Amami-Oshima is the largest island in the Amami Islands and has a distinct culture influenced by both mainland Japan and Okinawa. In the north, you’ll find vast flatlands covered in farmland, where sugarcane cultivation thrives. The southern part of the island, meanwhile, is mountainous and home to a diverse range of unique wildlife. One of the most remarkable aspects of Amami-Oshima is its rich cultural heritage, which includes traditional island songs, brown sugar shochu, Oshima Tsumugi textiles, and more.

Kakerojima Island has an area of 77.39 square kilometers and is located across the Oshima Strait from the southern coast of Amami-Oshima. In terms of geology, the island is long and possesses a complex coastline totaling 147.5 kilometers in length. There are about 30 small settlements on the island.

Ukejima Island has an area of 13.34 square kilometers and is located south of Kakeromajima Island. The island has two settlements, Ukeamuro and Ikedi, and has seen an increase in tourism from visitors coming to fish and dive.

Yorojima Island, located to the south of Kakeromajima Island, covers an area of 9.35 square kilometers. The houses on the island are characterized by their distinctive coral stone exterior walls.

Kikaijima is an island with an area of 56.93 square kilometers. Most of the island is made of limestone that originates from coral, and the highest point rises about 200 meters above sea level. As the northern limit for the large butterfly species Idea leuconoe, the island is a well-known overwintering spot for Ideopsis similis and also serves as a stopover for the migrating butterfly species Parantica sita heading south from Honshu toward Taiwan.

With an area of 247.77 square kilometers, Tokunoshima is covered by forests inhabited by many rare plants and animals. In the center of the island lies a mountain range centered around Mt. Inogawadake (645m), while in the north there is a mountain range centered around Mt. Amagidake (533m). The areas surrounding the mountain ranges are flat, creating the largest agricultural land area in the Amami Islands. The island is also known for sumo and bullfighting.The long-standing tradition of bullfighting, an event deeply cherished by the people of the island, creates island-wide excitement.

Okinoerabujima is an island with an area of 93.65 square kilometers, featuring a variety of karst topography and 200 to 300 underground stalactite caves. Predominantly flat, the island’s highest peak, Mt. Oyama, rises 245 meters above sea level in the southwest. Known for its flower production, the island is the top producer of lilies in Japan. As the place where historical figure Takamori Saigo was exiled during the late Edo period, this island is home to shrines and restored prison cells.

Yoronjima is a coral reef island with an area of 20.8 square kilometers located at the southernmost tip of the Amami Islands. Culturally influenced by Okinawa, the island is so close to Okinawa Prefecture that Cape Hedo, the northernmost tip of Okinawa Island, is visible to the south. In 1983, it established itself as a tourist destination under the name Panauru. The island shares a striking resemblance to the landscapes of Mykonos in Greece, so much so that they have become sister cities.