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There are air flights between Kagoshima domestic airport and some islands. There are ships connecting Kagoshima port (north pier) and each areas (A to C). Services may be delayed or canceled due to weather conditions. It is wise to check the website of the ferry company before traveling, especially in summertime when typhoons are common.

Most of these services do not operate daily, and some of them only run once or twice per week. In case of bad weather, you could be stranded on an island for over a week. It is better to arrange your itinerary allowing maximum flexibility.

area-A Osumi shoto

JAC (Japan Air Commuter) offers flights from Kagoshima Airport to Yakushima (travel time approx. 40 minutes): http://www.jac.co.jp/

all routes are Kagoshima - Yakushima

Jetfoil ROCKET (high-speed vessel)......4~5 services per day: http://www.cosmoline.jp/
Jetfoil TOPPY (high-speed vessel)......6 services per day: http://www.toppy.jp/
Ferry YAKUSHIMA2......1service per day: http://www.f2.dion.ne.jp/~orita.k/
Ferry HIBISCUS......1 round trip per day: http://www.toppy.jp/fare_time/index_k.html

all routes are Kagoshima - Tanegashima

JAC (Japan Air Commuter) offers flights from Kagoshima Airport to Tanegashima: http://www.jac.co.jp/

Jetfoil ROCKET (high-speed vessel)......4~5 services per day: http://www.cosmoline.jp/
Jetfoil TOPPY (high-speed vessel)......6 services per day: http://www.toppy.jp/
Ferry Princess WAKASA: http://www.cosmoline.jp/
Ferry TAIYO: http://www.kamiyaku.jp/

Ferry TAIYO......Miyanoura (Yakushima) - Kuchinoerabujima / 2 round trips per day: http://www.kamiyaku.jp/

area-B Tokara Islands

Ferry TOSHIMA......Kagoshima - Kuchinoshima - Nakanojima - Suwanosejima - Akusekijima - Kodakarajima - Takarajima - Amami / 2 round trips per week

note:
*Ferries do not stop at uninhabited islands such as Gajajima, Kogajyajima.
*Tokara Islands can also be accessed by northbound TOSHIMA ferries from Amami-0shima (Naze port)

See detail info:
TOSHIMA VILLAGE OFFICE : ACCESS (Japanese)
http://www1.tokara.jp/contents/access/index.html

area-C Amami Islands

JAL, ANA and JAC offers flights to Amami oshima from Tokyo(Haneda Airport), Osaka & Kagoshima (travel time approx. 50 minutes - 2.5 hours) JAC offers flights to Kikaijima from Amami oshima (travel time approx. 15 minutes): http://www.jal.co.jp/en/dom/; https://www.ana.co.jp/eng/index.html; http://www.jac.co.jp/

note:
Many of these islands have heliports, but they are reserved for emergency purposes (medical, press, etc.) only.

There are some ferry lines from Tokyo, Kobe, Osaka and Kagoshima to Naze port (Amami Oshima). And there are some local line from Amami oshima to other islands (Tokunoshima, Okinoerabujima, Kikaijima, Yoronjima).

Ferry ARIAKE......Tokyo - Naze (Amami Oshima) - Yoronjima - Naha (Okinawa honto) / about 62hours/6 services per month
Ferry RYUKYU EXPRESS......Kobe - Osaka - Naze(Amami Oshima) - Tokunoshima - Okinoerabujima - Yoronjima - Naha (Okinawa) / about31hours to 1.5day / 7 services per month: http://www.aline-ferry.com/
Ferry QUEEN CORAL......Kagoshima - Naze (Amami Oshima) / 15 services per month: http://www.marix-line.co.jp/
Ferry NAMINOUE, AKATSUKI......Kagoshima - Naze (Amami Oshima) - Tokunoshima - Okinoerabujima - Yoronjima - Naha (Okinawa) / 1 service per day

See detail info:
AMAMI CITY OFFICE : ACCESS (Japanese)
http://www.city.amami.lg.jp/amami05/amami12.asp

ZONE-2

Ogasawara Islands

Iwojima is under jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Defense and inaccessible to the general public. However, when a total eclipse of the sun occurred near Ogasawara Islands on March 18, 1988, boat tours from Tokyo bay and Osaka bay were arranged.

It is likely that travel agencies will be offering similar tours for 2009 (we will post information as soon as we get any details).