Gajajima

Gajajima is an uninhabited island in the Tokara Islands with dramatic coastal cliffs rising to about 100 meters and a peak elevation of 497 meters. Its irregular shape stretches roughly 3 kilometers long and 2 kilometers wide, displaying volcanic rock formations throughout the landscape.

The island supported a community until the final evacuation in January 1970, when residents departed for good. Prior to leaving, people sustained themselves primarily through commercial fishing activities.

Former inhabitants maintain connections with their ancestral heritage by returning to the island to tend to family graves despite public access restrictions.

The island experiences a subtropical climate with a marked rainy season from May through September, when typhoons frequently occur. Visitors planning to explore the area should prepare accordingly for these weather conditions.

Former residents return to the island despite access restrictions to maintain family graves and preserve their connection to the place. These visits reveal a deep emotional bond between the people and their abandoned homeland.