Innojofuta Rock Formations

The limestone cliffs at Innojofuta, on the Amami Islands, were pushed up by a seismic event between one and 1.5 million years ago and have been carved by wind and rain into unusual shapes ever since. The two most distinctive formations each have names: Megane-iwa, or Eyeglass Rock, is a pair of joined sea arches that frame a view of the East China Sea through two circular openings, especially striking at sunset. Kinoko-iwa, or Mushroom Rocks, is a cluster of shoreline formations whose lower sections have been eroded into narrow stems holding up wide grassy tops. Concrete paths connect the formations, though some steps are steep. Humpback whales are occasionally spotted offshore between January and March.