Full-Day Custom Nature Tour with a Former Active Ranger (English Available)

There is no single prescribed route. Combine Amami Nature Observation Forest, waterfalls, beaches, forest walks and other stops according to your interests and conditions that day. Through his work with the Ministry of the Environment, Shusaku Takahashi has managed national-park areas and surveyed wildlife across Amami, allowing him to propose different options based on natural conditions and safety. The emphasis is not on the number of famous sights visited but on what interests you, changing plans if a creature appears or the scenery calls for an extra stop.

Sample destinations
[Northern Amami]
• Two Seas Viewpoint: a spot where you can see both the Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea across the island’s narrow landform.
• Ayamaru Cape Tourist Park: panoramic coral-reef waters and northern Amami coastal scenery.
• Amami Nature Observation Forest: trails and viewpoints for enjoying Amami’s forest, birds and plants.
• Tomori Beach: white sand and deep-blue sea.
[Naze / Kinsakubaru]
• Kinsakubaru: evergreen broadleaf forest with large tree ferns, elephant-ear plants and other subtropical vegetation.
• Hidden Waterfall: an undisclosed location.
[West / Yamato and Uken Villages]
• Materiya Falls: a waterfall surrounded by subtropical forest, with cool shade and the sound of flowing water.
• Kuninao Beach: a white-sand beach.
• Kuninao Fukugi Tree Lane: a village street lined with fukugi trees planted as protection from wind and fire.
• Ohama Seaside Park: a coastal park known for blue water, white sand and sunsets over the East China Sea.
• Akatsuchiyama Observatory: views toward the mountains of Mt. Yuwandake and the deeply forested landscape of Uken Village.
• Genki-no-Deru-Kan and Uken Shokudo: venues for experiencing Uken culture and local dishes such as keihan and locally raised tiger prawns.
• Arangachi Falls: an approximately 30-meter waterfall fed by Mt. Yuwandake, a notable natural site in Uken Village.
• Mt. Yuwandake Park: the landscape of the Amami Islands’ highest mountain, with views of Yakeuchi Bay and forest habitat for rare plants and birds.
[Sumiyo]
• Amami Oshima World Heritage Center: exhibits on World Natural Heritage forests, endemic species and ecosystems.
• Kuroshio-no-Mori Mangrove Park: views of Sumiyo’s mangroves and the nature of brackish waterways.
• Native Modama Vine Habitat: a forest where giant-bean-bearing modama vines grow; see subtropical vegetation and the connection between water and woodland.
• Funangyo Falls: a Sumiyo waterfall where forest streams cascade, highlighting links between nature, community life and culture.
• Ishago Falls: a quiet, less-visited waterfall deep in Sumiyo’s forest.
• Rock-Embracing Banyan: a large banyan whose roots seem to wrap around a huge boulder.
• Golden Drops: a hidden forest spot where droplets from moss can glow golden in the light.
• Mangrove Mudflat Entry: a low-tide-only route from the national road directly into mangrove mudflats.
[Brown Sugar Shochu Distillery]
• Nishihira Shuzo: an Amami brown sugar shochu producer founded in 1927, blending tradition with innovations such as spirits matured to music. Tour fee: JPY 2,500 per person, approximately one hour.
Other destinations may be arranged in consultation with your guide.