Kikaijima Island is one of the Amami Islands that is situated about 380 kilometers south of Kagoshima City and 25 kilometers east of Amami Oshima. It was formed about 100,000 years ago, and coral reefs emerged. This small island has a circumference of approximately 48 kilometers, with its maximum factor achieving 211 meters. A power across the island takes more or less 40 minutes, making it an excellent vacation spot for an afternoon experience. Furthermore, there are not any venomous snakes or species generally located within the Amami Islands and Okinawa Prefecture, permitting you to experience your ride with peace of mind.
Kikaijima is famous for its sesame, which has been cultivated for over a century. The island produces approximately 1/2 of Japan's sesame, making it the largest producer of white sesame in Japan! Individually packaged products are available all over the island, making them perfect souvenirs. Another popular souvenir is the brown sugar made from Kikaijima's sugarcane. Known for its easy texture without the lingering sweetness of brown sugar, it's far produced using nutrient-cycling, mildly alkaline soil, coral reefs, and sandy soil specific to the island.
Map of Kikaijima Island
| Name | Kikaijima (Japanese: 喜界島) |
| Country | Japan |
| Prefecture | Kagoshima |
| Coordinates | 28°19′35″N 129°58′27″E |
| Area | 56.93 km2 (21.98 sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC +9 |
| Population | 6,343 (2024) |
| Airport | Kikai Airport (KKX) |
Transportation Information for Kikaijima Island
You can reach Kikaijima by plane or ferry. However, the ferry timetable may be minimal, so it's far. Instead, it is recommended to travel by means of aircraft, which operates numerous instances daily. There are not any direct flights from Tokyo, so you must tour through Kagoshima Airport or Amami Oshima Airport to Kikai Airport. Here, we offer data on visiting via aircraft via "Kagoshima Airport" and "Amami Oshima Airport," as well as statistics on island transportation that you may find helpful.
● [Via Kagoshima Airport] By Plane
If you're traveling from the Tokyo metropolitan location, traveling through Kagoshima Airport is very handy. There are typically two flights every day from Kagoshima Airport, one in the morning and one around noon. It takes approximately 1 hour and 15 mins from Kagoshima Airport to Kikai Airport, so if you go away from the Tokyo metropolitan area early in the morning, you may arrive at Kikaijima on the same day.
● [Via Amami Oshima] By Plane
If you want to discover Amami Oshima properly, use the "Amami Oshima Airport" direction. It takes approximately 15 minutes from Amami Oshima Airport to Kikai Airport. There are common flights a day from Amami Oshima Airport, one in the morning and one during the night, so you can explore the environment of Amami Oshima on the first day, stay for a single day, and take the primary flight to Kikaijima, the subsequent morning! This travel plan is also particularly recommended.
● Island Transportation
The fundamental modes of transportation on the island are car rental, buses, and taxis (website: http://www.town.kikai.lg.jp.e.aeb.hp.transer.com/kankou/kanko-iju/kotsuannai/chonai.html). Bicycles and motorcycles are available for rent. However, thinking about the island's unique and unpredictable weather, driving is ideal. There is only one traffic light on the island, and many cars drive slowly, so even those not assured of their riding capabilities can experience pretty comfortably. Interestingly, the only traffic lights on the island are apparently installed to educate children on the way to use them!
5 Selected Kikaijima Island Attractions
Just a 10-minute walk from the airport! The Coral Reef-Enclosed "Sugira Beach"
Sugira Beach (スギラビーチ) is about a three-minute pressure or a ten-minute stroll from Kikaijima Airport. This is the island's biggest swimming beach, originally an herbal bay that has been renovated to maximize its splendor. The about 250-meter-long sandy seashore features pavilions and benches, making it a favorite amassing spot for locals in the course of the swimming season.
When you dip your hand into the water, you'll immediately sense the outstanding clarity of the sea! You cannot swim inside the ocean best; additionally, take a leisurely walk alongside the seashore, playing with the tropical atmosphere.
The Island's Premier Energy Spot: "Tekuzuku Gigantic Gajumaru (Banyan) Tree"
A massive banyan tree is located in the Tekuzuku area inside the southern part of the island, about a 15-minute from the airport. Standing at 17.7 meters tall with a trunk circumference of 16 meters and a department diameter of 42 meters, it is one of the tallest banyan bushes on the island, predicted to be over a hundred years old.
