Amami Oshima Island, the center of the Amami Islands consisting of eight islands, has a subtropical landscape with virgin mangrove forests. Fishing, sea kayaking, diving, and other active activities are available on the island.
At Amami Oshima Tsumugi Village, visitors can observe and experience the entire process of making Oshima Tsumugi, the traditional silk produced on the island, from dyeing to weaving. The park is surrounded by subtropical plants and is dotted with mud dyeing fields, a dyeing and weaving pavilion, and a crafts pavilion. How about tasting Amami chicken rice, a local dish, with brown sugar shochu, which is produced only here?
Yurigahama Beach is one of the most enchanting natural attractions on Yoron Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. Located approximately 1.5 kilometers offshore from Oganeku Beach, this beautiful stretch of white sand emerges from the turquoise sea only when the tide recedes. Because it appears and disappears with the tides, Yurigahama is often described as a phantom island, offering visitors a rare opport...»
Shoryu Cave is a large limestone cave in Kagoshima Prefecture, renowned for its impressive stalactites, flowstone formations, and underground scenery. The cave is described as having formed approximately 300 million years ago and is designated as a Natural Monument of Kagoshima Prefecture. Discovered in 1963, the cave has a total length of approximately 3,500 meters. Of this, a section of around ...»
Keihan is one of the signature traditional dishes of Amami Oshima in Kagoshima Prefecture. At first glance, it may resemble ochazuke, a Japanese dish in which tea or broth is poured over rice. However, Keihan offers a much richer combination of flavors and colors. Warm rice is topped with shredded steamed chicken, thin strips of cooked egg, shiitake mushrooms simmered in a sweet-and-savory season...»
Amami plums are a distinctive fruit grown in the warm climate of the Amami Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture. Compared with plums grown on mainland Japan, they are characterized by their deeper color and more intense flavor. At approximately 4 centimeters in diameter, they are small, peach-like fruits with an appealing sweet-and-sour taste. Their skin turns a deep purple color as they ripen, giving...»
Hiru Agi is a traditional home-style dish from the Amami Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture. It is a hearty stir-fry with a wonderful garlic aroma and is loved as an energy-boosting meal. The name comes from two words: hiru, meaning garlic, and agi, meaning to stir-fry. As its name suggests, garlic leaves are the main ingredient, giving the dish its distinctive fragrance....»
Pickled green papaya is a distinctive tropical pickle enjoyed in Okinawa and the Amami Islands. Instead of waiting for papaya to ripen and become sweet and soft, the fruit is harvested while still green and firm, then thinly sliced and soaked in a pickling liquid made with ingredients such as Okinawan-style brown sugar and vinegar. The result is a wonderfully crisp pickle with a refreshing sweet-...»
A Refreshing Aroma, Gentle Mouthfeel, and Clean Finish Lento is a refined and easy-to-drink brown sugar shochu created through a combination of Amami Oshima’s natural environment and a distinctive production method. Its name comes from the musical term lento, meaning “slowly,” symbolizing the spirit’s gradual maturation over time. It is characterized by a refreshing aroma, a gentle mouthfeel, and...»
Brown sugar shochu from Amami is a distinctive Japanese distilled spirit that may be produced only on five islands in the Amami Archipelago. Each island has its own characteristic production methods, and the shochu made on each has a different personality and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Most traditional shochu is made primarily from starchy ingredients such as sweet potatoes and grains. ...»
A Fruit Grown under the Abundant Southern Sunshine Passion fruit, grown under the abundant sunshine of the tropics, is one of Kagoshima Prefecture's signature tropical fruits. Kagoshima ranks first in Japan in both production volume and cultivated area. The fruit is carefully cultivated in the prefecture's warm climate and rich natural environment. On the mainland, it is grown using heated cultiv...»
A Traditional Amami Dish Similar to Okinawan Somen Champuru Abura somen is a traditional local dish enjoyed throughout the Amami Islands. Similar to Okinawa’s somen champuru, this comforting noodle dish is a familiar part of everyday home cooking in the region and is also popular with visitors. Although its preparation is simple, it offers a rich and distinctive flavor that reflects the food cult...»
Hiruagi is a traditional home-style dish from the Amami Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture. It is a simple yet satisfying stir-fry made with garlic leaves, pork belly, carrots, shirataki noodles, and kamaboko fish cake. The name comes from two words: hiru, meaning garlic, and agi, meaning to stir-fry. Together, they describe a dish in which garlic leaves are the main ingredient. Hiruagi is an affor...»
Papaya is widely known as a tropical fruit, but in the Amami Islands of Kagoshima Prefecture, it has traditionally been enjoyed in another form: as a pickle. Rather than eating the fruit when fully ripe, local cooks use young, unripe papaya as a vegetable. It is pickled and served as a side dish, a snack with tea, or an accompaniment to alcoholic drinks. One popular preparation uses a seasoning ...»
