Okinoerabujima

Okinoerabujima is lifted coral reef: about 94 square kilometres, topping out at Oyama (240 m), with sugar cane, flower fields and two towns, Wadomari in the east and China in the west. Rain soaks into the limestone, and the result is caves. Shoryudo, about 3.5 km long with 600 m open to visitors, is the one you can walk through on paths; adult entry is 1,100 yen, and a 1.5-hour guided tour with entry included costs 3,500 yen per person for two or more. The wild caves are the bigger draw for some. The Okinoerabu Caving Association runs private tours, about two hours in a beginner cave such as Rimstone Cave or Daija-do, from 22,000 yen per person, and you will get wet and muddy. On the north coast near the airport, Fucha is a set of sea caves where waves force spray up through the rock. There used to be four; all but one were destroyed in the 1960s and 1970s because the salt spray damaged crops. No railings stand at the cliff edge, so stay back in strong wind. Saigo Takamori spent 1862 to 1864 here in exile, and in March and April the fields fill with Erabu lilies.