To enjoy nature of Amami-Oshima, Kikai, , Okinoerabu,and Yoron Islands You are responsible for your own safety. Enjoy! The Rules The Amami Islands Rules

Request from Kenmun， a spirit in Amami's folklore

The Amami Islands Rules To enjoy nature of Amami-Oshima, Kikai, Tokunoshima, Okinoerabu,and Yoron Islands Request from Kenmun, a spirit in Amami’s folklore Publisher: Nature Conservation Division, Environment and Forestry Affairs Department, Prefecture First edition: March 2012 Second edition: March 2019 10-1, Kamoike-Shinmachi, Kagoshima City, 890-8577 Tel: 099-286-2111 (representative) Editing: Wildlife Research Center Pictures: Futoshi Hamada, Katsuki Oki, Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment, Japan Wildlife Research Center Design : artpost inc. Illustration: Yuko Horiki Kagoshima Prefecture Contents

2 Introduction 4 Requests from Amami’s spirit, Kenmun 6 Must-see Nature Map 6 Northern Amami-Oshima Island 8 Southern Amami-Oshima Island 10 Kikai Island and Tokunoshima Island 12 Okinoerabu Island and Yoron Island National Park (Marine area) Kikai Island 14 From island to island National Park (Land area) – Amami World Heritage Trail World Heritage nominated property Amami-Oshima Island Forests 16 How to enjoy the forests 18 To protect nature of Amami 20 What you need to know when trekking/ Tokunoshima Island hiking Amami jay 22 What you need to know when driving at night Introduction Sea 24 How to enjoy mangrove forests and sea 26 What you need to know when visiting mangrove forests, The Amami Islands have precious, using canoes and observing sea turtles rich nature and were designated as a 28 What you need to know when sea bathing, diving and snor- Okinoerabu Island National Park in 2017. Amami-Oshima keling Island and Tokunoshima Island are nom- 30 What to wear and bring inated to be inscribed on the World Her- 32 What you need to know when visiting villages itage List along with the northern part Dangerous creatures Yoron Island of and Iriomote Island. 34 Forests This booklet presents important infor- 36 Sea mation for tourists, in order to preserve 38 Contact in case of questions or nature of the Amami Islands forever. trouble Please respect nature and culture of the Amami Islands and enjoy your trip. Mikyo Area (Tokunoshima Is.) 2 3 Requests from Amami's spirit, Kenmun

I'm Kenmun! I'm a spirit who has been living in the Amami Islands Forests, rivers and the sea since old times. of Amami are filled with animals and plants that you People in the islands treat me with have never seen before. awe and respect as "a guardian spir- But if you are too absorbed, it of mountains" and we have been you might get lost. living together in harmony.

Nature in the Amami Islands, where There are many local guides I live, is rich and mysterious. who can take you to must-see It is home to many rare animals and sights while respecting the nature of Amami, so please plants such as famous try to walk with them. which can only be seen here. Please take your time to go around I'm always somewhere in the the islands. nature of Amami. So open your eyes and listen carefully to find me. I'm always waiting for you! My requests to the visitors

Don't litter the mountains and the sea, please take your litter with About Kenmun you. And never bring any animals and Kenmun is a spirit that is said to live in the boundaries of plants from other places, because Amami’s nature and people’s lives. It is said to be small like a they often harm native species of child, red-headed , its whole body is covered with hair, and has the Amami Islands and take over extremely long arms and legs. There has always been a story their habitats. of witnessing him since old times. Folklores say that while he loves sumo-wrestling and helps people, sometimes he makes people get lost in the forests and takes out their eyes.

4 5 宇勝海岸 宇勝 寺崎海岸 寺崎 メーラビビーチ 賀義野

がぶろう Sea Palace 賀補呂 黒花海岸 Amami Wreck 品覇海岸

那間 Must-see Nature Map いいまえ Minata Rock 茶花港 瀬名 ウドノス 伊前 木根名 チチヒナ離 海岸 砂美地来館 皆田海岸 Northern Amami-Oshima総合グランド Island増木名 KaneboGentle, Beach beautiful coastlines can be seen 茶花from the center to the north- サンernセット partビーチ of Amami-Oshima茶花海岸 Island. There are subtropical evergreen 船倉海岸 ヨロン島観光協会 古里 broad-leaved forests, rivers with rare与論町役場※ species, and coral reefs. 叶 大金久 キ ャンプ場 〒 ゆ ん ぬ・ Yoron Airport 幸名波 ユンヌ楽園 Cape Kasarizaki 源手名 あーどぅる焼窯元 Kagoshima City 屋舎 Yoron Station Yoron Town 尾道遊歩道 Yoron Port 辻宮 出毛 Oganeku Beach/ 百合ヶ浜 OkinoerabuTanegashima Island Island 供利 Cape Gamouzaki Park 伊伝 朝戸 Yurigahama Beach グラスボート (WadomariYakushima port) フ Islandンチュ崎 按司根津栄 立長 〒 神社 Cycads Community Tokunoshima,Okinoerabu, Basho Community Cape Ayamaru Park Yoron and Kagoshima City, Kikai Island 伊波 西区 Okinawa Island い ば Amami Islands 城 ぐすく Saigo Nanshu Amami City Folk Heritage Museum ハキビナ海岸 Residence Remains Amami-Oshima Island (6-9P) 与論民俗村 Kakeroma 屋川 東区 Amami Nature Island (8P) Kikai Island (10P)Southern Cross Center 赤崎鍾乳洞 Observation Forest Amami City Amami Museum 赤崎 Yoro Island Ruins of YoronKohama CastleCampsite Tomori Beach Uke Island Ohama Seaside Park Tatsugo Town Kotohira Shrine ハミゴー アマンジョー Ushuku Shell Mound Park Tokunoshima Island (11P) Akasaki Park Kurasaki Beach 太陽が丘総合運動公園 Yunnu Taikenkan Amami(Learning Seaside MuseumHall) 前浜海岸 Ose Beach Okinoerabu Island (12P) 自然観察の森入口 与論十五夜踊り Akasaki Beach Yoron Island (13P)

Okinawa Island Naze New Port Amami Airport りゅうがく館 Isson Tanaka’s Last Residence Amami Park あまみ大島観光物産連盟 ケンムン村 Tebiro Beach Amami City Local Market and Rest Area Ogamiyama Park Legend Municipal border Amami City Trunk road Major road Kinsakubaru Forest Sub-major road Other road River Coral reef Authentic Amami-Oshima Tsumugi Textile Park Triangulation station, spot elevation Tunnel Municipal office Airport Port Post office

Roads in the mountains are narrow. 6 Be careful not to run off the road. 7