| Hikoshima | |
| Map: | Japan |
| Native Name: | 彦島 Hikoshima |
| Native Name Link: | Japanese language |
| Location: | East China Sea |
| Coordinates: | 33.9372°N 130.9144°W |
| Area Km2: | 10.58 |
| Length Km: | 5.7 |
| Width Km: | 2 |
| Highest Mount: | mount |
| Elevation M: | 111.8 |
| Country: | Japan |
| Country Admin Divisions Title: | Prefecture |
| Country Admin Divisions: | Yamaguchi Prefecture |
| Country Admin Divisions Title 1: | city |
| Country Admin Divisions 1: | Shimonoseki |
| Population: | 30182 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Density Km2: | 2853 |
| Ethnic Groups: | Japanese |
(also called in Nihon Shoki) is an island on the south-west tip of Honshu, Japan.
The island is irregularly shaped and hilly. The strait, as narrow as 40m (130feet), separates the island from the main island of Honshu. The parts of sprawling city of Shimonoseki occupy most of the island, making it the most populous minor island in Yamaguchi Prefecture, albeit only sixth in size by area.
The island is connected to the Japanese mainland of Honshu by three bridges, one above ship lock. Kanmon Railway Tunnel connects island to Kyushu, but San'yō Main Line has no stop-overs on island, nearby station being the Shimonoseki Station in the downtown area.[1] Also, bridge connection exist to the small on the north-western tip of the Hikoshima.
The island was inhabited since prehistory, as evidenced by petroglyphs found in 1918.[2] Following the Battle of Dan-no-ura, the refugees from the Taira clan has migrated to island and set the basis for the local agriculture. The island was an important site of Shimonoseki Campaign in 1863-1864 when it was much feared the island would become the Japanese variant of Hong Kong.[3] The island industrialization began in 1924 with the building of ammonium sulphate plant with German license in 1924.[4] Currently island is heavily populated and industrialized, including shipyard[5] and titanium&zinc smelter.[6]