Cruises to Naze (Amami Oshima)
名瀬（奄美大島）Kagoshima Prefecture, in the islands between Kyushu and Okinawa
About Naze (Amami Oshima)1 upcoming voyage calls at Naze (Amami Oshima)
Times shown are as scheduled and can change. Weather, sea conditions and port operations may shorten a call or prevent it — always check the latest information from NYK Cruises, and once aboard, from the ship.
About Naze (Amami Oshima)
The main town of Amami Oshima, halfway down the chain of islands to Okinawa and subtropical enough that the forest is broadleaf evergreen and the river mouths are mangrove. The island was inscribed by UNESCO in July 2021 for what lives here and nowhere else. It also weaves a silk that takes a year to make and has been made for well over a thousand.
Within reach of the port
The forest, and what is in it
Amami was inscribed as World Natural Heritage in July 2021 with Tokunoshima, northern Okinawa and Iriomote, on the strength of species found nowhere else — the Amami rabbit among them, a nationally designated Special Natural Monument. The heritage centre explains what to look for.
Amami World Heritage Centre (Amami City) ↗in Japanese — your browser can translate it
The mangroves
The second-largest stand of primary mangrove in Japan, at the river mouths in Sumiyo, half an hour from town. Canoes go in among the roots at high water, which is the only way to be inside it.
Amami tourism (official) ↗in Japanese — your browser can translate it
Oshima tsumugi
A silk pongee dyed with mud and tannin from a local tree, woven so finely that the pattern is set thread by thread before weaving begins. Amami City puts the tradition at more than 1,300 years, and workshops in town will show you the loom.
Amami City (official) ↗in Japanese — your browser can translate it
Shore excursions
NYK Cruises run their own guided excursions at each port, booked by guests themselves through My ASUKA PLANS — the booking window opens before departure and depends on your cabin class. They are conducted in Japanese. Going ashore independently is always an option.
Official sources
- Amami tourism (official) ↗in Japanese — your browser can translate it