Itoshima (糸島市, Itoshima-shi) is a city located in western Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2024, the city had an estimated population of 103,655 in 46,192 households, and a population density of 480 persons per km². The total area of the city is 215.69 km (83.28 sq mi).

Itoshima is located on the Itoshima Peninsula at the northwestern edge of Fukuoka Prefecture. The northern and western ends face the Genkai Sea, and the eastern side borders Fukuoka City. It is a mountainous area with the Sefuri Mountains in the south, bordering Saga Prefecture, the southwest bordering Karatsu City, and the southeast bordering Saga City.

Fukuoka Prefecture

• Fukuoka

Saga Prefecture

• Karatsu
• Saga

Itoshima has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa). The average annual temperature in Itoshima is 16.4 °C (61.5 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,701.0 mm (66.97 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.6 °C (81.7 °F), and lowest in January, at around 6.2 °C (43.2 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Itoshima was 38.9 °C (102.0 °F) on 5 August 2017; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −4.7 °C (23.5 °F) on 28 February 1981.

Per Japanese census data, the population of Itoshima in 2020 is 98,877 people. Itoshima has been conducting censuses since 1920.

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1920 41,064 —     1925 43,103 +5.0% 1930 44,881 +4.1% 1935 44,823 −0.1% 1940 45,533 +1.6% 1945 60,260 +32.3% 1950 60,809 +0.9% 1955 62,021 +2.0% 1960 59,549 −4.0% 1965 56,863 −4.5% 1970 56,204 −1.2%	Year Pop. ±% 1975 59,697 +6.2% 1980 66,220 +10.9% 1985 73,649 +11.2% 1990 77,610 +5.4% 1995 88,691 +14.3% 2000 95,040 +7.2% 2005 97,974 +3.1% 2010 98,440 +0.5% 2015 96,475 −2.0% 2020 98,877 +2.5%
Itoshima population statistics

The area of Itoshima was part of ancient Chikuzen Province. From the large number of Yayoi Period ruins found in the town are and by its location and geography, it is assumed to be the location of ancient Itokoku mentioned in the Wajinden and other ancient Chinese records. During the Edo period, the area was part of Fukuoka Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the villages of Fukuyoshi, Fukae, Ichikisan, Nagaihon (renamed Nagaito in 1892), Kafuri, Raiyama, Ito, Maehara, Hatae, Kaya, Kofuji, Keya, Nokita, and Sakurai were established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Maehara was raised to town status on September 15, 1901 and annexed Hatae and Kafuri on April 1, 1931. On January 1, 1955 Maebaru annexed Raiyama and Nagaito, followed by Ido on April 1 of the same year. Kaya, Sakurano, Kofuji, and Keya merged on January 1, 1955 to form the village of Shima, which became town on April 1, 1965. Likewise Ichikiyama, Fukae, and merged on January 1, 1955 to form the village of Nijo, which became town on April 1, 1965. Maebaru was raised to city status on October 1, 1992. Maebaru annexed Shima and Nijo on April 16, 2009 and was renamed Itoshima.

Itoshima has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Itoshima contributes two members to the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Fukuoka 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

The economy of Itoshima is centered on agriculture, commercial fishing and tourism. There is one industrial park. An increasing proportion of the local workforce commutes to neighboring Fukuoka.

• Kurume Institute of Technology
• Kurume Shin-Ai Women's College
• Kurume University
  • Kurume University Hospital Archived 2019-07-01 at the Wayback Machine
• St.Mary's College

Itoshima has 16 public elementary schools and six public junior high schools operated by the city government and two public high schools operated by the Fukuoka Prefectural Board of Education. Kyushu University and Nishi-nippon Junior College have campuses in Itoshima.

JR Kyushu - Chikuhi Line

JK Hatae - Itoshimakōkō-mae - Chikuzen-Maebaru - Misakigaoka - Kafuri - Ikisan - Chikuzen-Fukae - Dainyū - Fukuyoshi - Shikaka

• Nishi-Kyūshū Expressway
• National Route 202

• Asakura Sue Ware Kiln Sites
• Ikisan Chōshizuka Kofun
• Ito Castle ruins
• Kamatsuka Kofun
• Mikumo-Iwara Site
• Raizan Kōgoishi
• Shinmachi Dolmen Cluster
• Shito Dolmen Cluster
• Sone Sites

Itoshima is known for its seaside resorts, beaches, and natural beauty. It is a popular site for surfing and hiking. A summer music festival, Sunset Live, takes place each year.

• Dairoku Harada, Japanese archaeologist.
• Ryuji Ichioka, Japanese professional baseball player (Pitcher - Hiroshima Toyo Carp, Central League, Nippon Professional Baseball).
• Mariko Shinoda, Japanese singer, actress, fashion model, and former member of the Japanese idol group AKB48
• Mako "Hakata Speedster" Yamada, Japanese kickboxer and former boxer.

• Itoshima City official website (in Japanese)