Kirishima is a smaller city of around 125.000 inhabitants, located in Kagoshima Prefecture in Kyushu. Apart from being located in a true adventure land, between sea and volcanoes, it is especially praised for it’s many food specialties, including shochu and green tea. The most unusual and defining specialty of Kirishima however, is their black vinegar. …
Cape Manzamo (万座毛), also known as Cape Manza, is a distinctive rock formation located near Onna Village on Okinawa Island. It is a highly popular location among tourists visiting Okinawa. It is said that Cape Manzamo was given its name after Shō Kei, the king of the Ryukyu Kingdom visited the area in the 1700’s. …
Uchinoura Space Center is a launching facility for space rockets located in the southern part of Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu. Until 2006 all Japans scientific satelites were launched from this site, and it remains in use today for certain launches. There is a museum and shop for visitors, and it is possible to get exceptionally close …
Udo Shrine, or Udo-jingū, is a spectacular Shinto shrine located inside a seaside cave in Miyazaki Prefecture near the most southern end of Kyushu. While it is located far away from most other attractions in Kyushu, it is possibly one one the most scenic and special shrines in southern Japan. Hotels near Udo Shrine Japan Rail …
Amami Islands, or Amami-guntō as the archipelago is officially named, is a beautiful group of islands, located about mid-way between Kyusuhu and Okinawa. Amami is part of the Ryukyu Islands, just like Okinawa, but it is technically a part of Kagoshima Prefecture in Kyushu. The climate, nature and landscape has many similarities with Okinawa, including the mild winters and hot summers. There are …
Ayamaru Misaki is a small cape jutting out of the eastern coast of Amami island, only a couple of minutes north of the the airport. The cape hosts are large public park, Ayamaru Misaki Kanko Park, which offers a large play ground, an elevated observation deck and a very nice sea pool. The park has …
Amami is home to Japans second largest mangrove forest, the Amami Mangrove Primeval Forest. The park is located on the eastern coast of Amami Oshima, and can be explored by canoe or boat. Guided tours are available from both the Mangrove Park and the nearby Mangrove Chaya. Sumiyo Mangrove Forest, which is the official name …
Cape Kasarizaki (笠利崎) is the northern-most point of Amami Oshima. Kasarizaki lighthouse, which sits majestically at the top the hill, has historically played an important role for navigation in the area. There are great views over the sea and the beautiful hills and white beaches of the island. Known among locals as Yo Misaki, Kasarizaki …
The Amami Islands are known for Kokuto Shochu, a type of distilled alcohol which uniquely uses brown sugar as a key ingredient. Kokuto Shochu is specific to Amami. Around the various islands of Amami there are many distilleries specializing in this unique variety of Shochu. Some of those distilleries have factory sales and tastings – …
The Tanaka Isson Memorial Museum on Amami Oshima is an art museum dedicated primarily to the painter Tanaka Isson (1908-1977), who lived on Amami for 19 years. The museum, which opened in 2001, displays many of Isson’s colorful works from different periods of his life and career. There is also a small area for other …
