Aoshima

Aoshima is a tiny island just 1.5 kilometers in circumference, connected to the Miyazaki coastline by a pedestrian bridge. The island is entirely surrounded by the Oni no Sentakuita, or Devil's Washboard, a striking natural formation of concentric rock ridges created by millions of years of wave erosion on tilted sandstone layers. At the island's center stands Aoshima Shrine, dedicated to the deity of marriage and easy childbirth, making it popular with couples. The shrine is enveloped by a dense subtropical forest of over 200 plant species including betel palms and fan palms, giving the island a distinctly tropical atmosphere unusual for mainland Japan. The nearby Aoshima Subtropical Botanical Garden offers free admission and a pleasant stroll through exotic flora.