Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The second batch of Yoshinobu rocks is several hundred meters north above the first set.
They start approximately 490 feet (75 meters) offshore and extend 1,310-1,640 feet (400-500
meters) north and east. The islets in this group vary in size from 33 by 50 feet (10 by 15
meters) in diameter to the largest, which is about 330 feet (100 meters) long. Almost all the
islets in this double set of rocks are covered in vegetation and several of them have nice
beaches. Given their proximity to shore, at low tide you can walk or swim out to a number of
them.
ŌTAKEZAKIIWA
(
大竹崎岩;
Ōtaké zaki-iwa). The most extreme southeastern point of Tane-
gashima is called Ōtakézaki, which means “Big Bamboo Point.” The cape is about 2,620 feet
(800 meters) across, 660 feet (200 meters) wide and entirely covered in clean, smooth white
sand. It's a beautiful beach and there's a small fishing port and marina there as well. There are
two sets of rocks just offshore at the point. Those to east are the Ōtakézaki rocks and those to
the west are the Kawasoenohana rocks. The Big Bamboo Point rocks start about 660 feet (200
meters) east offshore and continue about another 1,970-2,300 feet (600-700 meters) further
east and southeast. Altogether, there are more than dozen of them. They range in size from as
small as 80 feet (25 meters) in diameter to as large as 525 feet (160 meters) across. Almost all
are half of the rocks are covered in vegetation and thus none of them have any good beaches.
Rock outcrops at Cape Ōtakezakiiwa.
KAWASOENOHANAIWA
(
カワソエノ鼻岩
Kawa so éno hana-iwa). At the western end of
Ōtaké cape, a little more than a kilometer west of the Big Bamboo Point rocks, are the Kawa-
soenohana rocks. They begin a mere 410 feet (125 meters) due south of the marina and con-
tinue south another 1,640 feet (500 meters). Most of them are quite large, ranging in size
from the smallest at about 165 feet (50 meters) in diameter to the largest, which is 1,310 feet
(400 meters) long. There are about a half dozen of these rocks. Together with a number of
strategically placed giant tsunami jacks, they effectively and completely shelter the marina.