九十九島

Kujukushima, whose name means "ninety-nine islands," is a coastal area within Saikai National Park where more than 200 small islands rise from the sea. The name refers to a great number rather than an exact count, and the islands are said to have one of the highest island densities in Japan. Most of them are uninhabited and covered in greenery, and the area belongs to a club of the world's most beautiful bays. The main gateway is Kujukushima Pearl Sea Resort near Sasebo, which runs sightseeing cruises, an aquarium and boat activities. Cruise boats such as the Pearl Queen take visitors among the islands, and nearby hilltop observatories give wide views over the seascape.