Kuchinoshima

What it is

• A volcanic island covering thirteen square kilometers in the Tokara chain.
• The northernmost inhabited island in the archipelago with about one hundred residents.
• A former territory under United States administration from 1946 to 1952.
• The location where the 30th parallel north passes through the northern end.

What to see

• Wild Kuchinoshima cattle living in the southern evergreen forests.
• Mount Maedake, the highest volcanic peak reaching 628 meters.
• Seramma Onsen, a hot spring located on the southwest coast.
• The Tamoto lily, a plant species endemic to this specific island.

Getting there

• Access is available via the village-run ferry from Kagoshima.
• The island can also be reached by ferry from Amami Oshima.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.