Island News

August 24th, 2017 T.G.I. Staff Lucas For most people visiting Tanegashima, time is of short supply. To help you all better use your time on island, here is our list of 10 places that you should visit while here! 1) Urata Beach Park (Nishinoomote Town) Located in the Northwestern part of the island, Urata Beach Park stands out as one of the top beaches in Japan. Protected on both the left and right sides from wind, Urata provides a safe place to go swimming with all the members of your family. For those of you who are stronger swimmers, the right and left hand sides of the coast are filled with rocks of various size that provide a habitat for all kinds of sea life, perfect for snorkeling.     2) Amamegakura (Nishinoomote Town) Amamegakura is one of the highest points on the island. Local lore says that all of creation began on this "mountain", and there is even a shrine to commemorate it.  From its peak you can see all the way d...

August 23, 2017 T.G.I. Staff Lucas Summer in Japan is the season of festivals. Life on Tanegashima is no different. Each part of the island with their own distinct flavor makes weekends in August a real event for all. The city of Nishinoomote has hosted the "Teppo Matsuri" (gun festival) every year now for the past 48 years to commemorate the first contact with the western world, and the entrance of firearms that would not only change the future of the island of Tanegashima, but the future of the mainland of Japan! Every year the festival begins with a large parade that goes down the main-street of Nishinoomote. Here you will see the usual "omikoshi" (carrying out of the portable shrine), students of all ages representing the different clubs they belong in, musical floats being pulled along by cars, and of course the firing of guns! Because the parade includes everyone from Nishinoomote, there will be breaks between the floats and those walking while the ne...

Coming up on August 11th, Tanegashima Space Center will launch its next rocket! Every launch is quite a sight! If you are interested in watching the launch you might have to wait for the next one as hotels across the island are filling up!