Kuroshio Forest Mangrove Park
黒潮の森マングローブパーク
A park beside the mangroves at the mouths of the Sumiyo and Yakatsu rivers, Japan’s second-largest mangrove forest. Paddling through the mangroves by canoe is Amami’s top experience.
The Sumiyo mangrove forest covers about 71 hectares, second only to Iriomote Island in Japan, and belongs to the Amami Islands National Park. Kuroshio Forest Mangrove Park has an observation tower, an information center and canoe rentals. Following a guide on a kayak trip of about 1.5 to 2 hours takes you deep into the mangrove waterways, where you can observe fiddler crabs, mudskippers and herons. Whether you can go depends on the tide, so book in advance and check the tide times. The canoe experience costs about 2,000 to 4,000 yen. It is about a 30-minute drive from Naze, and the roadside station Michi-no-Eki “Amami Oshima Sumiyo” is nearby.
Opening hours
09:00–18:00 (canoe trips require reservation; depend on tides)
Nearby sights
- Materiya Falls
- Kinsakubaru Primeval Forest
- Mount Yuwan
- Miyakozaki Cape
- Kochiyama Observatory
- Honohoshi Coast
- Ohama Seaside Park
- Amami Museum