is the northernmost island in the Geiyo Islands chain accommodating Nishiseto Expressway connecting Honshu and Shikoku islands. Its coasts are washed by Seto Inland Sea. The island's highest peak is high.
Geography The Mukaishima is a pear-shaped island and separated from the Honshu mainland by a 200-meter wide strait.
History 1889 - municipalities of and covering the entire island are established. 1968 - bridges connecting the island to Onomichi and are completed. 1983 - Innoshima bridge is completed. 1991 - the island becomes a filming ground for Chizuko's Younger Sister film directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi in 1991. 2005 - towns of the island are incorporated into Onomichi city. 2013 - cycling and hiking course of Mukaishima is completed.
Transportation The Mukaishima is connected to the mainland of Honshu and Innoshima islands by bridges of Nishiseto Expressway (Shimanami Kaidō). Bridge connection also exists to , and ferry is available to Fukuyama with a stopover at . The island is served by the national Route 317. The buses to Mukaishima can be taken from Hiroshima, Fukuyama or Onomichi cities.Mukaijima access
Economy and industry The Mukaishima Island is an important shipbuilding center, with several shipyards on the north of the island producing coastal vessels.Onomichi's maritime industries Also, Mukaishima Dockyard is the leading ship repair center in Japan, serving about 300 ships annually.
Notable residents - manager Kaiji Kawaguchi - manga author Mariko Yoshida - wrestler
See also Onomichi, Hiroshima Mukaishima, Hiroshima
References This article incorporates material from Japanese Wikipedia pages 向島町 and 向東町, accessed 4 September 2017