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

Real traveler experiences and travel guides for Setouchi in March, 2026

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📍 Location: Kakeromajima, Kagoshima Prefecture Just a 20-minute ferry ride from Amami Oshima, Kakeromajima is a serene destination with untouched nature and few tourists. I rented a car on Amami Oshima and took it on the ferry, but I recommend renting a car locally on the island to minimize risks. ♡ Recommended Spots ♡ Kakeromajima is part of Setouchi Town in Kagoshima Prefecture, known as Japan's top producer of farmed bluefin tuna. A must-visit restaurant to enjoy delicious tuna is Shimazakana Amaumi. Their fresh seafood bowls are incredibly tasty, so be sure to try them! 😋 ♡ Recommended Spots ♡ Kakeromajima boasts several beautiful beaches. Among them, Saku Beach stands out with its shallow, crystal-clear waters. Another notable spot is Tokuhama Beach, which served as a filming location for the movie "Otoko wa Tsurai yo." Nearby, you can also find the Lion Rock, so don't miss it! ❣️ ♡ Recommended Spots ♡ For those looking to relax and unwind, I recommend staying at the pension "Horizon Club." This charming accommodation was handcrafted by a couple who relocated to Kakeromajima. The place is filled with unique touches, such as shell lights, shark teeth, and turtle shell instruments, showcasing the owners' dedication. Both dinner and breakfast feature locally sourced ingredients, and the meals were absolutely delicious! ✨🤤 The area around the pension is peaceful, with the sea nearby and no densely packed houses. It's a perfect spot to relax, and at night, you can enjoy stunning views of the stars. 🌟 If you're planning a trip to Kakeromajima, I hope this guide helps you make the most of your visit! 😊

#FireworksFestival Kuniya, Amami Oshima Setouchi Sea Station🎇 #MinatoFestival ----- The fireworks festival held at the "Setouchi Sea Station" in Kuniya, Amami Oshima, is a summer event where you can experience the warmth and excitement that only a remote island can offer🎆 Stalls lined up along the seafront, the scenery of the port town unfolding, and fireworks exploding right before your eyes! The contrast of the light reflected on the sea surface was truly fantastic, and it felt like being part of a local festival 🌺 I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to spend a relaxing summer night that they can't experience in the city ✨ Please stay at a hotel in Kuniya on the night of the festival and enjoy the starry sky in full bloom 🌌 Then, spend the next day watching the sunrise on the beach 🌅 ※This is the state of the event in 2024 (please check for the latest information) ----- Venue 📍Around Setouchi Sea Station 26-14 Kuniya Ominato, Setouchi-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture ----- #Fireworks festival #Amami Oshima #Setouchi Sea Station #Remote island trip #Japanese summer

Unlike other sandy beaches, this coast is characterized by a wide expanse of round stones carved by rough waves. The cave on this coast is very mysterious and is a recommended photo spot! ୨୧ ‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥୨୧ Location: Honohoshi Beach Address: Sokari, Setouchi-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture Access: Approximately 2 hours by car from Amami Airport Approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes by car from Naze Port Parking: Free parking available ୨୧ ‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥୨୧ #Kagoshima #Kagoshima Tourism #Amami Oshima #Amami Tourism #Kyushu Tourism #Coast #Sea #Nature #Amazing Views #Ocean View #Travel with Me

Address: Take a ferry from Amami Oshima to Kakeroma Island, then rent a bicycle from the ferry dock. Atmosphere/Facilities: The hangars that used to be the base for kamikaze pilots are quietly lined up on the coast. Evaluation: It's important to take seriously the heavy history that once existed on this now peaceful and quiet island. From Amami Oshima, we took another ferry to Kakeroma Island, then rented a bicycle to get there. It was a bit of a struggle to get there, but it was well worth it.

Next, we went to Yadori Beach 🐬 As expected, the water is extremely clear no matter where you go! You can't help but go into the turquoise blue sea. It's mainly a sandy beach, so it's a little difficult to walk, but it's definitely worth it! The southernmost beach in Amami, and you can see Kakeroma Island on the opposite shore. There's shade, so you can escape the heat 🙆🏻‍♀️ There's a parking lot? You can also go by rental car 😚 However, there is no running water, so be careful. Just before, there is another famous beach, Honohoshi Beach, and it looks like you can go there and back 🍒 By the way, someone who works there told me about it. Please go and check it out 🥰 #FreeSpot #AmamiOshima #YadoriBeach #AmazingSeasideView #IslandHopTrip #SummerShortTrip#AmazingView

