Other Historic Site/Building Spots in Amami / Okinoerabu Island Area

  • The Remains of Nanshu Saigo
    Travel / Tourism
    Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Tatsugo-cho Ryugo 166
    This wooden residence is where Saigo Takamori lived for around three years when he was ordered to stay in Amami Oshima Island. It is now a private property managed by the son of his wife, Aigana, and is open to the public as a paid-entry museum. The residence has valuable items such as Saigo Takamori's personal history and private writings, and a stone monument to his wife, Aigana, on display. There is also another monument with the lettering from Katsu inscribed on it.
  • Statue of Shigechiyo Izumi
    Travel / Tourism
    Kagoshima Oshima-gun Isencho Asan
    Shigechiyo Izumi, who was born in Asan, Isen Town in 1865 and died in 1985 at the age of 120, is said to have been the last survivor of the Edo Period (1615-1868). In 1976, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized him as the longest-lived human, and in honor of this achievement, a copper statue and a museum were built in the agricultural area on the southern part of Tokunoshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, where Izumi's home was. The museum contains a large number of photographs and personal items that convey the story of Izumi's long life to present-day visitors.
  • The Coral Stone Walls of Aden
    Travel / Tourism
    Kagoshima Oshima-gun Kikaicho Aden
    Located about a 15-minute drive from the Kikaijima Airport, in an area where no pit vipers live, these numerous coral stone walls are especially well preserved and highly regarded as important cultural properties. The hamlet of Aden contains an especially large number, and it is part of an island walking route led by local residents who act as volunteer guides. The Aden route takes visitors to the place where ethnographer Ichiro Iwakura was born, and to the sites where a number of movies were filmed.
  • Shimao Toshio Literary Monument
    Travel / Tourism
    Kagoshima Oshima-gun Setouchicho Oshikaku
    This plaque is located in Bungakujin Memorial Park, about a ten-minute drive from Seso Port in Setouchi Town. Shimao Toshio, who was later known as a writer of literary fiction, was head of a suicide mission unit at the Nominoura Naval Base during World War II. It is said that meeting his wife and his extreme experiences here were the starting points of his literary career. In addition to novels such as The Sting of Death, which describes his intense love for his wife, he published many other works, including poems and essays. He won many famous literary prizes during his career.
  • Naoko Road Monument
    Travel / Tourism
    Kagoshima Oshima-gun Amagi Cho Yonama
    Located about a ten-minute drive from Tokunoshima Kodakara Airport, this monument was erected in 2000 to commemorate the training camp held by Naoko Takahashi, gold medalist of the Sydney Olympics Women's Marathon. A 31.2-kilometer training course that starts from the monument and runs around the north side of Tokunoshima Island is called Naoko Road, and makes use of the rugged terrain of Tokunoshima to train for strong physical and mental strength. Marathoner participants from all over the country come to practice, and you can even see them running on the course.
  • Statue of the 46th Yokozuna Asashio Taro
    Travel / Tourism
    Kagoshima Oshima-gun Tokunoshimacho Inokawa
    This statue was erected in 1995 in commemoration of Asashio Taro, a Yokozuna (grand champion highest rank in sumo) from Tokunoshima, to praise the achievements of the hero of Amami. Taro Asashio, with his blessed physique and thick, dignified eyebrows, is known for his powerful pushing technique, and boasts a record of five Makuuchi championships and four distinguished service awards. On top of a small hill, the statue stands with an imposing figure against the backdrop of the lush greenery of Mt. Inokawa. As Tokunoshima is an area where sumo wrestling thrives, there are many rings that can be found. After retiring, Asashio Taro trained many powerful sumo wrestlers as head of the Takasago stable.
  • Saigo Nanshu Park
    Travel / Tourism
    Kagoshima Oshima-gun Amagi Cho Okazen
  • Battleship Yamato memorial tower
    Travel / Tourism
    Kagoshima Prefecture Oshima-gun Isen
  • Sanpachi Iwaana
    Travel / Tourism
    Kagoshima Oshima-gun Setouchicho

Kagoshima Areas

around-area-map

Over 100 active volcanoes across Kagoshima make it one of the Japan's most exciting prefectures. The prefectural capital, Kagoshima city, looks out to one of the prefecture’s most spectacular volcanoes, Sakurajima, an island of its own that can be visited and seen close up or admired from afar, with the promise of breathtaking sunsets complete with frequent puffs of smoke and ash. Down the Satsuma Peninsula, the most southerly part of mainland Japan, waterfalls, sand onsen, and fascinating history await, while Kagoshima's abundance of satsuma imo (sweet potato) provide a wholesome snack as well as one of Japan's favourite drinks - shochu.

Kagoshima Photo Album

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