Amami’s Nature Through the Seasons

What is the best time of year to visit Amami Oshima?

Summer is the best time to enjoy the blue of the ocean. Another season is better for a leisurely stroll through the forest. Rainy days offer a completely different atmosphere than sunny days.

In Amami Oshima, there is no single "right" answer that applies only to this season.

With its warm, rainy climate, subtropical forests, mangrove forests along river mouths, and coral reefs, the island's landscape changes throughout the year as the seasonal light, wind, and rain combine to create a constantly evolving landscape.

Before deciding when to travel, the first thing you should know is that Amami's nature reveals different charms in each season.

The nature of Amami Oshima is interconnected, from the forests to the sea.

When considering the nature of Amami Oshima, simply looking at the sea and the forest separately is insufficient to fully grasp its richness.

The island features rolling mountains and deep valleys, surrounded by a complex coastline. A diverse range of environments, from subtropical rainforests and mangrove forests at river mouths to tidal flats and the sea beyond, overlap in close proximity.

The Amami Oshima World Heritage Center also lists the island's features as including the largest subtropical rainforest in Japan, vast mangrove forests, and tidal flats at river mouths.

The rain that falls on the mountains flows down the rivers and eventually reaches the sea.

After standing in the forest, you can drive and the sea will come into view. Where rivers approach the sea, an environment where freshwater and saltwater meet unfolds.

This close proximity is what creates the landscape of Amami Oshima.

It's not a "forest island" or an "island of the sea," but an island where the forest, river, and sea are all connected.

That's one way to get to know the nature of Amami Oshima.

Rain nourishes the greenery of Amami.

When talking about the nature of Amami, rain is an essential topic.

The Amami Islands have a warm and humid climate, and the Ministry of the Environment estimates the region's annual rainfall to be approximately 2,800 mm. Looking at the Japan Meteorological Agency's average rainfall for Naze, the average rainfall in June is 427.4 mm. This abundance of rain is a major factor in shaping the landscape of Amami's forests and rivers.

It's natural to hope for sunny days when traveling. However, rainy Amami also has its own unique beauty.

The surface of leaves becoming wet and appearing a deeper green. A thin mist hanging over the mountains. The change in the air of the forest after the rain.

If you define "good weather" in Amami as simply having clear skies, you'll miss a part of the island's scenery.

Rain sometimes changes plans. At the same time, that rain nourishes Amami's lush greenery.

Spring | The short season when the island's greenery begins to stir.

Spring in Amami is a little different from spring in Honshu.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency's average values for Naze, the average monthly temperature in March is 17.1℃ and in April it is 19.8℃. The air gradually warms up from winter, and the entire island changes its appearance as summer approaches.

According to Amami Oshima's official tourism information, the spring season is generally described as being from March to April. Compared to the long summer, spring is a relatively short season.

Walking through the forest, you can sense the changing seasons even among the evergreen trees. By the sea, the sunlight gradually intensifies, and we begin to feel a brightness different from that of winter.

Unlike the powerful energy of summer, this is a time when the seasons quietly change.

Amami's spring has that kind of charm.

Rainy season | The colors of the forest deepen in the rain

In Amami, the rainy season occurs during the transition from spring to summer.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the average start date of the rainy season in Amami from 1991 to 2020 is around May 12th, and the average end date is around June 29th. However, the start and end dates of the rainy season are not the same every year and vary considerably from year to year.

If the rain continues, your travel plans may not go as planned. On the other hand, for Mori, rain is just a part of everyday life.

Wet leaves, the sound of flowing water, low-moving clouds.

A landscape different from what you might have imagined for Amami unfolds, centered around the clear blue sea.

If you're traveling this season, instead of aiming to completely avoid the rain, it's better to leave some flexibility in your daily plans to adjust to the weather. This will make it easier to enjoy your time on the island.

When venturing into nature, safety conditions can change depending on factors such as rainfall, footing, and river conditions. It's important not to try to stick to your plans rigidly, but rather to check local conditions on the day.

Summer | Strong sunlight and the blue of the sea

Once the rainy season ends, strong, summery sunshine returns to Amami.

The average monthly temperatures in Naze are 28.8°C in July and 28.5°C in August. While the seascape is particularly impressive during this season, it's necessary to prepare for high temperatures and strong sunlight.

During the hours when the sun is high in the sky, you can sometimes clearly see the color of the shallow sea, the sandy beach, and the outlines of the clouds. In the forest, the difference between the shadows cast by the leaves overhead and the light filtering through the gaps becomes more pronounced.

Even in the same location, the impression changes depending on whether it's morning or noon, and whether it's sunny or cloudy.

There's one more thing to keep in mind when enjoying Amami in the summer.

