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).

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 Amami to Kagoshima, Naha and various other islands in the Amami archipelago.

See

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

Do

 * Relax on the beaches
 * Relax on the beaches

Stay safe
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.