Kakaran Dango is a traditional sweet from Kagoshima Prefecture, made by wrapping rice cakes containing ingredients such as azuki beans and Japanese mugwort in fragrant leaves of the sarsaparilla family. It is a familiar local confection, particularly associated with the Boys' Festival in May, when it is often enjoyed alongside another Kagoshima specialty, akumaki. This type of herb rice cake is m...»
Pork Miso is a traditional preserved side dish from Kagoshima Prefecture. Made by slowly mixing and cooking pork, miso, and sugar, it has long been enjoyed as an accompaniment to rice. Recipes and flavors differ from household to household, and the dish has been passed down as a familiar “taste of home.” In particular, versions made with Kagoshima Kurobuta pork and brown sugar have a rich, mellow...»
A Rare Natural Vinegar Made on Kakeroma Island Kakeroma Sugarcane Vinegar is a traditional naturally brewed vinegar that has been made for generations on Kakeroma Island, one of the Amami Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture. Made from sugarcane grown in the island's rich natural environment and slowly matured over an extended period, it is considered so precious that it is sometimes called a “rare vi...»
Narimiso is a traditional miso that has been made for generations on Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima in Kagoshima Prefecture. It is an unusual fermented food made using the seeds of the cycad, a plant known in Japanese as sotetsu. The word “nari” is an Amami dialect term for cycad seeds. The seeds turn a vivid red when ripe, giving the miso its name. Narimiso has a distinctive, slightly bitter tast...»
Amami Park is a major tourism and cultural facility located in Amami City. It serves as an important visitor center for the Amami Islands and is a popular destination for tourists who want to discover the region's natural environment, history, and culture....»
Kuroshio Forest Mangrove Park is a multipurpose park located in Yakugachi, Sumiyo-cho, Amami City, Kagoshima Prefecture. It is known for its rich natural environment and historical significance, and offers visitors opportunities to experience the distinctive landscape and ecosystem of the Amami Islands....»
Ohama Seaside Park is located in Amami City, in the central part of Amami Oshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. Situated within Amami Gunto National Park, it is known for its rich natural environment, beautiful coastal scenery, and spectacular sunsets. The park is a popular destination for both local residents and visitors. Its combination of a sandy beach, green lawns, marine exhibition facilitie...»
Tanaka Isson’s Final Residence is located in Ariya, Naze, Amami City, Kagoshima Prefecture. It is the house where the Japanese-style painter Tanaka Isson spent the final days of his life. Today, the site offers visitors an opportunity to reflect on the life and artistic journey of a painter whose work became widely appreciated only after his death. Isson is particularly associated with Amami Oshi...»
Amami City is located on Amami Oshima, in the central part of the Nansei Islands of Kagoshima Prefecture. It was established on March 20, 2006, through the merger of Naze City, Kasari Town in Oshima District, and Sumiyo Village. Today, it serves as the economic and industrial center of Amami Oshima and is the largest municipality among Kagoshima Prefecture's remote island communities....»
Tatsugo Town is located on Amami Oshima in Oshima District, Kagoshima Prefecture. Facing both the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, the town is known for its rich natural environment, beautiful coastline, and distinctive history. Visitors can enjoy subtropical forests, quiet beaches, traditional crafts, and cultural events that reflect the heritage of the Amami Islands....»
Uken Village is located on the southwestern coast of Amami Oshima in Kagoshima Prefecture. Blessed with a rich natural environment, the village is centered around the deeply indented Yakeuchi Bay, along whose shores 14 settlements are scattered. The combination of beautiful coastal scenery, forested mountains, and traditional island culture makes Uken an appealing destination for visitors wishing ...»
Yamato Village is located in the southern part of Amami Oshima, in Oshima District, Kagoshima Prefecture. It is a peaceful destination where visitors can experience the island's abundant natural environment, historical heritage, and traditional culture. The village has beautiful coastlines, forested mountains, waterfalls, and historic sites that offer a glimpse into the distinctive character of th...»
Oshima Strait is a scenic waterway in Setouchi Town, Oshima District, Kagoshima Prefecture. It lies between the southwestern coast of Amami Oshima and the northeastern coast of Kakeroma Island. Also known simply as “Setouchi,” the strait is renowned for its beautiful seascapes and rich natural environment....»
Kakeroma Island is one of the principal islands of the Amami Islands, located just south of Amami Oshima in Setouchi Town, Oshima District, Kagoshima Prefecture. It is known for its rugged ria coastline, beautiful white sandy beaches formed from coral, and exceptionally clear blue waters, often called “Kakeroma Blue.” The island also has a strong connection with Japanese cinema. It was one of the...»
