Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
straight through the mountains via tunnels, some of which are quite long. Towards Ōshima's
southeastern end, just outside of Uken Village (
宇検村
; Uken-son), you'll find Mt Yūwan, the
island's highest peak and a good place for hiking. It's in a protected forest park zone. The fur-
ther south you travel, the wider the island becomes. It terminates at the southwesternmost
point of Cape Sotsuko (
曾津高崎
; Sotsuko-zaki). From this long, narrow and scenic cape
you'll see to the north to little, uninhabited Edateku Island, and to the south across the Ōshi-
ma Strait (
大島海峡
; Ōshima-kaikyō), the fairly large island of Kakeroma. There is a ferry
service to the latter, but if you wish to go to Edateku, you'll need a boat—or you can swim.
It's not too far.
As the crow flies, it's 18 miles (29 kilometers) from Sotsuko Point to Ōshima's opposite
point, its southeasternmost tip at Cape Kaitsu (
皆津崎
; Kaitsu-zaki). By the contorted roads
that for the most part track right alongside Ōshima's southern shore, it's 35 miles (56 kilo-
meters), and that does not include a final 1.5-mile (2-kilometer) hike at either end, for the
road does not go all the way to the very end of each promontory. This southern end island
drive is particularly scenic as it follows closely along the Ōshima Strait, where the view is al-
ways looking south to Kakeromajima.
YAGIJIMA
(
山羊島;
Yagi-jima). This tiny islet, whose name means “Goat Island,” is located at
the ocean approach to Nazé and forms part of the tsunami barrier which protects the harbor.
It's connected to the “mainland” by an 80-foot (25-meter) bridge. The islet is roughly circular
in dimension and measures about 575 feet (175 meters) in diameter. It would be uninhab-
ited but for a small resort hotel on its southern (protected) side. It's called the Amami Seaside
Hotel (
奄 美 シーサイド ホテル
; Amami shī-saido hoteru) and it's a nice choice for those
who like to be on the water but not far from downtown.
EDATEKUJIMA
(
枝手久島;
Edatéku-jima). This little uninhabited isle is just off Ōshima's
western shore, north of Sotsuko Point. It's oval-shaped, about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) long
and not quite 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) wide. The road heading west out of Uken runs right
past it, a bit north of its closest point to shore. You could easily swim to it, but watch the tides
for there can be swift currents.
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KAKEROMAJIMA
加計呂麻島
The largest town on Ōshima's southern shore is Setouchi (
瀬戸内町
; Sétouchi-chō). It's on the
eastern side. From the harbor at Koniya (
古仁屋
; Koniya) there is a daily ferry service avail-
able on the Kakeroma Ferry (
フェリー かけろま
; Ferie-Kakéroma) to two ports on Kaker-
