Heart Rock
📍 Address: 1346-1 Akaogi, Tatsugo-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima 894-0411, Japan
Heart Rock is a famous ‘power spot’ for love, known for appearing only at low tide. However, there’s a real situation you should know before visiting. Due to recent ocean currents and sand accumulation, it’s becoming more common for the distinct heart-shaped tide pool to not appear in its complete form. Sometimes, it can be completely buried under sand, making it difficult to find.
Nevertheless, it’s still well worth the trip. The true highlight lies in the journey itself to reach the destination. The path from the road to the coast is like an animal trail, densely overgrown with subtropical plants, evoking a sense of exploration. If you’re lucky, you might even encounter the beautiful Lidth’s Jay, a national natural monument. The clear blue beach that unfolds after passing through a tunnel of trees is breathtakingly beautiful, and simply walking leisurely, listening to the waves and collecting seashells, provides ultimate relaxation.
The best time to visit is around low tide when the water level is below 80cm. Be sure to check a tide table (tide graph) beforehand to plan your schedule. Also, the path to the sea and the rocky areas can be uneven, so we highly recommend wearing comfortable sneakers or marine shoes.
Honohoshi Coast
📍 Address: Sokari, Setouchi-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima 894-1523, Japan
Located in Setouchi Town in the southern part of Amami Oshima, Honohoshi Coast is completely different from the typical white sandy beaches of southern islands, exuding a raw yet mysterious power. The coast is covered with countless ’round stones’ that have been smoothed by the intense waves of the open sea. As the waves recede, these round stones collide, producing a strange, rumbling sound like an earthquake.
This coast also gained attention as a filming location for the drama ‘Heaven and Hell: Spirited Two Persons,’ starring Haruka Ayase and Issey Takahashi (appearing as ‘Amami’s Round Stones’ in the drama). An old legend passed down for generations says that ‘taking stones from here will bring misfortune,’ and since it’s part of a national park, collecting stones is strictly prohibited by law. These slightly spine-chilling tales add to the mystique, making it a place where you can feel the overwhelming energy of nature.
Swimming is not allowed due to the rough waves, but if you aim for the timing when the tide is rising from low tide, you can enjoy exploring, such as passing through giant rock tunnels formed by wave erosion. However, the ground is entirely made of round stones and is very unstable, so it’s crucial to visit with sturdy shoes to avoid losing your footing. This is an absolutely unmissable spot for travelers who want to experience the awe and mystery of nature firsthand.
Amami Oshima Tsumugi Village
📍 Address: 1945 Akaogi, Tatsugo-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima 894-0411, Japan
Amami Oshima Tsumugi Village is where you can closely observe the manufacturing process of ‘Honba Amami Oshima Tsumugi,’ one of the world’s three greatest textiles, and even try traditional techniques yourself. The vast grounds, spanning approximately 15,000 tsubo (about 12 acres), resemble a subtropical botanical garden. You can spend a fulfilling time just by strolling through the park, lush with tropical plants like Rhaphiolepis indica and giant ferns, and visiting the old workshops.
The biggest highlight here is the ‘mud-dyeing experience,’ hugely popular with travelers. You’ll actually step into a mud field rich in iron, unique to Amami Oshima, and with the friendly (sometimes dialect-infused) guidance of artisans, you can dye T-shirts or eco-bags with your own original designs. It’s more than just making a souvenir; you can enjoy the cool sensation of the mud and warm interactions with the artisans, making it an activity that solo travelers and families alike can get absorbed in.
During the workshop tour, guides carefully explain the entire process (about 40 steps) of how white silk threads are transformed into beautiful Oshima Tsumugi through an incredibly painstaking and time-consuming effort. Witnessing the artisans’ superb handiwork, such as mud-dyeing and ‘kasuri’ tie-dyeing, will make you deeply understand why the expensive Oshima Tsumugi fabrics and small items like business card holders sold in the shop possess such value.
Kuroshio no Mori Mangrove Park
📍 Address: 478 Ishihara, Sumiyo-cho, Amami-shi, Kagoshima 894-1202, Japan
Spreading across Sumiyo Town in Amami City is a vast mangrove primeval forest, the second-largest in Japan. At ‘Kuroshio no Mori Mangrove Park,’ a canoe tour where you can experience untouched nature from the water is a classic traveler’s activity. Since it’s an inland sea, there are almost no waves, and instructors carefully teach you how to use a paddle, so even beginners or those who are uneasy around water can enjoy it with peace of mind.
The most important thing for a canoe tour is that the experience changes 180 degrees between ‘high tide’ and ‘low tide.’ At high tide, the water level rises, allowing you to paddle directly through narrow green tunnels created by mangrove branches and leaves, enjoying an extraordinary jungle cruise-like exploration. On the other hand, at low tide, the water recedes and mudflats appear, allowing you to get out of the canoe midway and observe unique small creatures like fiddler crabs (crabs with one large claw) and mudskippers up close.
Checking the tide table beforehand to decide your visiting time, depending on which scenery you want to see, is the biggest secret to enjoying this spot 120%. After the experience, presenting your canoe ticket offers a discount at the adjacent roadside station restaurant (Tuna rice bowls, etc., are popular!), so be sure to take advantage of it.
Materiya Falls
📍 Address: Naone, Yamato Village, Oshima District, Kagoshima 894-3212, Japan
Materiya Falls, quietly nestled deep within the ‘Amami Forest Police’ in Yamato Village, is a secluded spot where you can feel Amami’s abundant water sources and mysterious atmosphere. ‘Materiya’ means ‘truly beautiful sun waterfall basin’ in the local dialect. As its name suggests, the sight of sunlight pinpointing only this waterfall basin in the dimly lit forest covered with deep trees, making the clear water sparkle, is breathtakingly beautiful.
Historically, there was a mountain path leading to Uken Village nearby, and Materiya Falls served as a resting place for travelers crossing the pass and local residents. There’s even a charming anecdote that ‘local old-timers would dilute brown sugar shochu with this pure waterfall water and drink it,’ indicating that it was a water source deeply connected to Amami’s history and people’s lives.
Access involves driving on mountain roads, so caution is needed for oncoming vehicles (especially quarry dump trucks), but from the parking lot, it’s just a short walk down well-maintained steps on a promenade. It’s ideal for seeking coolness on hot summer days, and after rain, the increased water volume makes it even more powerful. The rocky areas around the waterfall basin are sharp and slippery, so be very careful with your footing and soak up plenty of negative ions.
Tips for Enjoying Amami Oshima to the Fullest
When touring Amami Oshima’s tourist spots, ‘checking the tide level’ is absolutely essential. Many spots, such as Heart Rock, mangrove canoeing, and Honohoshi Coast, completely change their appearance, how they can be enjoyed, and even their safety depending on the tides. Therefore, researching the day’s low and high tide times beforehand and planning your schedule like a puzzle is the secret to a highly satisfying trip.
Also, as a natural consequence of its beautiful nature, you’ll often walk on unpaved jungle paths, slippery rocks, and muddy fields. Be sure to bring not only fashionable shoes but also sneakers you don’t mind getting dirty and clothes that can get wet. By understanding the legends and historical backgrounds, and adhering to local rules (such as prohibiting the removal of plants, animals, or stones), experience the deep charm of Amami, often called the ‘Galapagos of the East,’ with all five senses.
