The Unique Cultures and Ecosystems of Japanese Islands

Japan is an island nation, with its entire land area being comprised of islands. In addition to the four main islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, there are many smaller islands, both inhabited and uninhabited. Let us look at just two of these many small islands—Yakushima and Amami Oshima, both popular tourist destinations in Kagoshima Prefecture—and explore their unique cultures and ecosystems.

Japan: A Nation Comprised of Roughly 14,000 Islands

An island nation isolated from the continent and surrounded by sea on all sides, Japan is comprised of roughly 14,000 islands with a circumference of 100 meters or more. This number puts Japan among the top five in the world, and of these islands, more than 400 are inhabited. On the smaller islands outside of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, various independent cultures have developed. Because these islands offer spectacular views and unique ecosystems, they have become popular among Japanese people for island tourism, as well as among tourists from abroad.

Let’s look at Yakushima and Amami Oshima, which are known for their unique cultures and precious ecosystems. Both are World Heritage sites and have been attracting attention as tourist destinations.

Yakushima, the Rainy Island Where the 2,000-Year-Old Jomon Sugi Tree Stands Tall

About Yakushima

Yakushima is located in the sea off the coast of Kagoshima Prefecture. In 1993, it became Japan's first UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. It is a mountainous island with a unique topography formed by the uplift of the island, with roughly 90% of the island covered in forest. It has the highest peak in Kyushu, Mount Miyanoura, which reaches an elevation of 1,936 meters. Yakushima is also characterized by its diversity of climates, with most of the island being subtropical, while the area near the summit is subarctic.

In addition to Mount Miyanoura, there are more than 40 mountains of over 1,000 meters in the area. The yakusugi (old Japanese cedars) that grow naturally on the mountains are very famous and are popular with people who enjoy mountain climbing and trekking. The largest of these, a tree named “Jomon Sugi,” is said to be between 2,000 and 7,200 years old and is a symbol of Yakushima. Many mountain climbing and trekking tours are held with this tree as the highlight.

Yakushima Culture

As a mountainous island, travel was difficult on Yakushima before transportation was developed, and so each village developed its own unique culture.

For example, different villages have different dances that have been passed down over generations, such as the Anbou Jochiku Dance, which has been designated an intangible folk cultural property by the prefecture, as well as the Mugio Naginata Dance, the Kusugawa Bon Dance, and the Yudomari Kasa Dance.

Takemairi, a traditional mountain worship event in which each village makes a pilgrimage to the mountains in the fifth or ninth month (or both) of the old lunar calendar, is another tradition unique to Yakushima. It is said that about 20 of the 24 villages on Yakushima still carry out this mountain pilgrimage.

The Yakushima Ecosystem

“On Yakushima it rains 35 days a month,” or so the saying goes. Yakushima ranks first among the Japan Meteorological Agency’s observation points in terms of rainfall. Naturally, it has an ecosystem and landscape that is well adapted to the rainy and humid environment.

There are many endemic animal species, with 17 species of mammals such as Yakushima deer and Yakushima macaques, 188 species of birds, 13 species of reptiles, 5 species of amphibians, and over 3,000 species of insects being confirmed.

In order to preserve this rich natural environment, various conservation efforts are being made. For example, for hiking and trekking tours to Jomon Sugi, which are attended by approximately 200,000 people each year, measures are being implemented to protect the natural environment, including converting old trolley tracks into hiking trails, the provision of toilets, and restrictions on private cars. Furthermore, in order to protect the island's representative wild animal, the Yakushima deer, and to reduce damage from agriculture or forestry, efforts are being made to understand and monitor the deer’s habitat, to protect the forest ecology, and to control the population through planned capture.

Amami Oshima, Home of “Amami Blue” Waters and a Paradise for Sea Turtles

About Amami Oshima

Amami Oshima is located in the sea south of Kyushu. Excluding the four main islands such as Honshu, it is the fifth largest Japanese island.

While there are sandy beaches where sea turtles come to lay their eggs and crystal-clear waters known affectionately as “Amami Blue,” most of the island is mountainous and covered with virgin forest. In 2021, it was registered as Japan's fifth UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, along with Tokunoshima, Northern Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island, and since then the number of tourists attracted by its natural beauty has been increasing.

Amami Oshima Culture

Located roughly halfway between Kagoshima and the main island of Okinawa, Amami Oshima has been strongly influenced by Ryukyu (present-day Okinawa) and Kagoshima cultures and has developed a unique culture of its own.

One representative element of Amami Oshima culture is its dyeing and weaving traditions. Oshima-tsumugi is a plain weave fabric made from hand-spun silk threads that have been dyed with mud and hand-woven. It is highly regarded as one of the world’s three great textiles, alongside French Gobelins tapestries and Iranian Persian carpets.

Traditional folk songs handed down on the island include the Hachigatsu (August) Dance, which celebrates the rice harvest, and Shima Uta, which are songs that vary according to each island (shima) settlement. Shima Uta are loved and sung by local residents as their hometown songs.

The Japanese painter TANAKA Isson (1908-1977) was attracted by Amami Oshima’s natural beauty and moved there at the age of 50. He is known for the many paintings of subtropical flowers and birds unique to Amami Oshima that he created while working as a dyer at an Oshima-tsumugi factory to make a living. At the Tanaka Isson Memorial Museum, located in a corner of the Amami Park tourist facility, you can feel his unique style and the rich nature of Amami Oshima.

The Amami Oshima Ecosystem

Amami Oshima is known for its beautiful sea. There are over 150 beaches on the island where sea turtles lay their eggs, and egg-laying surveys are also conducted there. Thanks to an abundance of seaweed, which is their staple food, green sea turtles can be seen all year round, regardless of the season.

On the other hand, 80% of the island is covered with trees, with 1,307 species of vascular plants, including many endemic species that are named after the island, such as the Amami kayaran orchid and the Amami seishika azalea.

Amami Oshima is also home to rare fauna such as the Amami rabbit, which can only be found there or Tokunoshima. Additionally, cycads grow in colonies all over the island, the most impressive of which is the colony at Cape Ayamaru, which is a well-known tourist attraction.

As Amami Oshima is home to many plants and animals that are found only on the island, various efforts are being made to protect these rare species. For example, to reduce the number of animals killed in traffic accidents, anti-roadkill signs have been installed to caution drivers, patrols are carried out to prevent illegal capturing, measures are taken to prevent damage caused by wild goats, and various nature conservation activities, such as protecting sea turtles and coral reefs, are being undertaken by the entire island.

In addition to Yakushima and Amami Oshima, which we have explored, there are many other islands in Japan with unique cultures, characteristics, and ecosystems. The next time you are sightseeing, why not expand your horizons and enjoy a stay on one of Japan’s remote islands?