2026 China Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in August)

📍Location: Okinoerabu Island, Kagoshima Prefecture Okinoerabu Island, one of the Amami Islands, is an island made of uplifted coral! There are caves everywhere on the island! I was so excited and wanted to go there forever, and finally I did! How to get to Okinoerabu Island: Plane or Ferry I took a roughly 7-hour boat ride from Naha Port, via Yoron Island. 🚢💨 A one-way fare for adults is about 6,000 yen (second-class fare). You can get around the island in 1-2 hours by rental car. Recommended Spot #1: Cape Takana 💞Reasons to recommend: The view is simply amazing! The ocean breeze is pleasant! There are walking trails so you can relax! You can see sea turtles from the cliffs! On the far left of the cape is a place called the "quarry," where travertine marble was mined. We even spotted a goat there! If you're lucky, you might even see one! ❤️ If you call out or chase them, they'll run away, so leave them alone! 🎶 Recommended Spot #2: Fucha 💞Reason for Recommended: This is a place where you can see seawater gushing out of the cave. On windy days, the water apparently shoots up several dozen meters. It's truly a spectacular sight. 👀 The view from the cliffs is also amazing! ❤️ If you're feeling brave, head to the very edge and take some amazing photos! Recommended Spot #3: Caving 💞Reason for Recommended: What to do on Okinoerabu Island? This is it! A secluded spot A breathtaking experience surrounded by breathtaking natural scenery! An extraordinary experience! *You'll be driven to the cave by your guide in their car. Follow their instructions! The cave is located in a place that might make you think, "Huh? This is it?" You'll explore the cave, and the beginner course only goes as far as Rimstone Cave. If you want to go further, please contact us! 🎶 This life-threatening experience involves crawling through narrow spaces, diving under waterfalls, swimming, and walking. The experience lasts about two hours. Of course, photos and videos are allowed, so don't worry! You'll hear about the lives of people here in the past and how the caves were formed! If you visit Okinoerabu Island, be sure to give it a try! ✨ #EnjoyJapan #DomesticTravel #ampmhk #Tourism #Kagoshima #AmamiIslands #OkinoerabuIsland #CavingExperience #Extraordinary #Cave

📍Taminamisaki, Okinoerabujima A spectacular spot where you can see the blue ocean and transparent coral from a 51m high cliff♡ The water was so clear that we were amazed, and we could even see the sea turtles swimming in the ocean from the top of the cliff🐢✨ The first photo is the path to the cliff. You can see the cobalt blue ocean in its entirety, and the path to the cliff is also spectacular💙 The sixth photo is really small, but did you notice? ! lol There is a place like an observation deck at the top of the cape, and we took a picture of the cliff from there📷 *It's a spot with no fence, so it's quite dangerous when you look at it again, so please be careful when you go!! ! ! ! ! *By the way, the lighthouse was locked and we couldn't climb it. The T-shirts we are wearing were purchased on Okinoerabujima. Apparently Okinoerabu Island resembles the shape of Nike, and they've made and sold T-shirts with the shape of Okinoerabu Island, parodying Nike 👕 This is also a memory of the trip 🥰 The ninth photo shows a full view of Okinoerabu Island, and the ♡ is at Cape Tamina 🤍 It looks like Nike, right? Lol Add some excitement to your everyday life: 🌙 📍 Cape Tamina 📮 Tamina, China-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture 🚗 About 20 minutes by car from Wadomari center 🅿️ Parking available #tourism #remote island trip #remote island #remote island trip #Okinoerabu Island #great view spot #great view

