Yoronjima, Tropical island in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan
Yoronjima is an island in Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan, located 600 kilometers (373 miles) from Kagoshima City and covering 20.8 square kilometers (8 square miles). White sand beaches line the coast, and coral reefs surround the land, while clear water laps against shallow shores.
The island came under the control of the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1416 and later experienced rule by Satsuma starting in the 17th century. After World War II, it returned to Japanese administration in 1953.
The Southern Cross Center displays collections of sand grains, farming tools, and old objects that show the island's place in the Amami chain. Visitors can see how closely the sea and daily routines have been linked for generations of people living here.
Visitors reach the island through Yoron Airport with flights from Kagoshima or Naha, or they take a twenty-hour ferry ride from Kagoshima City. The beaches are accessible by small roads, and a bicycle or rental car makes it easier to move along the coast.
Yurigahama appears and disappears with the tides, forming a temporary sandbar that shifts its location throughout the year at different spots around the island. Locals say that the number of star-shaped sand grains you find in a handful from this bank brings luck.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
