JP080Mikurajima island

Site Description

Coastline; Forest

Mikurajima, which is located about 200 km south-southeast of Tokyo metropolitan area, is a volcanic island with the circumference of 16 km. There are abrasion cliffs along the coastline with no beach. About a half of the island is dominated by primary forests of Castanopsis cuspdata trees. The forests have unique vegetation which includes both northern plants and the southern ones. Alpine plants are found from the area around 450 m above the sea level to the mountaintop, while subtropical plants are luxuriant below the 350 m level. This island has one of the largest breeding sites of Streaked Shearwater in the world, where about two million birds breed.

Area & Coordinates

2,058ha 33°52′N 139°36′E
region: Kanto

Designation Type

National Park, Wildlife Protection Area (Local)

Protection Status

Protected

Conservation issues

Disturbance to birds
Infrastructure
Deforestation (commercial)

Birds

Breeding resident

Columba janthica, Dendrocopos kizuki, Hypsipetes amaurotis, Troglodytes troglodytes, Erithacus akahige, Monticola solitarius, Turdus celaenops, Parus varius, Zosterops japonicus

Breeding visitor

Calonectris leucomelas, Cuculus poliocephalus, Locustella pleskei, Phylloscopus ijimae, Synthliboramphus wumizusume

Winter visitor

Phalacrocorax capillatus, Buteo buteo, Larus crassirostris, Emberiza spodocephala

Passage visitor

Sula leucogaster, Gorsachius goisagi