What to Do on Amami Oshima: A Complete Guide to World Natural Heritage Scenery, Food, and Accommodations

A rental car is the main way to get around Amami Oshima.
Local buses have limited routes and services, while attractions are scattered across a wide area of the island.
A car is therefore convenient for visiting several places efficiently without worrying about bus schedules.
It also lets you keep your luggage with you and explore at your own pace.
Several rental car companies operate near Amami Airport, and many provide transportation between the airport and their offices.
If driving is difficult, consider hiring a sightseeing taxi or joining a local tour that includes transportation.
Keep in mind that regular taxi fares can become expensive when traveling long distances across the island.

Ayamaru Cape is one of Amami's Ten Scenic Views and one of the island's best-known scenic destinations.
Located in Kasari, Amami City, at the northernmost end of Amami Oshima, the cape offers panoramic views of the cobalt-blue ocean and distant coral reefs from a small hill extending into the Pacific.
A subtropical grove of sago palms spreads out below, while the park also features recreational facilities such as a seawater pool and grass skiing.
The morning is particularly scenic, when the rising sun colors the ocean from the horizon and creates a striking view across the sea and sky.
About an 8-minute drive from Amami Airport, it is easy to reach and has an observation area, tourist information center, and café, making it a convenient first stop on your trip.

Ohama Seaside Park is a nature-rich coastal park with white sand and emerald-green water.
Its pristine beach has been selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Beaches and is suitable for swimming, snorkeling, and other activities.
Close to central Naze in Amami City, the park has walking paths, an observation deck, and a campground, offering a relaxing place to spend time by the sea.
Its greatest highlight is the sunset over the horizon.
Visit before sundown to watch the sea and sky turn orange.
The park is also home to plants and wild birds characteristic of Amami and is known as a nesting site for sea turtles.

Kinsakubaru is a primeval subtropical forest extending across the interior of Amami Oshima.
Located within the World Natural Heritage area, it is one of the island's most representative natural landscapes.
Many mature evergreen broadleaf and natural forests remain in the area, creating a dense, tropical landscape filled with flying spider-monkey tree ferns, itajii chinquapin trees, and needlewood trees.
The distinctive atmosphere is reminiscent of the age of dinosaurs, allowing visitors to experience Amami's ecosystem while walking through the forest.
A wide variety of plants and animals also live and grow here, including Lidth's jay, a nationally designated Natural Monument. If you are lucky, you may encounter wildlife along the way.

Honohoshi Coast in southern Amami Oshima is a distinctive shoreline covered entirely in rounded stones shaped by rough waves.
Unlike a typical white-sand beach, countless stones collide and make rumbling and rattling sounds each time the powerful Pacific waves reach the shore.
Unusual rock formations rise nearby, and the combination of rugged rock faces, rounded stones, and blue water creates a dramatic landscape.
The open setting becomes even more striking when visited at sunrise.
The spray and roar of the waves convey nature's powerful energy, and the coast is also popular as a spiritual destination.
Removing stones from the beach is prohibited, so be sure not to take any home.

Amami Park is a multipurpose tourist facility where visitors can learn about Amami's nature, history, and culture.
Located in Kasari, Amami City, about 5 minutes by car from Amami Airport, it centers on two facilities: Amami no Sato and the Tanaka Isson Memorial Museum of Art.
Amami no Sato uses videos and exhibits to clearly explain topics such as the ecosystems and industries of the Amami Islands.
At the adjacent Tanaka Isson Memorial Museum of Art, visitors can view works by Japanese-style painter Tanaka Isson, known for his distinctive artistic style.
Isson moved alone to Amami at the age of 50 and painted its subtropical plants and animals. His works offer a way not only to see Amami's nature but also to feel it.

One of Amami Oshima's most popular activities is canoeing through mangrove waterways.
Sumiyo, Amami City, is home to Japan's second-largest primeval mangrove forest after Iriomote Island, allowing visitors to experience subtropical nature from the water.
The scenery differs from what you would see on foot, creating the feeling of exploring a secluded wilderness.
Paddling beneath tunnel-like branches and foliage is particularly exciting. Look into the water or across the tidal flats, and you may spot mangrove wildlife such as fiddler crabs and mudskippers.
Beginners can also take part after receiving a brief lesson.

