Along the coastline of Shikoku – a Japanese island about the size of Long Island in New York State – there are hundreds of offshore isles, rock outcroppings, uninhabited islands, and several islands with fewer than 100 residents.
In the planning of Swim Shikoku – an 88-day stage swim planned for July 2026 – I am swimming in various locations around the island to get a better feel for the conditions and situations in which I will encounter. This week’s Reconnaissance Tour #3 was primarily conducted in Tokushima which lies facing the Pacific Ocean and has taken a heavy brunt of seasonal typhoons for millennia.
Swimming around islands is always an adventure – especially when you can circumnavigate many little ones – like the dozens that exist between the towns of Toyo and Kaiyō in Tokushima Prefecture. In particular, I was able to cruise around the exposed terrestrial points. It was an enjoyable morning spent open water orienteering to and around a number of outcroppings sandwiched near Takega Island, escorted by legendary kayaker Masaaki Sugimoto of Outdoor Sports Square (@outdoor_sports_square).
Although it was an overcast day with rain in the forecast, the ocean in the Takegashima Underwater Park within the Muroto Anan National Park offers all kinds of coral reefs and colorful tropical fish for the ocean swimmer to appreciate.
I started at the Marine Jam Museum of the Takegashima Underwater Park – which is the start of the annual Tokushima Kaiyō Open Water Swim (とくしま海陽オープンウォータースイム) that offers 2 races around these islands: 2.1 km and 3.7 km.
The marine neighborhood is known domestically in Japan for its many surfing competitions and small guest inns that house surfers, fishermen, and the many pilgrims who challenge themselves to the Shikoku Pilgrimage, a 1,200 km walk to the 88 temples around the island.
It was very cool to spend the evening talking with the local surfers, swimmers, and pilgrims each of whom was staying in rooms named after famous surf spots, and bonding over a hearty Japanese meal.
© 2025 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shoreline“
World Open Water Swimming Federation, a human-powered project.