📍Rimstone, Okinoerabujima Okinoerabujima has over 300 limestone caves, large and small, and is known as the "holy land of caves." If you come to the island, you should definitely try caving (cave exploration). Unlike tourist caves, caving is not guided from the entrance, and you explore the pitch black cave wearing a helmet, wetsuit, and overalls. It's a real adventure 🤍 (Because it's pitch black inside the cave, they will set up lights for you when you take photos 📷) There are four limestone caves on the island that you can go to on a caving tour! *Rimstone (Beginner Course) *Ojado Cave (Beginner Course) *Ginsui Cave (Advanced Course) *Suirendo Cave (Intermediate Course) We went to Rimstone for the beginner course♡ (You can only go to the intermediate and advanced courses after experiencing the beginner course! ↑ The most popular and famous "Ginsui Cave" is an advanced course) I'm really glad I went and would highly recommend this caving experience👣 But it feels like a hidden spot that only those in the know know about! I hope that those who see my post can understand its wonderful charm♡! Okinoerabu Island🏝️ is a hidden island with a spectacular view that is less well known than Amami Oshima and Yoron Island in the Amami Islands. There are no direct flights from major airports, so the general way to get there is to transfer at Naha Airport or Kagoshima Airport! There is one flight per day from Naha Airport and three flights per day from Kagoshima Airport to Okinoerabu Airport. Add some excitement to your everyday life:🌙 📍 Rimstone, Okinoerabujima 👛 Adults @16,000 yen Time required: about 2-3 hours (about 2 hours inside the cave) #Sakura2024 #GirlsTrip #Okinoerabujima #RemoteIslandTrip #DomesticTrip #AmazingView #AmazingSpot

📍Shoryudo, Okinoerabujima (Kagoshima) Okinoerabujima is known as the island of flowers and caves🏝 Okinoerabujima has over 300 caves of various sizes, and Shoryudo is a tourist cave with a total length of 3,500m, of which 600m is open to the public. As the island was formed by the uplift of coral, the stalactites are wonderfully developed, and the size and beauty of the type of stalactites called flowstones, which crystallize to cover the walls, are among the largest in Japan!! (※It seems to have a slightly different atmosphere from the limestone caves on the Japanese mainland) The inside of the cave was lit up, there was a shrine, there were sparkling stones, and stones with interesting names like Christmas trees and magic daruma rocks, so it was a place worth seeing🤍 A mysterious and extraordinary world that you can't experience very often It's more prosperous than I imagined, and it's an island worth seeing, so I highly recommend it to those who like island trips, and I also want to visit Okinoerabujima! ♡ Add excitement to your daily life:🌙 📍 Shoryudo, Okinoerabujima 📮 Sumiyoshi, Chinyo-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture 🕙 9:00-17:00 (closed on Tuesdays) 💰 Adults 1,100 yen Elementary and junior high school students 550 yen #Sakura2024 #Domestic travel #Remote island travel #Breathtaking views #Breathtaking views #Okinoerabujima #Girls trip

When I had a week off from work and was thinking about going to a remote island, I remembered the JAL miles I had saved up. I wanted to go to Yoron Island, and I was also interested in Minamidaito Island. Oh, Okinoerabu Island looks fun too. I was so indecisive that I couldn't decide on a destination, so I asked Japan Airlines' "Miles Somewhere South Island" to choose the destination for me. I decided on Okinoerabu Island, and excitedly boarded my first JAC flight from Naha to Okinoerabu Island. It was the off-season, so I was the only tourist there, but as expected, this route, which is the islanders' means of transportation, was full. I arrived at the destination in no time while reading the in-flight magazine Coral Way. When I got off the plane, I was surprised to see the airport right in front of me. I was happy that I could walk around and my luggage came out right away. The airport and the island were very homey, and it was a wonderful trip. Address of Okinoerabujima Airport: 1732-2 Kunigami, Wadomari-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture, 891-9101 Take a JAC flight from Naha Airport. #Airplane #Remote Island #Remote Island Travel #777 #Okinoerabujima #JAC #Japan Air Commuter #Flight Report

