Let’s visit the National Parks of Japan!
Tokashiki, ZamamiKeramashoto National Park
- MOE
- National Parks of Japan
- Keramashoto National Park
- Tokashiki, Zamami
ここから本文です。
The ocean world of Kerama Blue
Kerama Blue refers to the azure gradation produced when Kerama’s crystal-clear ocean waters and white sands composed of fragments of coral are bathed in the southern sunlight. The inland sea of the Islands has the geographical features of an archipelago landscape, and each island can be seen each other. The landscape of Kerama is formed in a way that allows you to see the surrounding island scenery from each individual island and the views from the observatories around the park are so beautiful they will take your breath away. With sea turtles swimming along the white, sandy beaches and walking trails spotted with the seasonal flowers, this park is full of spectacular sights.
Kerama’s diverse island fauna and flora
Humpback whales travel thousands of kilometers across the ocean, from Alaska to the Aleutian Islands and the Bering Sea before arriving in the Kerama Islands. From January to April, the whales come to the gentle seas of Kerama to breed and raise their young, and once spring comes, they head off once again on their long journey to the north. Also, green turtles and hawksbill turtles live around many of the beaches in Kerama. On land, you can observe other wildlife as well, such as the Kerama sika deer, a National Natural Monument; the red-billed Ryukyu ruddy kingfisher; and the grey-faced buzzard, a bird of prey that comes to the islands in autumn.
Beautiful coral reefs that nurture Kerama’s rich ocean life
Surrounded by crystal-clear waters and coral reefs, the Kerama Islands boast some of Japan’s most beautiful oceans. The reefs consist of about 250 species of various types of reef-building corals, such as table coral, branch coral, horned coral, and rock coral. Gametes (eggs and sperm) released by the corals are transported by the tides as far as the main island of Okinawa and support the coral reef environment across the islands. The coral forests are home to many colorful tropical fish, including the clownfish, and are considered the cradle of life in the ocean.
