Iki is located in the Tsushima Strait, approximately 80 kilometres (43 nmi) west of Fukuoka on mainland Kyushu. The city consists of five inhabited and 17 uninhabited islands, and its entire area is within the Iki-Tsushima Quasi-National Park.
Climate
Climate data for Isida, Iki (2003−2020 normals, extremes 2003−present)
Following the Meiji restoration, Iki became part of Nagasaki Prefecture, and was organized into Iki District and Ishida District, with a total of 22 villages. These were consolidated into 12 villages by 1889, and Ishida District was abolished in 1896. Mushozu was raised to town status in 1925, followed by Katsumoto in 1935 and Takawa in 1947. Gonoura was established in 1955, and Takawa was renamed Ashibe. Ishida was raised to town status in 1970.
The island has abundant groundwater reserves, and agriculture is widely practiced by the local inhabitants. Rice and tobacco are the primary cash crops. Commercial fishing and whaling, once the mainstay of the local economy, have been largely restricted since the 1980s, although sea urchin, sardine, mackerel, abalone and kombu are harvested. Tourism is a growing sector of the local economy.
Transportation
Iki Island has ferry terminals in Ashibe, Ishida and Gōnoura, which connect Iki to mainland Japan. Located on the east coast Iki Airport (IKI/RJDB) connects the island to Nagasaki. Japan National Route 382 connects the hamlets of the island together, and the bus company "Iki-kotsu" provides for public transport.