Amami Gunto National Park

Established in 2017, Amami Gunto National Park spans the island chain between Kagoshima and Okinawa. The islands separated from mainland Asia roughly two million years ago, allowing species like the Amami rabbit and the banded ground gecko to evolve in isolation. Many of these are relict species that retain traits no longer found anywhere else. Each island has a distinct culture shaped by influences from both Okinawa and Kyushu, woven around an unusually close relationship with the natural environment. On Tokunoshima, locals still collect water from the mountain, gather leopard plant for traditional dishes, and use pine for New Year decorations.