Okinoerabujima has many caves, some of which can only be entered with a tour guide. Caving tours are held daily, and are recommended for cave lovers. Shoryudo is a cave that you can easily drop into. It is a large tourist cave that unfolds in an underground world, and is introduced at the entrance as one of the nine best caves in Japan. My impression was that it was like a sculpture of nature created by groundwater over a long period of time. The countless silvery-white stalactites hanging from the ceiling are said to be the most beautiful in the Orient, and 600m of the total length of 3,500m is open to the public. The development of the stalactites due to their transformation from the coral sea is amazing, and some of the countless silvery-white stalactites hanging from the ceiling are called Christmas trees and music halls. Address: 891-9213 Sumiyoshi, China-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture #trip202304 #Kagoshima Prefecture #Okinoerabu Island #Cave #Remote Island

In fact, Okinoerabujima is also famous as the island where Saigo Takamori was exiled and spent about a year and a half. At the shrine near the site of the prison, there is a bronze statue of Saigo Takamori with his pet dog, just like in Ueno Park. There was a double-arched stone bridge called Nanshu Bridge over the river that flows next to the shrine. There is also the Wada Town Saigo Nanshu Memorial Museum, which is within walking distance. It is a so-called historical museum. It is said that he realized the idea of ​​"respecting heaven and loving people" after living in a harsh prison here. In front of the memorial museum, a small lattice prison has been reproduced, and inside there is a statue of a skinny Saigo Takamori. The admission fee is 200 yen, so we recommend visiting this as a set. Address: 891-9111 Tetechina, Wadomari-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture #trip202304 #Okinoerabujima #Kagoshima Prefecture

A famous spot for the sunrise over the strange rock formations. It's a sunrise spot worth getting up early to see, if it's clear. Unfortunately, I visited just before dusk, but the view was still spectacular. There were many other people taking photos. The sailing ship monument was created on September 22, 1890 (Meiji 23), when the Canadian sailing ship "Liege C Troop" encountered a typhoon and was wrecked off the coast of Ujiji Beach. The islanders rescued the ship, and two years later the Canadian government sent a gift to the islanders for their rescue and nursing care, which was commemorated by this gift. There is a parking lot and it is located right off the prefectural road, so it is easy to access. Address: 891-9211, Ashi Kiyohara, China Town, Oshima District, Kagoshima Prefecture #trip202304 #Okinoerabu Island #Seaside

While walking around Okinoerabu Island, I suddenly came across a sign for the Cycad Jungle. I parked my bike and went inside, and it was a lawless jungle. Simply put, it was a place like a promenade where you can see plants that grow naturally on the island, mainly cycads. In addition to cycads, there are banyan trees, papayas, bamboo, and many more. The entrance and exit are separate, and you can exit near Wanjo Beach. Please note that I went to the exit and then went back to get my bike. The best time to go is when the cycads are lush, but I would recommend this place to anyone interested in the island's plants. I think it's a good idea to stop by on your way to see the sea. Address: Inobe, Wadomari-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture, 891-9114 #trip202304 #Okinoerabu Island #Cycad #Jungle

This cape is located at the northwestern tip of Okinoerabu Island. It is a 51m high cliff that juts out into the East China Sea. Looking down at the sea, you can see wild sea turtles raising their heads from the water, but unfortunately we were not able to see them on this day. On a windy day, it takes quite a bit of courage to go to the edge. . . It is a famous spot on the island as a powerful cliff. It is one of the most scenic spots on Okinoerabu Island and is counted as one of the top ten scenic spots in Amami. People with a fear of heights can experience an unbearable fear! When visiting, be very careful not to let your hat or umbrella fly away. There is a dedicated parking lot and restrooms nearby, so it was easy to access. Address: Tamana, China-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture #Kagoshima Prefecture #Cape #Okinoerabu Island #Tamanami Cape #trip202304

