Minamiōsumi, town in Kimotsuki district, Kagoshima prefecture, Japan
Minamiōsumi is a small town on the coast where the East China Sea meets the Pacific Ocean, located in the southern part of Kyushu island. The area is surrounded by mountains and forests with a quiet character featuring local shops, houses, and a fishing port from which boats depart daily.
The area was part of ancient Ōsumi Province, with archaeologists finding tools and artifacts from the Jomon and Yayoi periods showing human presence for thousands of years. During the Edo period, the powerful Satsuma Domain controlled the region, and in 2005 the villages of Nejime and Sata officially merged to form Minamiōsumi.
The name Minamiōsumi means 'the southern part of Ōsumi,' reflecting its location on the southern edge of the Ōsumi Peninsula. Daily life here revolves around fishing traditions, with communities gathering to share meals and working together in ways shaped by generations of dependence on the sea.
The best way to visit is by car or bus since no passenger trains run into the town, though ferry services connect it to other parts of Japan. Visit during local festivals in February and October or at any time when you want to enjoy fresh sea air and quiet surroundings, as the town is open year-round.
Cape Sata is the southernmost point of Japan's four main islands, offering wide ocean views and the chance to stand where the East China Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. Many well-known people come from this small town, including actress Mire Aika and baseball player Naoki Uchizono, showing how talent emerges from this quiet coastal place.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
