There are 140 islands, including five main ones: Fukue Island, Hisaka Island, Naru Island, Wakamatsu Island, and Nakadōri Island. The group of islands runs approximately end-to-end; its center is at. To the north is Tsushima Island in the Tsushima Strait and to the east is Kyūshū and the rest of Nagasaki Prefecture. It is about from the port of Nagasaki. The Tsushima Current passes around the islands. The southern of the two principal islands, Fukue, measures approximately north-to-south by east-to-west; the northern, Nakadōri Island, measures approximately north-to-south by east-to-west at its widest point. Most of Nakadōri Island, however, is quite narrow, measuring less than wide for much of its length. Some dome-shaped hills command the old castle town of Fukue. The islands are highly cultivated; deer and other game abound, and trout are plentiful in the mountain streams. As a result of a merger on August 1, 2004, the city of Gotō was established. It occupies Fukue, Hisaka, and Naru islands, and seven inhabited ones. The town of Shin-Kamigotō, itself the product of a simultaneous, separate merger in 2004, occupies Nakadōri and Wakamatsu islands, two of the five main islands of the Gotō archipelago, in addition to the small inhabited islands of Arifuku, Kashiragashima, Hinoshima, Ryōzegaura, and Kirinoko and a great number of uninhabited islets. The small island of Kabajima is east of Hisaka Island and northeast of Fukue Island. It belongs to Gotō City.
Demographics
An important historical element is the roots of Christianity in Japan within the islands. Some of the inhabitants are descended from Christians of the Catholic Church, who came to their faith upon the introduction of Christianity to Japan via Portuguese missionaries in the late 16th century. These Japanese were many times persecuted and tortured by the Japanese shogunates for their beliefs, all the way into the early Meiji period. Until recently Hanare Kirishitans still lived there; the majority either returned to Catholicism after it was legalized in the 19th century or reverted to earlier practices. The islands have numerous Catholic churches, the oldest and most famous of which is Dōzaki church, built in 1868 and located about north of Fukue port.
Products
Marine products, such as oysters and sea urchins, are the main products of the island. Natural camellia oil of Fukuejima is famous in Japan for cosmetic use. Cankoro-mochi, simple and traditional confectionary made from mochi and sliced and dried sweet potato is a kind of "soul food" for Goto natives. Cancoro-mochi is a good, inexpensive souvenir. It becomes sweeter when sliced and toasted in a toaster oven.
Tourism
Fukue city is a typical jokamachi in Japan, but the most interesting point is that the old castle in Fukue was built last in Japanese history. The year after the castle was completed, Japan opened their nation because of the Meiji Restoration. Today, the castle is used as the Goto high school and is contributing to the education of young Goto natives. Most of the castle area inside the stone walls are opened for public, you'll be able to see even the school grounds if you ask for permission from the school administration office.
Transportation
The Gotō-Fukue Airport is on Fukue Island. Ferry services from Nagasaki and Sasebo are offered by Kyusyu Shosen Co. Ltd. Both standard ferry and hydrofoil services operate. There are also regular bus services on Fukue island.