Here on Okinoerabu Island, you will find the best banyan tree in Japan. It is located on the grounds of Kunigami Elementary School, so anyone can visit, but I asked the staff if I could enter. It was planted by the first graduating class of Kunigami Elementary School in 1898, and it was refreshing to see how well the tree has grown since then. It is said that the tree has been loved by local residents and children for its history of coexistence and care, and was selected as one of the New 100 Famous Trees of Japan, which is why it is affectionately known as the "best banyan tree in Japan." It is also a natural monument designated by Wadomari Town, so it is listed in tourist brochures and on the island's website. It is close to Okinoerabu Airport, so if you have time before your flight, why not stop by? Address: 2904 Kunigami, Wadomari-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture, 891-9101 #trip202304 #Okinoerabu Island #Gajumaru #Kagoshima Prefecture Address: 2904 Kunigami, Wadomari-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture, 891-9101

I discovered Magokoro Sugar, a brown sugar shop, while walking around Okinoerabu. Many sweets made from mineral-rich brown sugar are lined up in the storefront. This shop produces and sells specialty products, including pure brown sugar made using traditional methods, using only sugar cane grown with care in their own farm on Okinoerabu Island. They make brown sugar from 100% sugar cane by hand from scratch, and since their workshop is on the premises, they sometimes let you taste freshly made sugar depending on the timing. In addition to brown sugar, they also have yaji beans and sata andagi, and they also have value packs that you can buy as souvenirs or for yourself. Their website says they also handle local shipping and gift items. It's not a place you can go to easily, so I'd like to visit again if I feel like eating it. Resident: 611-1 Uoran, Wadomari-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture, 891-9112 #trip202304 #Okinoerabu Island #Brown sugar

This inn where I stayed for five days on Okinoerabujima is a new facility and one of the most popular accommodations on the island. There is a beauty salon, cafe, and burger shop on the same premises as the inn, and it seems to be popular not only with tourists but also with locals. The surrounding facilities, including LOG INN Tarasso, are utilizing temporary housing in Fukushima. The Great East Japan Earthquake was an unprecedented disaster. While the construction of new homes for the residents who lived in temporary housing is progressing little by little, the temporary housing is being demolished at the same time as they are moving and starting new lives. It seems that they are reusing part of the temporary housing as an island cottage, with the desire to leave at least a little of the memories and lessons of this earthquake for future generations. There are convenience stores, home centers, and drugstores nearby, so it is conveniently located, and the sea in front of me was soothing every day. #Kagoshima Prefecture #Remote Island #Okinoerabu Island #trip202304 Address: 147-6 Wadomari, Wadomari-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture

To Okinoerabu Island, which belongs to Kagoshima Prefecture. Arriving at the remote island airport is more exciting than usual. It's a lot of fun because it's a different scale than expected, the airport has a nickname, and the shops sell souvenirs that you don't see on the mainland. Okinoerabu Airport is also called Erabu Yuri Island Airport. The runway is short, so only propeller planes can land. Because the planes are small, it's more fun than a bad attraction. Flights that arrive every day fill up quickly. I made my reservation early in January or February, but I don't think you can get a ticket at the last minute. It seemed like more people flying on business and remote island residents than tourists. It's a small airport, but I liked the nostalgic, rural feel of it. Address: 1732-2 Kunigami, Wadomari-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture, 891-9101 #trip202304 #Okinoerabu Island #Kagoshima Prefecture #Remote Island

There is something on the surface of the stalactite, which is said to be a flowing water stone, which is not common elsewhere. It is shocking that there is such a large limestone cave on a small island. This wonderful limestone cave has stalactites growing from the ceiling and stalagmites growing from the floor, but in this cave stalactites also grow from the walls. It looks sparkling like a crystal painting.

Okinoerabu Island, which was formed by the uplift of a coral reef, has many limestone caves and caverns. Among them, Shoryu Cave has stairs and walkways, so you can easily view the formations that nature has created over the years. Some of them have names such as Rocket Rock, but it's also fun to use your imagination and come up with your own names. #Trip to Kagoshima