Shimoshima (下島, Shimoshima) is the largest island in the Amakusa archipelago. Its coasts are washed by Ariake Sea, Amakusa-nada sea, East China Sea and Yatsushiro Sea. Most of Shimoshima Island is administered as part of Amakusa city, with 67 km2 patch on north-west coast belonging to the town of Reihoku. The island's highest peak is Mount Tenjiku 538.4 m (1,766 ft).
The public transportation inside the island is provided by the extensive bus network with the hub in Hondo Bus Center near the bridge to the mainland.[1]
At least five ferry lines also connect the Shimoshima island to other islands in Kagoshima, Kumamoto and Nagasaki prefectures.
Climate
Shimoshima Island is located in the humid subtropical climate zone (KöppenCfa), with four distinct seasons. During the winter, the higher elevations see some snowfall, but the lower, populated areas seldom do. Spring in Shimoshima Island starts off mild, but ends up being hot and humid. The summer tends to be Shimoshima's wettest season, with the tsuyu (梅雨, tsuyu, "plum rain") — the rainy season — occurring between early June (average:Jun.7) to late July (average:Jul.21). The island's weather is affected by the nearby Liman current [ja] while being shielded from the warm Kuroshio Current by a part of the Kyushu island, resulting in wetter and colder climate than should be expected at lower 30's latitudes.