In February 2026, I traveled to Amami Oshima and Kakeroma Island. Despite the unfortunate weather, I was able to enjoy the healing beauty of these islands' natural landscapes. Here's a glimpse of my experience. 🔵 Recommended for: Amami Oshima does not have direct flights from overseas, making it the opposite of the overtourism seen in Okinawa in recent years. There are no large resort hotels or shopping malls, and accommodations mainly consist of cozy guesthouses and pensions where the warm and friendly locals welcome you. This makes it an ideal destination for nature lovers who want to enjoy the stunning sea and the beautiful jungle, which has been recognized as a World Heritage site. 🔵 Access: Peach Aviation operates direct flights to Amami Oshima from Narita Airport. Peach often holds sales, and round-trip tickets can sometimes be purchased for under 10,000 yen, making it a very affordable route. 🔵 Amami Oshima: On my third visit to Amami Oshima, I focused on exploring the western side of the island. 🔴 Honohoshi Beach: This beach is known for its unique round stones and has gained fame as a filming location for dramas. When the waves recede, you can hear the distinctive sound of the stones colliding—a sound unlike anything you've heard before. 🔴 Miyakozaki: Famous for its appearance in the morning drama "Segodon," this cape juts out into the sea. Although the weather was unfortunate and the wind was strong during my visit, I imagine that visiting during the sunny summer season would reveal breathtaking views of the blue sea, blue sky, and lush green scenery. 🔵 Kakeroma Island: Accessible only by ferry from Koniya Port on the western side of Amami Oshima, Kakeroma Island offers a unique experience. There are no convenience stores or supermarkets on the island, so shopping is done at small local shops or roadside stations. Additionally, most of the few restaurants operate on a reservation basis and are closed during the winter season, so it's recommended to bring food from Amami Oshima. While the sea around Amami Oshima is stunning, the beauty of Kakeroma Island surpasses it, even under the cold winter sky. I am determined to visit again in the summer to go snorkeling and fully enjoy its beauty.

📅 Itinerary Day 1: Chicken rice, shochu factory, supermarket, Oshima Tsumugi factory Day 2: Mangrove forest, Kochiyama Observatory Day 3: Heart Hill, Hoshino Hoshi Beach, sunset yoga, night tour 🏨 Accommodation: Waterras, Yagijima Hotel, The Scene 🍴 Food spots: Hisakura, Kitahachi 📌 Useful tips: Renting a car is recommended

Location: Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture About 1 hour by plane from Kagoshima Airport A registered UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, Amami Oshima is the third largest island in Kagoshima.✨ The island boasts untouched nature, unique tourist spots, and delicious local specialties such as kokuto shochu (brown sugar distilled spirit), which can only be produced in the Amami Islands, and chicken rice.♥️ ♡ Recommended Spot ① Heart Rock, a romantic power spot 🩷 Located about 13 minutes by car from Amami Airport and 3 minutes from Hotel Bashayama Village. This heart-shaped tide pool appears only during low tide. You might even spot some fish swimming in it, so be sure to check it out!😊 ♡ Recommended Spot ② Ayamaru Lookout, one of Amami's top ten scenic spots and a New Kagoshima Hundred Views site The name "Ayamaru" comes from the rounded terrain resembling a "mari" (traditional Japanese ball). While it doesn’t mean "sorry," it’s a fun spot to jokingly pose as if apologizing.🤣 ♡ Recommended Spot ③ Mangrove Canoe Tour, a popular activity on Amami Oshima This tour lets you paddle through untouched nature, with opportunities to step out of the canoe and take photos. It’s best enjoyed during low tide and calm weather.😊 Kuroshio Forest Mangrove Park 60 minutes: 3,000 yen Wear comfortable clothes that can get wet! ♡ Recommended Spot ④ Arangachi Waterfall for a dose of negative ions…♡ After enjoying the mangrove canoe tour, visit this waterfall located about 25 minutes by car from the Mangrove Park. A footbridge allows easy access to the waterfall, making it safe for everyone.😊 For the adventurous, you can even walk barefoot across the river rocks to get closer to the waterfall. The view is truly breathtaking!😮 ♡ Recommended Spot ⑤ Honohoshi Beach, a drama filming location While swimming is not allowed due to high waves, the sight of the round stones shaped by the waves is worth the visit. Note: Taking stones home is prohibited, so please be mindful! ♡ Recommended Spot ⑥ Heart-shaped Scenery On the way from the city center to Honohoshi Beach, there’s an observation deck where you can see a bay shaped like a heart. Don’t miss it!✨ ♡ Recommended Spot ⑦ Night Tour With hotel pick-up service, this tour offers a chance to see wildlife and plants unique to Amami Oshima, including the Amami rabbit and even snakes. I was lucky enough to spot an Amami rabbit in its burrow and hear many unique bird calls. It was an incredibly enjoyable experience!✨ ♡ Recommended Spot ⑧ Night Tour at Oyado Nepusu Oyado Nepusu, located near the sea, also offers night tours. If you’re lucky, a stray cat named Nora might guide you to the beach! Amazingly, Nora led us to the beach and even stayed with us until we returned to the inn. Such a smart and kind cat—hope you get to meet him too!🙏 ♡ Recommended Spot ⑨ Manenzaki Observatory with views of Katetsu Bay and the Oshima Strait The scenery from here is stunning, and there’s a single tree that makes for a great photo spot. Highly recommended for Instagram-worthy shots!✨ ♡ Recommended Spot ⑩ A Hill Overlooking Two Seas Although I don’t have a photo, this is another highly recommended spot! Amami Oshima can be fully enjoyed even in a 2-night, 3-day trip, so consider it for your next travel destination!😊✨

