodisiac.

The island is prized for its exceptionally tender, marbleized beef called Sanuki ushi produced from carefully raised Wa gyu, Japanese black-hide cows. In fact, Sanuki ushi, was first developed in 1882 on Shodoshima, where Wa gyu were bred at the time and was introduced in Kobe in 1910. Meat from cattle was fattened using the same Shodoshima perfected method, but became world renowned under the name Kobe Beef. The tiny island of Odeshima, less than half a mile round and just one mile west of Shodoshima, breeds the Wa gyu today - home to only seven families but more than 550 cows.

The top hotel there is Hotel Olivean, a solid base for any trip to Shodoshima. Best of all, it is possible to have Kaiseki at the Olivean: considered a peak dining experience that involves some 16 tasting courses served with the perfection and seductive attentiveness of a Japanese tea ceremony. Rooms offer a choice of European style with beds and Japanese ryokan style with bamboo mats and futons. All rooms overlook the ocean and all guests have 24-hour access to the men's and women's hot springs baths. Rates run $400 per night for a Japanese style room; $500 for European. Rates include all taxes and service charges (there is no tipping in Japan); breakfast; welcome drink; welcome bottle of wine per person; complimentary 15-minute Shiatsu Massage per person; complimentary usage of sports facilities and baths, fruit basket and flowers. (visit www.hotelolivean.com).

For more information on Shodoshima or other destinations in Japan contact the Japan National Tourism Office, New York: (212) 757-5640; San Francisco: (415) 292-5686; Los Angeles: (213) 623-1952, or visit www.jnto.go.jp.

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