Amami Oshima

Amami Oshima (奄美大島 Amami Ōshima), literally "Big Amami Island", is the largest of the Amami Islands, a small archipelago south of Kyushu, Japan. While administratively a part of Kagoshima, it's geographically and culturally a part of Okinawa. Together with Tokunoshima, Iriomote and the northern part of the Okinawa Island it was listed as a natural world heritage site by UNESCO in 2021.

Understand

There are five municipalities on the island: Amami City (奄美市), Tatsugō Town (龍郷町), Yamato Village (大和村), Uken Village (宇検村) and Setouchi Town (瀬戸内町). The main port and settlement, Naze (名瀬), is a part of Amami.

Tourist information site

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Get in

The airport in Amami has JAL flights to Tokyo, Osaka, Kagoshima and Naha.

Marix and A-Line ferries connect the port of Naze to Kagoshima, Naha and various other islands in the Amami archipelago. In addition, there's a slower twice-weekly service to Kagoshima via the Tokara Islands.

See

• Mangrove
• Cape Ayamaru Kanko Park
• Tanaka Isson Memorial Art Museum

Do

Amami Oshima's coast

• Bike rental. Rent a scooter or motorbike and just cruise around the island to admire it's beautiful nature and discover tiny beaches where you can hop off and go for a swim. The best way to travel on Amami Oshima. 
• Relax on the beaches

Eat

• Jidoriya (When you leave the ferry, take a right and follow the road. It's 30 meters past the Shell station and motorbike shop to your left. Look for the usual red lantern outside.), ☏ +81 997 52 2941. 6PM-11PM. This place is ideal if you have to wait for the ferry or if you have a big appetite coming from the ferry. You get great value for your money with a starter (e.g. sashimi), your own little stone grill with chicken, salad, boiled beef, rice, and a dessert. Friendly, local atmosphere. ¥1500. 

Drink

All roads lead to Yanigawa, a street that runs away from the main port in Naze-shi (Naze City). Like all Japanese small towns it is an irreverent mix of live houses (naff attempt at a modern bar), izakaya and snack bars. The mood here is much more reserved than in other larger centres and the younger crowd and salarymen alike enjoy over 100 different hole in the wall venues. Westerners are a novelty here (still) and you a guaranteed a good night out on the local kokutō shōchū, which is made from sugar cane.

• Westerners Café, Toen Beach (Toen is a small village near the sea. The Westerners Café is located on the main road crossing the village, right before leaving the village. It's a bright red, little box, you can't miss it.). This little café by the road is owned by two retired people from Kobe who are mad about cowboys. The little place is filled with pictures, paintings and all kinds of stuff referring to the glorious times of the Wild West. The owner, dressed as a real cowboy, will gladly receive you. They serve two kinds of (freshly ground) coffee and Indian tea. Relaxed on-the-road atmosphere. ¥350 for a coffee or tea. 

Stay safe

Habu snake

The Habu snake is a venomous pit viper that inhabits roughly 70% of the island.

When diving, swimming or snorkeling at the various beaches watch out for sea urchins lying on the sea floor.