"Showa-so" Since I was staying on Amami Oshima for two nights, I stayed at a local guesthouse. It had a warm and welcoming atmosphere, perfect for solo travelers! It was the cheapest place in the area! And it allowed me to experience the mysterious atmosphere of Amami Oshima! Run by a married couple, they were incredibly interesting and I had a great time. They also offer bicycle rentals and guided tours, and next time I'd like to take a night tour of the Amami rabbits! You should definitely try staying on Amami Oshima! #solotravel #domestictravel #amamioshima #guesthouse #solotravel #japantravelguide

📍Kakeroma Island 💰: ¥690 (round-trip ferry fare from Amami Oshima) If you want to see untouched nature, this is the place! It's a bit inaccessible, but the rewards are spectacular and beautiful natural scenery.✨ Kakeroma Island, about a 20-minute ferry ride from Amami Oshima, is home to untouched nature. There are several hotels, restaurants, and cafes, making it a comfortable environment despite being a remote island. Since I was traveling alone this time, I cycled around the island instead of renting a car! It was quite hilly, so I was very tired, but it was also refreshing to ride through nature.☺️ There was a restaurant I wanted to go to for lunch, but it closed around 2 PM, so I couldn't eat there.🥲 I recommend going to cafes and restaurants early.⚠️ #Let'sTravelWithPochikatsu

Traveled solo to Honohoshi Coast 🏝️ I stayed at a hotel called "THE SCENE" near Honohoshi Coast. The meals there were made with local ingredients, and they were all amazing... 😋🥰 It takes about 2 hours by car 🚗 from Amami Airport to the hotel. A rental car is a must! There are almost no traffic lights along the way, so it's easy 😏 The hotel is apparently lively during the season. The hotel's accommodation fee is not cheap, but it was very satisfying. Above all, the hotel staff were so nice...! I would like to go again. No, I definitely want to go again...! It was a wonderful solo trip. Thank you ☺️ #DomesticTravel #KagoshimaTrip #KagoshimaHotel #KagoshimaGourmet #Sea #SeasideScenery #AmamiOshima #AmamiOshimaTrip #HonohoshiCoast

If you want to see the sunset in Amami Oshima, Nishikomi is recommended ☀️❤️ It's about 2 hours by car from Amami Airport 🚗💨 It's about 1 hour and 20 minutes by car from Naze in the city 🚗💨 It's a little far, but if you want to see the sunset in Amami, Nishikomi is a hidden gem that I recommend 🥰🔥 There are no people on the coast, so you can have the sunset all to yourself ☀️ The sea is very beautiful, so you can swim in the sea during the day ✨ In the Nishikomi area, there are cafes, shrines, and buildings used by the former army, so there are surprisingly many places to visit in addition to watching the sunset ✍️💕 Please go to Nishikomi to see the beautiful sunset 🥹☀️ 📍 〒894-1855 Nishikomi, Setouchi-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture #DomesticTravelRecordLine #Kagoshima #AmamiOshima #Sunset #Hidden gem

An ocean view restaurant inside the sea station. You can eat freshly caught fish dishes at reasonable prices. The portions are quite large, so you'll be very satisfied! ୨୧ ‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥୨୧ Restaurant: Setouchi Sea Station Seafood Restaurant Address: 2nd floor, 26-14 Koniya Ominato, Setouchi-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture Opening hours: 11:00-14:00 Closed: Thursdays Parking: Available ୨୧ ‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥୨୧ #Kagoshima #Kagoshima sightseeing #Amami Oshima #Amami sightseeing #Kyushu sightseeing #Lunch #Seafood #Amami Oshima lunch #Ocean view #Travel with me

