Amami is home to Japans second largest mangrove forest, the Amami Mangrove Primeval Forest. The park is located on the eastern coast of Amami Oshima, and can be explored by canoe or boat. Guided tours are available from both the Mangrove Park and the nearby Mangrove Chaya. Sumiyo Mangrove Forest, which is the official name …
Cape Kasarizaki (笠利崎) is the northern-most point of Amami Oshima. Kasarizaki lighthouse, which sits majestically at the top the hill, has historically played an important role for navigation in the area. There are great views over the sea and the beautiful hills and white beaches of the island. Known among locals as Yo Misaki, Kasarizaki …
The Heart Rock on Amami Oshima is a tidal pool, shaped like a heart. The spot has been popular for years, and is known as a power spot. It is a highly popular location for couples and good friends to take photos together. Located near the narrowest point on Amami Oshima is Amami’s Heart Rock. …
Amami Islands, or Amami-guntō as the archipelago is official named, is a beautiful group of islands, located about mid-way between Kyusuhu and Okinawa. Amami is part of the Ryukyu Islands, just like Okinawa, but it is technically a part of Kagoshima Prefecture in Kyushu. The climate, nature and landscape has many similarities with Okinawa, including …
While Yakushima is known for it’s amazing hiking, it is also known for it’s many rainy days. If you run into a rainy day, or just want to rest your legs and experience more of Yakushima than the deep forests, then this 1-day road trip around the circumference of the island is just for you. …
Yakusugi Land is a designated Natural Recreation Forest on Yakushima island. The park is covered in dense virgin forest with rivers, mountainsides, enormous thousand-year-old Yakusugi cedar trees and has five amazing hiking trails. There are trails suitable for every level. The ancient forest in Yakusugi Land is known for it’s serene nature. The burbles of …
Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine is probably the most popular destination in all of Yakushima. The park is known for it’s hiking trails through the deep and dark mountain forests, covered in moss and ferns, and home to the gigantic Yakushima cedar trees – some so large that the trail actually, physically, passes through the trees. The …
Jōmon Sugi (縄文杉), an enormous and several thousand years old cedar tree, is one of the main attractions on Yakushima. The tree, which is located deep in the mountain forest of Yakushima, is considered to be the oldest tree in Japan, and one of the oldest in the world. The actual age is unknown, but …
Oko-no-taki Waterfall (大川の滝) on the south-western side of Yakushima, is the tallest waterfall on the island. It is a spectacularly beautiful fall and has been included in the list of the 100 most beautiful waterfalls of Japan. Yakushima is home to more waterfalls than you can count, and at least a handful of really tall …
Mount Misen on Miyajima has for centuries attracted humans. The mountain has been considered sacred since at least the 9th century, and today remains a very important mountain for the shrines and temples in the area. There are multiple hiking trails, of different difficulties, on and around Mount Misen. Mount Misen isn’t a very high …
