Tonoshō, Kagawa

Tonoshō
土庄町
Town
Clockwise from left: historic town center, port of Tonoshō, Angel Road
Location of Tonoshō () in Kagawa Prefecture
Tonoshō
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°29′N 134°11′E / 34.483°N 134.183°E / 34.483; 134.183
CountryJapan
RegionShikoku
PrefectureKagawa Prefecture
DistrictShōzu
Government
  MayorYoshiyuki Okano
Area
  Total
74.38 km2 (28.72 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
12,915
  Density170/km2 (450/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address559-2 Kō, Tonoshō-chō, Shōzu-gun, Kagawa-ken
761-4192
Websitewww.town.tonosho.kagawa.jp (Japanese)
Symbols
FlowerAzalea
MascotOlive Shimachan
TreeUbame oak (Quercus phillyraeoides)

Tonoshō (土庄町, Tonoshō-chō) is a town and port in Shōzu District, Kagawa, Japan, with a population of 12,915. The town lies on the west coast of the island of Shōdoshima—the second-largest island in the Seto Inland Sea—and it is the main passenger access for the island. First settled around the 8th century, the town center grew into a complex maze of streets during the war-torn Muromachi period (1336–1573) to inhibit enemy forces. The town was officially incorporated in 1898, and today sesame oil, olives, sōmen noodles, fishing and tourism are important industries.

The town's jurisdiction totals 74.38 km2, covering historic Tonoshō and smaller settlements on western Shōdoshima, as well as Teshima, Odeshima, and other nearby islands.

The town is known as the setting of the manga and anime Teasing Master Takagi-san and is the creator's hometown. Tonoshō also participates in the regional Setouchi Triennale art festival, and several art installations are found in the area.