Setouchi Town is located in the Amami Islands of Kagoshima Prefecture. It is an area where visitors can experience beautiful natural scenery, historical sites, and traditional local culture. The town covers the southern part of Amami Oshima and includes several outlying islands, such as Kakeroma Island, Uke Island, and Yoro Island. Its distinctive landscape and island atmosphere make it an appeali...»
Tokunoshima Town is located in the eastern part of Tokunoshima, one of the Amami Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture's southwestern island chain. The island is divided into three municipalities, and Tokunoshima Town is one of them. With its rich natural environment and distinctive local culture, the town offers visitors a variety of places to explore and experiences to enjoy. Bullfighting is particul...»
Kikai Town occupies the whole of Kikaijima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture’s Oshima District. The island is made up of uplifted coral reefs, and much of it lies within Amami Gunto National Park. Since habu snakes do not inhabit the island, many traditional coral-stone walls remain well preserved....»
Amagi Town is located in the northwestern part of Tokunoshima, one of the Amami Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture. It is one of the three municipalities on the island and belongs to Oshima District. Blessed with a warm climate and abundant natural scenery, the town offers visitors a variety of attractions, including dramatic coastal landscapes, caves, historical sites, and traditional cultural event...»
Isen Town is located on Tokunoshima, one of the Amami Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture. Known as a town of longevity and bullfighting, it is the birthplace of people who were once recognized as among the world's oldest, including Shigechiyo Izumi and Kamato Hongo. The town's beautiful natural environment and distinctive traditional culture make it an interesting destination for visitors exploring t...»
Wadomari Town occupies the eastern half of Okinoerabu Island in Kagoshima Prefecture. Located in Oshima District, the town is known for its distinctive history, beautiful natural environment, and the relaxed atmosphere of a southern island. Its coastline, coral limestone landscapes, historical sites, and cultural facilities offer visitors plenty to explore....»
China Town (知名町, China-chō) is located on the western half of Okinoerabu Island in Kagoshima Prefecture's Amami Islands. Known for its beautiful coastline, dramatic limestone cliffs, and spectacular underground caves, the town offers visitors an opportunity to experience the island's distinctive natural environment and local culture....»
Shoryudo Cave (昇竜洞) is a limestone cave in China Town, on Okinoerabu Island in Kagoshima Prefecture. Discovered in 1963, it is one of the island's most remarkable natural attractions. Its spectacular stalactites, illuminated underground passages, and fascinating archaeological discoveries make it a memorable destination for visitors interested in geology and history....»
Yoron Town is located on Yoron Island, at the southernmost end of Kagoshima Prefecture. Situated approximately 563 kilometers south of mainland Kagoshima and about 23 kilometers north of Okinawa's main island, it is part of the Amami Islands in Oshima District. With a population of approximately 5,000, this small island community is known for its beautiful beaches, clear waters, distinctive tradit...»
Yoron Island is the southernmost island of Kagoshima Prefecture, located at the southern edge of the Amami Islands. With a coastline of approximately 23.7 kilometers and an area of 20.58 square kilometers, it is a compact island with an abundance of natural attractions and opportunities for outdoor activities. Its white beaches, clear blue sea, coral reefs, and distinctive cultural heritage make i...»
Tokunoshima is an island in the Amami Islands, located near the center of Japan's Nansei Islands. Administratively, it belongs to Oshima District in Kagoshima Prefecture and is divided into three municipalities: Tokunoshima Town, Isen Town, and Amagi Town. Known for its rich natural environment, distinctive wildlife, and remarkable longevity among its residents, Tokunoshima is often called the “G...»
Amami Oshima is one of the principal islands of the Amami Islands, located roughly midway between Kagoshima City in southern Kyushu and the main island of Okinawa. Known for its magnificent natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage, it is a popular destination for travelers seeking pristine forests, beautiful beaches, and distinctive island traditions. The island is famous for sandy beaches w...»
Kikai Island is a remote island in Kagoshima Prefecture, located at the northeastern edge of the Amami Islands. Situated roughly halfway between Kagoshima City and Okinawa's main island, it is known for its distinctive uplifted coral landscape, beautiful coastal scenery, and long history. Its quiet villages, sugarcane fields, archaeological sites, and traditional island culture make it an appealin...»
Yoro Island is a small, scenic island in the Amami Islands of Kagoshima Prefecture, located south of Kakeroma Island. Covering just 9.35 square kilometers, it is the smallest inhabited island in the Amami Islands. Despite its size, Yoro Island offers beautiful coral reefs, quiet beaches, subtropical vegetation, and a distinctive traditional village landscape. One of the island's most remarkable f...»
Okinoerabu Island is a beautiful island in the southwestern part of the Amami Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture. Known for its subtropical scenery, uplifted coral reefs, spectacular limestone caves, and long cultural history, it offers visitors a distinctive combination of natural wonders and historical attractions. The island is particularly famous for its extensive cave systems, including the imp...»