Amami Gunto National Park 奄美群島国立公園

Tokunoshima’s Natural World

The island's two tallest peaks are Mt. Inokawadake (645 m) and Mt. Amagidake (533 m), while smaller hills pepper the landscape. The western side of the island has a rocky coastline, while the eastern side is lined with beaches. Agricultural plains lie in the island’s southwest. The steep slopes of Mt. Amagidake are covered by chinquapins, hardy evergreen trees in the beech family that can withstand the strong winds which buffet the forest. Local residents say Mt. Amagidake resembles a pregnant woman sleeping, and call it nesugata-yama (literally, “sleeping-form-mountain”).

Living in Harmony with Nature

People in the Amami Islands are still deeply connected to the natural world. For instance, local residents still use Kaamu-daki, one of Mt. Amagidake’s three waterfalls, as a regular water source. Islanders also venture into the mountains to collect leopard plant (tsuwabuki) for use in traditional dishes and pine for New Year decorations, and to pray to the mountain gods.

Places to See

Some outstanding natural sites in Tokunoshima include the distinctive coastal rock formations at Mushiroze and Innojofuta, the underwater limestone caves of Unbuki, the lagoon at Aze Prince Beach, and the Kanamizaki Sotetsu Tunnel, a walking path covered by arching sago palms.

The national park was established in 2017 and spans the Amami island group, part of the Ryukyu Islands. The islands were once connected to Japan and Eurasia, finally separating approximately two million years ago.

The islands have a varied topography, with distinctive coral-encircled coastlines, mountains, subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests, flatlands, and unusual rock formations. Each island of the Amami chain has a distinct culture that incorporates elements from both Okinawa and Kyushu, but they are linked by one common thread: a lifestyle that is inextricably intertwined with the natural environment.

Okinoerabu Island

This coralline island is approximately 20 kilometers long and distinctly flat, with the exception of Mt. Oyama (246 m). The northern coast is characterized by coral formations and cliffs, while the southern side is home to sandy beaches. The culture of Okinoerabu shows stronger Okinawan influences than the cultures of the larger islands in the Amami group. Agriculture is a mainstay of the economy; major crops include sweet potatoes, sugar cane, and the pure white, ornamental trumpet lily (erabuyuri).

Fucha Spray Cave

Formed from a coral reef that was thrust out of the water and then eroded by powerful waves, Fucha is a 30-meter-wide spray cave. When strong waves strike, spray shoots forcefully into the air from the opening in the rock. Sea turtles can be spotted swimming nearby, and humpback whales spend the winter off the coast from January to March.

Shoryudo Caves

There are several limestone caves for visitors to explore on the island, but the largest and most accessible is Shoryudo, located about 10 minutes by car from the town of China (pronounced “cheena”). A series of stalactite-studded caverns extend over 3,500 meters, and are regarded as some of the finest limestone caves in Japan. The caves remain pleasantly cool even during Okinoerabu’s warm summers.

Tamina Point

Locally known as Tamina Misaki, these 40-meter cliffs at the island’s northwest tip were formed by an upthrust coral reef. The sheer cliffs offer clear views of the waves crashing over the rocks below, and are surrounded by lush green grasslands. A lighthouse serves as the lone reminder of a human presence here. Tamina Point is also an ideal spot to watch the sunset over the East China Sea.