Thank you for riding Shodoshima Kotsu's "Island Tour Sightseeing Bus" today. Our audio guide will serve as a supplementary navigator guiding you through your Shodoshima trip.

We’ll set off from Tonosho Port and head first for the Choshikei Monkey Park. Before that, let’s review some basic information about Shodoshima.

Shodoshima may be small, but it’s still the second-largest island in the Seto Inland Sea, second only to Awaji Island. Compared to other Japanese islands, it’s almost as big as Miyakojima. If you compare it to islands outside Japan, it’s the same size as Easter Island. Shodoshima has a unique “cow-like” shape; please look at a map later to see for yourself.

25,000 people live on Shodoshima, making it the largest population in the Seto Inland Sea’s outlying islands, where you can only get around by boat. It’s one of the most frequented ferry ports in Japan. Here, there are no “last trains,” but “last ferries.” Shodoshima’s last ferry departs at 9:10 PM out of Takamatsu Port; you could drop into the Takamatsu shopping district for a drink before returning to the island.

One of Shodoshima’s highlights is the Kankakei Valley, famously known as the island’s first attraction. Since antiquity, Shodoshima prospered as a salt-producing region; however, it switched production to soy sauce during the Edo Period. Hishio-no-Sato is famous for its antique soy sauce warehouses lining the town. Later, the first olive ever grown in Japan sprouted near the Shodoshima Olive Park during the Meiji Period, and the island became known worldwide after the war thanks to the hit film “Twenty-four Eyes.”

Throughout the day, your bus will take you on a course packed with unique Shodoshima spots like the Kankakei Valley, Hishio-no-Sato, the Shodoshima Olive Park, and the Twenty-four Eyes Movie Village. We encourage you to listen to our audio guide as an introduction before arriving at each spot.

Before arriving at Kankakei, your bus will detour through Choshikei Monkey Park. The roads may be smooth and even now, but along the way, you’ll wind through mountain roads. Besides monkeys, boars may also jump out on the road. In those instances, your bus may have to slam on the brakes, so please do not stand up, and keep your seatbelts fastened as you listen.

Now, what kind of place is the Choshikei Monkey Park?

Choshikei is a valley that was born from volcanic activity 13 million years ago. It houses Shodoshima’s highest waterfall, which is 21 meters tall. The Choshi Falls’ name comes from its appearance; water pours down like sake from the mouth of a “decanter,” or “choshi” in Japanese. The valley was subsequently named after the falls. Many monkeys lived there to begin with, but during the Showa Period, they were fed for research. The experiment succeeded after only three months – there were originally 130 monkeys. Now, approximately 500 monkeys live in the valley. By the way, you too can feed them Shodoshima sweet potatoes, just like in the experiment.

There are a few golden rules you must follow at the Monkey Park: “Do not stare. Do not approach.” Monkeys signal aggression via eye contact. If a monkey crouches low, it is sensing a threat. Although you may feed the Choshikei monkeys, they are still wild animals. First-time visitors are particularly threatening to them, so please remember: do not stare, and do not approach. If you want to take photos, be sure to keep a distance of at least 2 meters.

Additionally, please keep your belongings close. You may bring cameras, umbrellas, hats, and drinks, but do not bring any snacks. Along those lines, items inside plastic bags are also a no-no; the monkeys will confuse them for snacks, and they will bite. Instead, please visit the feeding corner and ask a staff member for assistance. Do not stare, do not approach, do not bring snacks – keep these rules in mind, and you’ll have a fun time with the monkeys.

Now, we’d like to touch on what we know from research into the monkeys’ unique ecology. Let’s start with a quiz: Swipe on your phone’s screen to look at the next photo. What do you think this monkey is doing? Take a moment to think about it.

If you answered “picking fleas,” that is incorrect. Supposedly, monkeys aren’t infected by fleas because they habitually change where they sleep. The correct answer is “grooming.” Basically, monkeys show affection by grooming one another. It looks like they stop for a moment to eat while they groom, but it’s not fleas they’re snacking on. Apparently, it’s leftover salt from dried sweat or plants tangled in the fur.

Let’s continue our quiz: Why do you think a monkey’s bottom is red?

Many Japanese people believe all monkeys generally have red bottoms. Actually, it’s a remarkably rare feature unique to Japanese macaques. The question then becomes “Why are Japanese macaque rumps red?” It’s not just their derrieres, but also their faces. Japanese macaques have thin skin, so their blood vessels are clearly visible. As they grow into adulthood their blood vessels also increase. Red faces and red bottoms are a sign of adulthood in these macaques. Also, the males’ backsides turn even redder during mating season in order to attract females. Naturally, the leader possesses the reddest caboose in the troop. In other words, the redder, the stronger.

Speaking of troops, the Choshikei monkeys are split into two troops. “Danjuro” leads the 300 monkeys of Troop A, while “Tora”' leads the 200 of Troop B. Danjuro is named after a famous figure of traditional rural folklore and kabuki theater.

Monkeys also inhabit other areas of Shodoshima. 300 monkeys reportedly live in the Kankakei Valley; who’s to say what kind of simian you’ll meet today? Your live tour guide will inform you of any departure times and additional tips. Until then, please enjoy the view from your window.