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Amami Oshima

Coral bays, rare macro life and World Heritage forest, with a separate Kakeroma boat-and-ferry circuit.

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Research Sources

Destination Guide Sources For Amami Oshima

Reference links used to build and maintain this guide.

43 sources • Updated Nov 3, 2026

Written by DiveJourney. Built from public sources and local operator knowledge. Last updated Nov 3, 2026.

JNTO: Amami Oshima - Amami Oshima geography, land-based dive/snorkel tourism, mangrove and world heritage context, air and ferry arrivals.
JNTO: Kagoshima diving regions - Differentiates Amami north coast protected bays and exposed Pacific dives from southern relaxed coral and sand diving.
Amami tourism association FAQ - Published visitor guidance on typical swimming season, snorkel beaches, turtle locations, Kinsakubaru guide requirement, transport, cash/ATMs, mobile signal and hot springs.
Tatsugo Town: diving - Municipal evidence for protected bay diving, exposed sea contrasts, local diving providers and Amami hoshizora pufferfish season in Ashitoku.
Native Sea Amami: bay dive sites - Current operator-specific dive sites and sheltered beginner depths, including Sand Paradise and Yamamoto Special.
LeapScubaAmami: site guide - Operator guidance on north seasonal shore shifts and named Kurasaki, Tebiro and Piate-guri sites, with site-specific marine life.
LeapScubaAmami: monthly conditions - Month-by-month north Amami dive operator observations, seasonal water conditions, macro life, nudibranchs, reef fish and typhoon watchouts.
LeapScubaAmami: turtle snorkel tour - Current guided turtle-snorkel service, limits, age/health screening and explicit statement that turtle sightings are not guaranteed.
Aqua Dive Kohollo: services and rules - Setouchi Oshima Strait/Kakeroma 2-3 boat dives, trial diving, snorkel, dolphins and seasonal whale offerings; explicit surface-only whale rules and price list.
Diving and Pension RIKI: Kakeroma diving - Active Kakeroma-based boat dives, guesthouse-integrated schedule, outer-ocean surcharge and day-boat operation.
AMAMI Freediving: courses - Current AIDA1-3 and coaching supply with published JPY course price points.
AMAMI Freediving: AIDA2 details - Freedive training in Naze pool and Koniya-area open water, conditions, course requirements and no fixed training site.
AMAMI Freediving: meeting logistics - Provider confirms site-based meeting and no physical store or pickup; weather-dependent scheduling and separate insurance guidance.
Amami Whale and Dolphin Association - Conservation-research association and 2026 member operators with Amami north and south departure locations.
Lupura: whale swim practices - Published Amami Whale and Dolphin Association swim rules: captain decision, surface-only snorkeling, no scuba or breath-hold whale dives, and wildlife avoidance.
Kohollo: winter humpback, sperm whale and dolphin itineraries - Operator-specific Jan-Mar humpback, irregular Apr-Sep sperm whale search and irregular dolphin-swim supply; no encounter guarantee.
Japan Meteorological Agency: Amami climate normals - Rainy season May-Jun, JJA heat/sun, winter clouds/wind and July-Oct typhoon risk for all activity season tracks.
Japan Meteorological Agency: typhoon proximity - Official Amami/Okinawa tropical cyclone proximity data including preliminary 2026 figures.
Amami tourism: Kurasaki Beach - Tatsugo sheltered beach/coral setting and facilities, access and shore visitor logistics.
Amami tourism: Ohama seaside park - Naze-area park, swimming beach, sunset, marine exhibition and summertime sea turtle nesting.
Amami tourism: Surihama Kakeroma Beach - Kakeroma beach shore visit with toilets/showers and access from Ikema port; separate from operator-led dives.
Amami tourism: Kakeroma Ankyaba ruins - On-island Kakeroma historical land activity and transport from Ikema port.
Amami tourism: mangrove nature providers - Tourism board directory of certified eco-tour guides with mangrove kayaking and Kinsakubaru forest options.
Environment Ministry: Amami visitor rules - Official area rules including Kinsakubaru certified guide, Santaro night access restrictions, mangrove protection and fast nearshore currents.
Environment Ministry: Santaro night access - Advance reservations, traffic and lighting controls for protected night wildlife viewing on Santaro route; check current slope/road warning.
Environment Ministry: national park permit rules - Different land/marine park restriction categories and approvals, without claiming a universal recreational tag.
Setouchi Town: Kakeroma ferry timetable - Current municipality timetable Koniya to Sesou/Ikema, 20-25 minute typical crossing, service change/weather and vehicle reservation rules.
Setouchi Town: Kakeroma fare table - Posted adult one-way JPY 360 and child JPY 180 ferry fare and vehicle booking; fare page last updated 2022 and must be reconfirmed.
Amami Setouchi tourism: travel logistics - Koniya approaches, 2024 change to Naze bus connection, Kakeroma rentals, water taxis and no general Kakeroma taxis.
Amami Airport: flight network - Airport-listed JAL/JAC, Peach and Skymark domestic routes, variable by schedule.
Amami Airport: bus to Naze - Airport bus connection to Naze, about 55 minutes, Shima Bus contact.
Shima Bus: current route timetables - October 2026 schedules for airport to Naze and Naze to Koniya and other local routes.
Marix Line: Kagoshima to Naze - Operator-published overnight passenger ferry service between Kagoshima and Naze; dates, arrival and price may change.
JNTO: Japan visa information - Passport and nationality-dependent visa requirements, including short visits; Japan entry rules not island-specific.
JNTO: electricity in Japan - 100V, western Japan 60Hz grid and relevant plug/transformer considerations.
Kagoshima Prefectural Oshima Hospital: emergency centre - Naze emergency centre staffed 24/7 and regional doctor-helicopter hub, not a guarantee of immediate transport.
Kagoshima Prefectural Oshima Hospital: hyperbaric unit - Hospital discloses a hyperbaric oxygen treatment unit for diving illness; its live suitability and availability require medical verification.
Japan Coast Guard: marine emergency 118 - Japan maritime rescue emergency phone 118.
JNTO: Japan emergency assistance - Japan emergency and multilingual JNTO visitor support contacts.
Amami tourism: Amami Park - Near-airport culture, nature museum and Tanaka Isson Museum attractions and entrance fees.
Amami tourism: marine exhibition hall - Naze-area rainy-day marine life facility with separate admission and schedule.
JNTO: subtropical forest and textiles - Mangrove canoeing, Amami rabbit ecology, and Oshima tsumugi textile heritage.
Destination hero photo by Takayuki Sasaki - Unsplash License. Photographer profile: https://unsplash.com/@forest_serenity | Location: Amami Ōshima, Kagoshima, Japan