Kikai Island

What it is

• A raised coral reef island composed of limestone in the northeastern Amami Islands.
• A geological site rising at a rate of two millimeters per year.
• The top producer of white sesame in Japan and a major sugar cane grower.
• The northernmost habitat for the Idea leuconoe butterfly species.

What to see

• Traditional stone walls constructed from local coral reef materials.
• Landscapes protected as part of the Amami Gunto National Park.
• Distilleries producing Amami Kokuto Shochu from local brown sugar.
• The site of Kikai Airport which originally served as a naval air base.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.