Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ations. Altogether the caverns are fairly large. It's no Kentucky Mammoth Cave, but it is im-
pressive enough.
A chamber in the Ufuyaguchi Limestone Caverns.
From either the Ōasato Spring or the Ufuyaguchi Limestone Caverns, you're only about
2.4 miles (4 kilometers) east of Kikai Town. You can either head back over the local roads or
turn north, back on to the coast, and take the last section of Route 619, completing this big
circle we've made around the island.
Kikai is a surprising place, a lovely, peaceful island that seems to have fallen off the radar
screen. No doubt the town fathers would like to promote tourism. The widely available free
island map and directory (only in Japanese) is nicely put together and comprehensive. Yet,
few people seem to have heard of the place. Most travelers, if they get to the northern Ry-
ukyus at all, never leave Amami-Ōshima. That's understandable for it takes an extra flight or
ferry ride to reach Kikaijima.
Nonetheless, it's worth the effort. Finally, it's also worth mentioning that Kikai is one of
the few Ryukyu Islands that does not have
habu
snakes. For whatever reason, they're not part
of the island's indigenous wildlife. Among the Ryukyus, only Kikai, Okinoerabu and Yoron
share this distinction.
The marine terminal at Kametoku Port.