The Oshima Strait, located between the main island of Oshima and Kakeroma Island, has been selected as one of the top 10 scenic spots in Amami. The Oshima Strait Observatory is a spot where you can get a panoramic view of the Oshima Strait. ୨୧ ‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥୨୧ Location: Oshima Strait Observatory Address: Satsumakawa, Setouchi-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture Access: Approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes by car from Amami Airport Approximately 1 hour by car from Naze Port Parking: Free parking available ୨୧ ‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥‥∵‥୨୧ #Kagoshima #Kagoshima Tourism #Amami Oshima #Amami Tourism #Kyushu Tourism #Observation Deck #Travel with Me

#0yentravel There are few hotels in Kuniya, the southern tip of Amami Oshima, but this hotel was clean and comfortable. There are many convenience stores and izakayas in the area, and the sea station is nearby, so I think it would be a good base for sightseeing on Kakeroma Island. There are two elevators, so there was no waiting time and it was a stress-free stay. 📍Location: Amami Oshima🏖️Atmosphere/Facilities: Clean💰Price per person: 5,000-10,000 #AmamiOshima #KakeromaIsland

📍Honohoshi Beach, Amami Oshima This beach is located on the cape at the southern tip of Amami Oshima. Unlike other beaches on the island, the waves are always rough, so the stones on the beach are round and boulder-like. This spot became famous as the location for the drama "Heaven and Hell: Two Psychos" starring Haruka Ayase and Issei Takahashi. It has been said since ancient times that if you take a stone from Honohoshi Beach home, bad luck will come your way! (Even the sign prohibits taking stones out.) The story of the legend was recreated in the drama. The best time to visit is around low tide! At low tide, you can enter the cave on the beach. I tried making the letters AMAMI out of stones! Lol A photo for memory~📷✨ There are dynamic rock formations that look like they might be found overseas It's a spot with a lot of things to see👍 Add excitement to your daily life:🌙 📍Honohoshi Beach, Amami Oshima📮 Sokari, Setouchi City, Oshima District, Kagoshima Prefecture🚗 About 2 hours by car from Amami Airport🅿️ Parking and toilets available #Sakura2024 #Domestic travel #Scenic spots #Remote island trip #Amami Oshima #Girls trip #Power spot

The Hotel the Scene where I stayed has a heart-shaped pool♥️ It's too small and shallow to swim in, but you can see it from the guest rooms and it's so cute😍 The first floor of the hotel building is the lobby, dining room, and recreation area, and if the weather is good, you can see the stars on the roof! The rooms have a simple white interior. The large glass panels allow you to view the beautiful ocean of Amami Oshima all day long🏖 Also, the guest room bathrooms are made of glass, so you can take a bath while looking at the ocean during the day🛀 Although it's not in the guest rooms, the Scene has the only hot spring on Amami Oshima, which was also very good♨️ I even got to experience sunrise yoga on the wooden deck in the hotel's garden, which refreshed both my body and mind🧘 #AccommodationReport #AmamiOshima #AmamiOshimaTrip

On Kakeroma Island, another ferry ride away from Amami Oshima, stands the Toshio Shimao Literary Monument. Shimao Toshio was assigned to this island as a kamikaze pilot during the war, but remained there until the end of the war. I visited the island along with the remains of the kamikaze boat base next door, and it was a time to reflect on history. #Kagoshima Trip

#SummerWeekendTrip Honohoshi Beach, south of Amami Oshima This is the view in June, with no settlements in the distance and few people around. The water is incredibly clear and the beach is full of boulders. It feels like the far south, like something out of a movie. It's the kind of beach that would look better with gloomy clouds than the midsummer sun.

▽Kakeroma Island It's about a 20-minute ferry ride from the port south of Amami Oshima. Kakeroma Island is a small island with a population of less than 1,000 people. The sea is clean and warm on this island, and there are many beautiful beaches. If you have a car, you can enjoy a lot, such as the large banyan tree and the pier! Please also take a look at Mamoru in front of the elementary school! #Breathtakingview #KakeromaIsland #RemoteIslandTrip

📍Spot📍 Amami Oshima Honohoshi Beach 2 hours by car from Amami Oshima Airport Free parking Honohoshi Beach faces the Pacific Ocean, and the rough waves have made the stones round (*´꒳​`*) They are called jade stones. It's a cool and intense sea that's a little different from the calm and relaxed sea◡̈* The waves are rough and scary, but the sea is really beautiful and you can enjoy watching it (*´꒳​`*) It's also said to be a power spot🥺 I recommend going to Yadori Beach together◡̈*.。 It's the same sea on Amami Oshima, so the atmosphere is completely different and interesting◡̈*.。 #Remote Island Trip #Amami Oshima #Honohoshi Beach #Seaside Scenery #Tourism Support #Breathtaking Scenery