Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ranges between 2.5-3.5 miles (4-5.5 kilometers) in diameter. Its area has been measured at 6
square miles (15.5 square kilometers) and its circumference 8 square miles (20 square kilo-
meters).
There are two villages on the island, Ōsato (
大里
; Ō-sato) and Katadomari (
片泊
; Katado
mari). Between them they have a total population of about 175. The thrice weekly ferry from
Kagoshima stops at both villages. There are four
minshuku
in Ōsato and three in Katadomari.
It takes about five hours to reach Kuroshima as the ferry
Mishima
(the “M” Line) stops
at Takeshima and Iōjima along the way. Westbound, coming from Iōjima, it first stops on
Kuroshima's northeast side, at Ōsato. On most days the arrival time is scheduled for 2:25
PM
,
although one day a week it is one hour earlier than that. After a 20-minute unloading and re-
loading of freight and passengers, the ferry continues for 20 minutes (5 mile/8 kilometers) to
the island's central west side, arriving just after 3:00
PM
at Katadomari, docking for the night.
The next morning (once a week, two days later), the “M” Line ferry departs Katadomari
at 8:00
AM
and 20 minutes later makes its first 20-minute stop back at Ōsato. Departing there
at 8:40
AM
, it continues on its eastbound journey for one hour (23 miles/37 kilometers) to
Iōjima, arriving at 9:40
AM
. At 10:00
AM
, it departs and sails 25 minutes (9 miles/14 kilomet-
ers) to Takeshima. A 10:45
AM
departure and an almost three-hour sail north (58 miles/93
kilometers) brings the
Mishima
back to Kagoshima at 1:35
PM
, altogether taking about five
and a half hours.
Kuroshima Island's name “black” refers to the black volcanic soil, and black sand and
black basalt rock beaches, found here. As for “beaches,” they're really nonexistent. Almost en-
tirely, the island's 12-mile (20-kilometer) circumference is ringed by steep cliffs and a narrow
rocky coastline. Although it must be said that the island's strong suit is not beaches, it can
be said that it is good for hikers. Because the mountains are not exceptionally tall, Kuroshi-
ma is criss-crossed and encircled by a number of good roads and paths. The island's central
highlands section has a half dozen peaks ranging in height from 1,837-feet (560-meter) Mt
Eboshi (
鳥帽子山
; Eboshi-yama) to 1,936-feet (590-meter) Mt Yokodake (
橫冶山
; Yoko-daké
yama) to 2,041-feet (622-meter) Yagura Peak (
櫓岳
; Yagura-daké).
Virtually every section of Kuroshoma is accessible to hikers, bikers, motorcyclists or
drivers. It's a very pleasant and scenic island on which to get around, all 6 square miles (15
square kilometers) of it.
That wraps up our coverage of the Mishima Group and of the Ōsumi chain. From here,
we'll return to Kagoshima and wait for the next Monday or Friday night departure of the
