Satsunan Islands

The Satsunan Islands extend south from Kyūshū in a long chain, including the Ōsumi, Tokara and Amami groups. Many are volcanic, rising steeply from the sea, while the warm Kuroshio flows through the waters nearby. The islands form stepping stones between Kyūshū and the Ryūkyūs, but the open water and currents between them make each crossing a voyage of its own.