The Japan Meteorological Agency is advising residents of the Amami region to pay close attention to typhoon movements, as typhoons may approach the area between July and October.

On the island, weather affects not only air travel and ferry services, but also nature experiences and road conditions.

Avoid rigidly adhering to your itinerary, and prioritize safety by checking the latest weather information when typhoons or bad weather are expected. That, too, is an important preparation for traveling in nature.

Autumn | The season when the heat subsides and you can slowly enjoy the scenery.

In Amami, the signs of summer linger for a relatively long time.

Even according to average values, the monthly average temperature in Naze is 27.0℃ in September and 23.9℃ in October. Even though it's officially autumn, warmer days continue than in Honshu.

Nevertheless, the seasons are slowly changing.

The intense summer sun begins to soften, and the feel of the wind changes. Even in the forest, you'll encounter plants and creatures that look different from those of summer.

According to Amami Oshima's official tourism information, autumn is generally described as a short season from October to November. However, in the nature observation forest, you can see different plants and scenery throughout the year, depending on the season.

It's a little different from the vibrant colors of summer.

This is a season perfect for taking your time to enjoy the scenery.

Winter | Encountering the tranquil sea and forest

Winter in Amami might be a little different from what you imagine when you hear the phrase "southern island."

In Naze, the average monthly temperature in January is 15.0℃. This is warmer than many parts of Honshu, but it's not always sunny and warm.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the Amami Islands experience many cloudy and rainy days during the winter due to the influence of cold air.

Days when the sky feels low. Days when the surface of the sea changes with the wind. Days when rain and clouds alternate.

Those winter scenes, too, are typical of Amami.

Instead of only seeking the intense blue of summer, let's look at the colors of the calm sea and forest.

If you can enjoy the fact that the island's appearance changes with the seasons, you can experience Amami's nature in a more three-dimensional way.

Learn the reason why it became a World Natural Heritage site.

On July 26, 2021, "Amami Oshima, Tokunoshima, the northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island" were registered as a World Natural Heritage site. The registration covers the land areas of the four islands.

At the heart of its value is not simply the fact that "the scenery is beautiful."

It is important to note that islands have undergone unique biological evolution throughout their history of separation from continents and other bodies of land, resulting in the preservation of high biodiversity, including endemic species that are rare internationally.

Although World Natural Heritage sites cover less than 0.5% of Japan's land area, they are home to many endangered and endemic species.

Amami Oshima, with its undulating terrain and rainy climate, boasts a variety of environments, including subtropical forests, mangroves, and tidal flats, each home to a diverse array of living creatures.

Don't interpret the term "World Natural Heritage Site" simply as meaning "a famous tourist destination."

Learning why this natural environment holds global value is one of the joys of traveling to Amami.

Things to keep in mind when entering nature

Because of the abundant natural beauty that remains, there are things that travelers can do.

Kagoshima Prefecture has established a guide to etiquette for tourists, urging them to be considerate of nature by refraining from feeding wild animals, collecting plants and animals indiscriminately, and not carelessly spreading information about rare species.

Furthermore, it is not possible to freely utilize all of Amami Oshima's natural environments in the same way.

For example, in Kinsakubara, usage rules have been established, including the requirement of being accompanied by a certified ecotour guide, in order to reduce the burden on the natural environment and maintain a high-quality nature experience.

Since the rules of use may change, you should check the latest official information before visiting.

Caution is also necessary when driving at night.

On Amami Oshima Island, efforts are being made to prevent roadkill of wild animals such as the Amami rabbit, and drivers are being urged to drive slowly at night.

Enjoying nature and protecting nature are not separate actions.

Don't take anything you find home. Maintain a safe distance from living creatures. Check if it's a place you're allowed to enter. And learn the rules of that area.

Just a little consideration will help preserve the island's nature for the next season.

Instead of the "best season," choose the season that suits you.

When considering when to travel to Amami Oshima, you might be wondering, "Which month is best?"

However, the answer depends on the purpose of your trip.

Do you want to see the sea in bright sunlight? Do you want to feel the forest wet with rain? Do you want to stroll slowly around the island in a season when the heat has subsided? Do you want to see the quiet winter scenery?

The appearance of nature changes not only with the seasons, but also with the weather on any given day.

Therefore, in Amami, rather than searching for perfect weather, perhaps what enriches your trip is accepting the island's appearance as it unfolds on that particular day.

The blue sea on a sunny day. The forest in the rain. The windy winter sea.

These are all different times on the same island.

A journey to discover the nature of Amami Oshima doesn't begin with deciding on the "most beautiful season," but rather with observing how the island changes with the seasons.

If you'd like to choose from experiences related to the sea, forests, culture, and lifestyle on Amami Oshima, please also see " Things to Experience on Amami Oshima ."