Aoshima (青島) 青島
4,300 palms up to 300 years old: the subtropical colony has been a natural monument since 1921.
The island is about 1.5 km in circumference and lies a few hundred metres off the coast of Miyazaki, connected by a footbridge. The subtropical plant colony was designated a tennenkinenbutsu (天然記念物, natural monument) on 3 March 1921 and raised to tokubetsu tennenkinenbutsu (特別天然記念物, special natural monument) on 29 March 1952: it is the northernmost colony of subtropical vegetation in the northern hemisphere among those of this rank. The rock slabs that emerge all around at low tide are also a national natural monument in their own right. Every year, on the day near Coming of Age Day (18 January in 2026), hundreds of people run into the sea almost naked for the 裸まいり (Hadaka Mairi) ceremony, which re-enacts the welcome given to Yamasachi-hiko on his return from the palace of the sea god.
Miyazaki
Aoshima