Night tours led by guides through forests and woodland roads after sunset offer a nighttime perspective on Amami Oshima's abundant nature.
A major attraction is the opportunity to observe nocturnal wildlife that is rarely seen during the day, including the endemic Amami rabbit, one of the species contributing to the island's World Natural Heritage value.
If you are lucky, you may also encounter animals such as the Amami spiny rat and Amami Ishikawa's frog.
Always follow the rules, such as avoiding approaching or chasing animals, for both your safety and the protection of the natural environment.

A variety of marine activities are available in the crystal-clear waters surrounding Amami Oshima.
Snorkeling, for example, lets you observe colorful fish and coral reefs underwater, and some tours may offer the chance to see sea turtles if the timing is right.
Stand-up paddleboarding is also popular, letting you glide across the water while standing on a board as if taking a walk on the sea.
Diving is another recommended option, offering close-up views of the area's distinctive underwater terrain and diverse ecosystems.
Several plans are available, from introductory diving for beginners to more advanced options, so you can choose one suited to your skill level and goals.

Tours are also recommended for travelers who want to experience Amami Oshima's nature and culture efficiently.
Some itineraries combine activities such as mangrove canoeing and nighttime wildlife observation with sightseeing in Kagoshima.
Another advantage is that transportation and accommodations can be arranged together.

Keihan is one of Amami Oshima's signature regional dishes.
It is said to have originated during the Edo period (1603–1868) as a dish for entertaining officials of the Satsuma Domain. Today, it is widely enjoyed as one of Amami's soul foods.
To prepare it, shredded chicken, thin strips of egg, pickled papaya, shiitake mushrooms, citrus peel, and other toppings are placed over white rice, followed by a generous serving of piping-hot chicken broth.
Easy to eat like ochazuke, its gentle broth aroma and colorful toppings express the character of Amami in both appearance and flavor.

Abura somen has long been enjoyed as a home-style dish on Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima.
Deeply rooted in island life, it is also served at events such as yuiwaku communal work gatherings, the Obon season, and Arasetsu in the eighth month of the traditional lunar calendar.
Although it resembles Okinawan somen champuru, the Amami style is made by stir-frying cooked somen noodles with other ingredients and finishing them with oil and dried sardine broth.
The savory flavors of pork, dried sardines, and small dried fish combine with the texture of vegetables to create a simple yet nuanced dish.

Brown sugar shochu is an authentic distilled spirit made from sugarcane-derived brown sugar and rice koji.
Production is permitted only in the Amami Islands, where it is also valued as a regional specialty.
It has a subtle sweetness from the brown sugar and a rich aroma from the rice koji. Many varieties have a clean, relatively approachable taste.
It can be served on the rocks, mixed with water, or mixed with hot water. It also pairs well with Amami regional cuisine and is worth trying with a meal.

This wellness resort hotel stands at the nature-rich southernmost tip of Amami Oshima.
The beach is just a 15-second walk away.
With blue water, white sand, and views across the sea toward Kakeroma Island, revered by local residents as the “Island of the Gods,” the resort offers various activities such as cruises and sea turtle tours for experiencing the area's natural environment.
Every guest room features glass walls and ocean views overlooking Amami's waters and Kakeroma Island.

Amami Resort Bashayamamura is a resort hotel located along Yoan Beach in Kasari, about 10 minutes by car from Amami Airport.
Its location directly in front of a white-sand beach and the Pacific Ocean makes it possible to enjoy a tropical resort stay with the sea close at hand.
In addition to swimming and marine sports at the beach, the property has a restaurant, souvenir shop, campground, and other facilities.
At Kenmun Village on the grounds, guests can also experience Amami culture through activities such as shima-uta folk singing, candy making, and pottery.

Amami Yagijima Hotel is a resort hotel on Yagi Island in Naze Bay.
All 45 rooms have balconies and ocean views, allowing guests to relax while looking out over the sea.
The bathing area on the fifth and highest floor is particularly recommended.
In addition to open-air and large communal baths overlooking the sea and the cityscape of Naze by day and its night views after dark, it has Amami's first low-temperature mist sauna, providing a relaxing way to unwind after sightseeing.
The restaurant also serves dishes made with island ingredients, making the stay itself part of the experience.