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Amami-Oshima World Heritage Conservation Center

HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Amami-Oshima World Heritage Conservation Center

Experience the wilderness of Amami Oshima through an immersive model forest

Amami Oshima Tourism & Products Federation

The largest island in the Amami archipelago, which stretches over 200km between Kyushu and Okinawa, Amami Oshima is covered with lush subtropical forests and has the second-largest mangrove forest in Japan. The island is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna, many of which are endemic species. On the one-year anniversary of its registration as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 2021, along with the islands of Tokunoshima, Iriomote, and northern Okinawa, Amami Oshima opened its World Heritage center to the public on July 26th, 2022.

The Amami-Oshima World Heritage Conservation Center has two main areas. The lobby displays information on the basic geography and history of the island, along with the rules and efforts implemented to protect its natural environment. As you go further into the center, you will enter an immersive model forest that alternates between day and night scenes every 15 minutes. The central video changes according to the current season to create an even more realistic simulation of the forest.

Perfect for children and adults alike, visitors can learn about the unique nature of Amami Oshima through videos, displayed animal specimens, and interactive touch screen displays. The center is free to enter and has English translations. Due to its prime location next to Mangrove Park, after visiting the center, you can go and experience the natural wonders of the island by taking a tour of the nearby mangrove forest via canoe or by looking for nocturnal wildlife with a licensed tour guide.

How to get there

There are direct flights to Amami Oshima from Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, and Okinawa. The World Heritage Conservation Center is 70 minutes by car or 110 minutes by bus from Amami Airport.

467-1 Ishihara, Sumiyo-cho, Amami-shi, Kagoshima-ken