The Amami Islands are islands located between Kagoshima and Okinawa at a latitude of 28 degrees and comprises eight inhabited isles, Amami Oshima, Kakeromajima, and Ukejima, Yoroshima, Kikaijima, Tokunoshia, Okinoerabujima, and Yoron. Amami Oshima has Japan’s largest subtropical laurel forest inhabited by a wide variety of rare animals, including the purple jay and Amami rabbit, and the biodiversity and rarity of its mangrove and the earth’s northernmost existing coral reefs are drawing international attention.
The Amami Gunto National Park, created in March 2017, has been designated Japan’s 34th national park.
Use your five senses thoroughly to experience the charms of the Amami Islands with diverse nature and culture, through kayaking in the mangroves, trekking through the virgin forest, enjoying water sports, and relishing the islands’ history and food.
The Amami Islands are islands located between Kagoshima and Okinawa at a latitude of 28 degrees and comprises eight inhabited isles, Amami Oshima, Kakeromajima, and Ukejima, Yoroshima, Kikaijima, Tokunoshia, Okinoerabujima, and Yoron. Amami Oshima has Japan’s largest subtropical laurel forest inhabited by a wide variety of rare animals, including the purple jay and Amami rabbit, and the biodiversity and rarity of its mangrove and the earth’s northernmost existing coral reefs are drawing international attention.
The Amami Gunto National Park, created in March 2017, has been designated Japan’s 34th national park.
Use your five senses thoroughly to experience the charms of the Amami Islands with diverse nature and culture, through kayaking in the mangroves, trekking through the virgin forest, enjoying water sports, and relishing the islands’ history and food.
Find gorgeous scenery created by rich nature that varies by how the islands came into being.
Sunrise over Ujiji Beach（Okinoerabujima）
The first light of dawn over the island’s unusual coral rock formations creates stunning scenery.
Immerse in the islands’ culture, listening to shima’uta passed down in the villages.
Shima’uta (island songs)
Shima’uta sung in falsetto while playing the Amami sanshin is sung daily and is something the islanders cannot do without.
Experience with the five senses the lush forests and coral reefs nurtured by unique ecosystems.
Mangrove canoeing (Amami Oshima)
Savor nature with the whole body, exploring the natural waterways formed at low tide in a canoe.
Water sports
You can enjoy various water sports such as SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding) and snorkeling for experiencing the beautiful ocean of the Amami Islands.
Nature experience in Kinsakubaru primeval forest (Amami Oshima)
The old woodland retains many wild subtropical broad-leafed trees. It is dense with subtropical plants such as the massive brush pot tree and is the habitat for rare animals such as national natural treasures, the purple jay, and Amami rabbit.
*The Kinsakubaru primeval forest experience requires a local guide.
Learn the Amami Islands’ history created by the crosspollination of Yamato and Ryukyu cultures.
Bullfight（Tokunoshima）
Tokunoshima’s bullfight with a 500-year-old history is an annual event that represents the island. The thrilling event will have you see up-close massive 700kg to 1-ton bulls clashing.
Oshima tsumugi mud-dye experience (Amami Oshima)
Amami Oshima’s traditional Oshima tsumugi mud-dye experience will let you learn the history and intricacy of the process of making Oshima tsumugi, which has distinctive colors and textures.
Amami Park (Amami Oshima)
You can learn about Amami’s nature, history, and culture at Amami-no-Sato on site. There is also a memorial art museum dedicated to the artist Isson Tanaka, who depicted Amami.
Enjoy the various culinary delights nurtured by the culture of each island and made with tropical ingredients.
Chicken rice
The dish was created as a treat. Amami’s classic dish is enjoyed by topping rice with chicken and so on and lashings of chicken soup.
Brown sugar shochu
The Amami Islands are the only places in Japan permitted to produce the sugar cane spirit.
Braised pork on the bone
Pork on the bone braised slowly with brown sugar has a markedly mellow sweetness.
