The REAL Monkey Island

[arj0n]

The Real Monkey Island...

Maybe some of you know, maybe not, but Monkey Island does exist in real life!

Geography:
It lies in the land of the rising sun, japan.
Just in the bay near Tokyo lies several islands.
One of them is called Sarushima Island.
Among the other islands, Sarushima Island is the only natural formed island.

Here a picture of Sarushima Island from the air, you see the forest covered island, with a nice beach at the right:


Geo History:
A long time ago Sarushima Island was called "Toshima Island".
At that time there were more islands among Sarushima Island:
For example Kasajima Island, Hirashima Island, Takogaijima Island and more.
All together there ware 10 islands.
Thats probably the reason that they called one of them "Toshima Island".
Toshima means litterly "10 islands".

From the days of the Meiji period, all the other islands are lost because of several projects of government and industry, leaving only Sarushima Island still existing today.

History:
In April 1253 Nichiren, the priest that the branch of Nichiren Buddhism has founded, wanted to sail from the country Kasuza to Kamakura, but he fell into a storm. The priest began to pray and sing to the Holy Dragon god of the sea. Miraculously the huge dragon appeared and the water was calm again. However, the captain had no idea where he was and got off course. The legend goes that at that time a White Monkey on the bow of the boat appeared and led them to an island, this island was therefor called Sarushima Island (and in English: Monkey Island). When Nichiren came to the beach he saw a fisherman whose feet were hurt by the spines of the sea snail. He sang a prayer, and ever since then the sea snails had no longer spines And even now, as you will find on the beaches, you'll only find shells of the sea snail without spines...

The island has for a long time been used for military purposes mainly to defend themselves from the Western visitors. At that time the island got another name: Fortified Island".
There were lot's of canons and walls around these canons. Remains are still on they island. These walls has been build in the mini jungle of Tabunoki trees and therefor not visible from outside the island.
Because the emphasis of war was now laid on fighting in the air instead of at sea the canons were of no use anymore. The island was left in peace again. But in 1942 there were build 5 new constructions and anti-air guns were placed upon these. But at the end they were dismantled by the Allies.

Map of the military structures on Sarushima Island:


Nowadays:
You can still pay a visit to go see the fortifications. Lot's of tunnels are going through the island and form connections with nearly each part of the island. These tunnels are cemented in the French style and still intact.
Nowadays couples walk through it, hand in hand, making it also know as the "tunnels of love'. A bit odd when you consider that it is built for war...

One of these tunnels:


Sarushima Island aka Monkey Island has now changed into a tourist spot.
Have a look at this tourists map with hotspots of Sarushima Island/Monkey Island:


Sources: translated from adventure-island.nl

[Chicky]

But there's no talk of a giant monkey head!

[arj0n]

Neither is a three headed monkey...

[Anian]

I'm still amzed at this island called Hashima or "Battleship island":
http://vice.typepad.com/vice_magazine/2009/04/japan-my-trip-to-battleship-island.html
(I know it's a bit off topic, but if that isn't a real life horror setting, I don't know what is)

[m0ds]

Nice! Looks like a fun island! There's also a Monkey Island on the river thames, but looks less fun...

http://monkeyisland.co.uk/live/history

[arj0n]

There's also a Monkey Island on the river thames, but looks less fun...
http://monkeyisland.co.uk/live/history

Cool article Mods.
I was wondering why that island is called Monkey Island since it has nothing to do with monkey's except for the painting in the Monkey Room. but the name Monkey Island was already given before these paintings where created...

Well, the real name should have been Monk Island
Or Monks Eyot aka Monk Eyte aka Monk Ayt...

But I would really like to see the Monkey Room on that island:

Quote from the linked article:
Inside the Pavilion, the most intriguing feature is the suite of delightful Singerie paintings in the Monkey Room. These captivating scenes of monkeys engaged in rather human-like activities â€" shooting, fishing, smoking â€" were commissioned from the French artist Andieu de Clermont. They were completed some time before 1738.

[NsMn]

These captivating scenes of monkeys engaged in rather human-like activities â€" shooting, fishing, smoking â€" ...

Also including sailing a ship home? 

[magintz]

Nice! Looks like a fun island! There's also a Monkey Island on the river thames, but looks less fun...

http://monkeyisland.co.uk/live/history

Yea I was just about to mention this. It's about 10 miles or so from my house.

[arj0n]

Nice! Looks like a fun island! There's also a Monkey Island on the river thames, but looks less fun...
http://monkeyisland.co.uk/live/history

Yea I was just about to mention this. It's about 10 miles or so from my house.

Cool!
Have you actually been on that island?

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

The history of Monkey Island is actually pretty interesting, m0ds.  H.G. Wells used to stay there!

[arj0n]

Then he might have written "The World Set Free" being on that island [1912-1914]

[magintz]

Nice! Looks like a fun island! There's also a Monkey Island on the river thames, but looks less fun...
http://monkeyisland.co.uk/live/history

Yea I was just about to mention this. It's about 10 miles or so from my house.

Cool!
Have you actually been on that island?

A few times. There are plenty of trees and a hotel. Really un-impressive.

[Atelier]

This reminds me of another Japanese island I read about some time ago. Hashima Island is built upon a huge coal deposit, and so it was an ideal place to site a mine.

The employers built housing on the island to domicile their workers, and Hashima Island was born, soon becoming richer and bigger. It had everything of a city - cinemas, surgeries, shops, swimming pools, if you can name it then Hashima had it. Generations grew up there which had sailed from the mainland. It was linked underground by an extensive network of tunnels. At its peak Hashima was the most densely populated city upon the world.

But Hashima stopped growing after the war and started to fall apart, after the owners announced the mine would be closed down. The workers were made redundant and so moved off Hashima, and without a community the shopkeepers, lifeguards, doctors, and usherettes moved away too.

This didn't mean it was knocked down. Still today on Hashima island is the compact city that was once thriving, although heavily dilapidated. It must be so eerie to walk through the empty and black tunnels, or visit the cold flats and offices. It's one of the few modern day ghost cities.

And for good measure here's the Earth image:

[arj0n]

Isn't that the island with that sort of ghost town?

[Anian]

This reminds me of another Japanese island I read about some time ago. Hashima Island is built upon a huge coal deposit, and so it was an ideal place to site a mine.

Darn, I got the island name wrong somehow, that's the one I posted here about.
(scroll up)

[arj0n]

This reminds me of another Japanese island I read about some time ago. Hashima Island is built upon a huge coal deposit, and so it was an ideal place to site a mine.

Darn, I got the island name wrong somehow, that's the one I posted here about.
(scroll up)

Nope, you didn't got it wrong.
Freaky island indeed...

[Atelier]

Woops, sorry. Coupled with the fact I read it a long time ago I didn't read any of the other posts.

[DanielH]

Brittens 2012- Monkey Island Hotel, River Thames.

Think about it.

[Stupot]

How about Skull Island ( 48.6394, -122.985 ) in the rather creepily named Massacre Bay?

[Ghost]

Isn't that the island with that sort of ghost town?

Can't be. I live in Germany.

(ouch, that was a weak one)