Driving Electric Cars around the Emerald Isles of Goto

Nagasaki Prefecture's Nagasaki EV&ITS Consortium began shipping electric and hybrid cars to the islands nearly a decade ago, and now have an extensive fleet spread across the archipelago. This futuristic project makes for a fascinating contrast with the islands’ quiet and fairly rustic character. Although number of tourists are increasing each year, it isn't overflowing with tourists, therefore the island can still keep the beauty of its remote beaches or any historical relics of the kakure kirishitans (Hidden Christians).

Leaving aside the sci-fi vibe of exploring the islands by electric car—it’s just practical: the lack of infrastructure and public transit across most of the Goto Islands means that getting to some sites is nearly impossible without driving. Shutogashima Beach and Senjojiki (literally "a spread of one thousand tatami straw mats"), on the southern side of Naru Island is one of those places that was even more remote prior to the introduction of electric vehicles. Park the car and stroll along the pebbled beach, confident that you can experience the island on your own time (just be sure to watch for the tide coming in).

舅ケ島海水浴場

長崎県五島市奈留町舅ケ島

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Hisaka, between Fukue and Nara, despite its size, is far more rustic than either of its neighbors. On Hisaka, those who have reserved a car are met at the ferry and chauffeured to the paddock to pick out their electric cars. Once you’re behind the wheel, the trip out to the abandoned village of Zazare, a few miles north of the port, is easily accomplished.

Zazare Village has a history as a home for older Buddhist communities, as well as kakure kirishitans (Hidden Christians); now deserted, the haunting ruins of Zazare church and its graveyard still remain. Hisaka is rich with kakure kirishitans (Hidden Christians) sites, including the Old Gorin Church; and there is a stunning lookout at Origami Viewing Platform. If you want to see the most you can of this enchanting island in a single day, there’s no better way to do it than by EV. A single charge will usually last long enough to explore most of the island’s sites, but keep an eye on the gauges.

Old Gorin Church

Origami Viewing Platform

Former Gorin Church

Nagasaki Pref. Gotoushi Warabichou 993-11

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折紙展望台

長崎県五島市蕨町

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Fukue Island is one of the easier places to arrange a rental car, with several options, including Nissan in Fukue Ferry Terminal, and Ikeda Rentacar. Fukue has a more developed transit system but it’s still fairly rudimentary, and the island might look small on the map, but it makes sense to rent an EV to whiz around. Pack a lunch and roll out to Onidake, a volcanic dome not too far from the port.

The idea of introducing an EV fleet to the Goto Islands does not seem to make much practical sense—an archipelago not bound together yet by bridges, limited tourist infrastructure (relative to, say, Yakushima), fairly low numbers actually visiting the islands—until you get behind the wheel of a nimble Nissan electric car, with complete freedom to explore the lonely islands of Goto. The project, though, turned out to be the perfect marriage of futuristic green technology and the rhythms of a bygone way of life, bringing convenience to the islands without marring their beauty, letting visitors drive out to a remote beach while still being able to hear the sound of birdsong in the trees.

Nissan Rent-A-Car Fukue Minato Terminal

Nagasaki Goto-shi Higashihamamachi 2-3-1

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