The banyan tree is surrounded by dense subtropical plants, which are said to have protected it from the ravages of storms, permitting it to grow to such an excellent size.
When you stand under the tree, you will be awed by its majestic presence and sense the breath of nature. That is why it is referred to as Kikaijima's most excellent energy spot.
The "Araki-Nakazato Esplanade" and Its Unique Ecosystems
On the island's western aspect, the Araki-Nakazato Esplanade (荒木・中里遊歩道) is about a 10-minute power from the airport. The path is approximately 2 kilometers long, starting with a green tunnel coated with banyan trees and finishing with an outstanding view of the Kikaijima Sea from the statement deck!
Along the manner, you may study flora that thrives inside the coral reef rock region, which might not often be visible otherwise. The Araki-Nakazato Esplanade has been specifically a National Natural Monument, and in 2017, the whole vicinity was identified as a part of the Amami Islands National Park.
Due to its vicinity on the island's western facet, it is a popular sundown spot amongst locals, offering lovely perspectives of the setting sun.
Some sections of the route can be challenging to traverse, so please put on comfortable footwear, together with footwear rather than sandals, while journeying.
The Enigmatic Banyan Tree "Witch Tree" on Sugar Road
Approximately a 15-minute force from the airport, a mysterious "Witch Tree" stands amidst the sugarcane fields. This banyan tree has an enigmatic call, shrouded in thriller, including the origins of its name, "why it sticks out in the sugarcane discipline," and "while it began to be referred to as through this name." The call derives from the truth that once regarded at night time; the tree resembles a hunched witch.
This tree isn't the most effective steeped in a thriller. However, it is an area in which you can sense the island's origins. If you closely look at the base of the trunk, you'll see the roots enveloping the coral reefs, imparting a mysterious and precious sight. This indicates that in the remote past, the current land region was as soon as the ocean. It is stated that this precise shape was shaped by the coral reefs, remnants of the sea being swallowed by the tree roots while the underwater coral accelerated into land, allowing plants to start growing on the newly fashioned land.
It appears like moving into a story… "Totoro Road (Nakama Village)"
Totoro Road, approximately an 8-minute force from the airport, is undoubtedly a road in front of Nakama Village, where locals still live. The plants growing on either facet shape a low tunnel, making you feel as if you've entered the sector of that well-known movie.
At the end of the road, you'll suddenly arrive at a green subject, and on the other side, the sizable ocean unfolds! The sea stretches out in front of the seashore, supplying an extensive, open area for a close-up walk.
During low tide, the water seems shallow, but if you visit at excessive tide, you may witness a deeper and more expansive view of the ocean. Gazing at the sea, you could look at colorful tropical fish and lovable marine creatures like tiny shrimp.
Local Cuisine on Kikaijima Island
Discover Kikaijima's Culinary Culture Through Goat Dishes
In the past, every household raised goats as livestock, consuming them several times a year after the busy farming seasons as a source of nutrition and vital food. There are various ways to prepare goat, including sashimi, soup, tatami, and sukiyaki, but the most famous traditional dish is "カラジュウリ(Karajuuri)," a dish made from goat blood and innards.
It is said that long ago, Chinese visitors taught this dish to the islanders as a gesture of gratitude. It remains one of the local delicacies, still cherished today as a welcoming dish for guests.
Climate of Kikaijima Island
Kikaijima has a subtropical climate with a warm climate 12 months-round. The annual average temperature is 22.1°C, and the expected yearly rainfall is set at 2136 mm, even though there may be extensive variation in rainfall from 12 months to year, with the maximum of it concentrated in the wet season. There is likewise a storm season.
Although Kikaijima is almost on the same latitude as Naze City on Amami Oshima, its climate barely differs from Amami Oshima's.
The summer season is characterized by extreme daylight and excessive humidity. However, temperatures never exceed 35°C, and the consistent breeze makes it notably comfortable.
The largest difference from Amami Oshima is the lower rainfall. Even while it's miles raining on Amami Oshima, you can now and then see blue skies over Kikaijima through breaks in the clouds.
