Loggerhead Turtles
Overview
Yakushima island has the largest spawning grounds for loggerhead turtles in the North Pacific. The Umigame Turtle centre opens in the evenings so that visitors have the chance to see the turtles coming up to the beach to lay their eggs or to see the newly hatched turtles making their way to the sea.
Early in summer, a total of more than 500 loggerhead turtles and some green turtles come ashore at the Inakahama Beach, Nagata to lay their eggs. It is said that loggerheads born in Yakushima Island migrate around the Pacific Ocean, and when they have grown to one meter in length, they come back to the island to leave their offspring. Observation and research are carried out at Inakahama Beach and Nagatamaehama Beach.
There is also a Turtle Museum (The Umigame-kan), which provides an explanation about the lives of the turtles.
Our Kyushu Elements tour visits Yakushima and we can also arrange visits as part of a self-guided or tailored itinerary.
Yakushima island has the largest spawning grounds for loggerhead turtles in the North Pacific. The Umigame Turtle centre opens in the evenings so that visitors have the chance to see the turtles coming up to the beach to lay their eggs or to see the newly hatched turtles making their way to the sea.
Early in summer, a total of more than 500 loggerhead turtles and some green turtles come ashore at the Inakahama Beach, Nagata to lay their eggs. It is said that loggerheads born in Yakushima Island migrate around the Pacific Ocean, and when they have grown to one meter in length, they come back to the island to leave their offspring. Observation and research are carried out at Inakahama Beach and Nagatamaehama Beach.
There is also a Turtle Museum (The Umigame-kan), which provides an explanation about the lives of the turtles.
Our Kyushu Elements tour visits Yakushima and we can also arrange visits as part of a self-guided or tailored itinerary.
When:
The turtles lay eggs on the island from May to July, and the hatchlings make their way to the sea from July to September.
Where:
Yakushima Island. There are several turtle nesting sites on the western side of the island. Nagata Inakahama is the most famous one, but you can see them at Kurio Beach and Nakama Beach located in the south-west.
The turtles lay eggs on the island from May to July, and the hatchlings make their way to the sea from July to September.
Where:
Yakushima Island. There are several turtle nesting sites on the western side of the island. Nagata Inakahama is the most famous one, but you can see them at Kurio Beach and Nakama Beach located in the south-west.