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If you’re skipping Amami Oshima on your trip to Japan, you’re skipping a beautiful, uncrowded gem..
Kagoshima Prefecture It is commonly thought of as the southwest corner of the island of Kyushu, southwest of Japan. However, Kagoshima includes islands more than half way to Okinawa, as well as several islands that stretch further afield.
Today, we are heading to one of the islands: Amami Oshima.
▼ Ami Oshima
▼ Amami Oshima Airport
We were invited to see the island by the “Ami Islands Wide Area Management Association” in the area’s tourism promotion department. It was supposed to be the highlight of our trip A tour of the island’s mangrove forestsThis conjures images of a primordial jungle in our heads, but once we got off the airport, things were surprisingly modern, with supermarkets, drugstores and even a Family Mart convenience store.
But as we hopped into our car and drove away from the airport, the landscape became increasingly lush…
…and before long, we were in a part of the island with such dense vegetation, we weren’t sure if we’d ever find our way back if we randomly walked into it…
…and the view only got more beautiful once we reached the mangroves..
The trees grow in rivers and inlets where fresh and sea water mix, and we could see a simple waterway in the middle of the forest.
▼ It is a species of mangrove that grows on Ami Oshima. bruguiera gymnorhizaYou can tell from the flowers.
Mangroves are found in Amami Gunto National Park Special Protection Zone, so you can’t just hack into the forest. Instead, we headed to Mangrove can. (“Mangrove Building”)…
… which offers Guided boat tours.
Having zero canoeing experience ourselves, we were nervous about jumping into one. After a short five-minute safety and operations briefing, our group was on its way and we quickly got used to paddling and breathing in the beautiful scenery.
As we mentioned above, mangroves grow in fresh and salt water, and Sometimes visitors even encounter sea turtles during the tour (We, unfortunately, were not so lucky, but the group that went out before us that day did). Tours cost 2,000 yen (US$15) and depart every 90 minutes from 10am to 4pm.
▼ A partial 360 degree view of the canoe route
By the way, if you are looking for lunch at a local place with lots of flavor, the restaurant next to Mangrove-Kan is it. Tumugi-an. We treated ourselves to 1,850-yen (US$14). Manpuku (“full belly”) collection And we stuffed ourselves with soba noodles, braised pork, karaage fried chicken, tempura and rice.
As the night fell, instead of going around early, we headed out again for a special wildlife viewing tour..
To access this part of the trail after dark, visitors are required to make reservations in advance (can be done online here ). You must also stay in your car and maintain a speed of 10 km/h (6.2 mph).
But if you do all that…
… you will have a good chance to see Amami no KurousagiOr A sick black rabbitprotected and beautiful, species.
Ami Oshima is often skipped by travelers heading south to Okinawa from the rest of Japan due to its geographical location. It’s a beautiful and unique place though, so if you’re looking for something off the beaten path, it’s worth putting it on your Japan itinerary.
Related: Amami Oshima Mangrove Park, Tsumugi-an
Photos © SoraNews24
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