Livability Report
AmamiLivability Score
Kagoshima·Pop. 38,380
Amami City lies in the northern part of Amami Oshima, roughly 380 km south of Kagoshima, facing the Pacific to the south and the East China Sea to the north, and serves as the hub of the island group. It was formed on March 20, 2006, when Naze City, Sumiyo Village and Kasari Town merged into a non-contiguous municipality. Kasari in the north has gentle terrain with few mountains and a long coastline, while Sumiyo in the south is mostly mountainous and holds a primeval mangrove forest. Naze carries the core urban functions, and the island was inscribed as a World Natural Heritage site in July 2021. The city is known for Honba Oshima Tsumugi silk, island songs and the Hachigatsu Odori dance.
Published 2026-04-30 · Article updated 2026-10-20 · Data updated 2026-10-20
Where in Japan
Overall Score
46.1
55.9
53.4
56.9
35.7- ※ Retail and restaurant figures are per resident and include shops serving tourists
* These scores are based on statistical analysis of public data and do not represent a definitive assessment of any area. Actual livability varies depending on individual values and lifestyle.
5-axis scores
Safety46.1Cost55.9Convenience53.4Welfare56.9Economy35.7Basic Information
Population
38,380
Prefecture
Kagoshima
Q&A with Kai
Alex, Yuki, and Kai discuss what it's really like to live here.
An island hub born from a non-contiguous merger
Yuki
How did Amami City come to have its current boundaries?
Alex
Are there events in Amami's history that still shape life here?
Yuki
Which parts of the city does the World Natural Heritage designation cover?
Kai
Amami City was born on March 20, 2006, when Naze City, Sumiyo Village and Kasari Town merged. Talks began with a wider group, but Setouchi, Uken and Yamato left the council, so the three merged and the city became non-contiguous. Its three districts differ: Naze with core urban functions, Sumiyo with forests and rivers, and Kasari with farmland and coastline.
Reading safety from the prefectural police tables
Alex
What figures can I use to check safety on the island?
Yuki
Is there anything to keep in mind when reading that figure?
Alex
Can I tell the difference between districts, such as Naze and Kasari?
Kai
The Kagoshima Prefectural Police publish a report on crime by municipality for 2025, and Amami City appears in its table. In 2025 there were 236 recorded Penal Code offenses, or 6.15 per 1,000 residents, an average level among Japan's major municipalities. A lower rate is better for daily life, so this is neither notably high nor low. Safety score: 46.1.
Average land prices, lower rent
Alex
If I built a house on the island, what would land cost?
Alex
What about rent for a rented home?
Yuki
Is there any scheme for people moving in who need to find a home?
Kai
In the 2026 official land price survey, the average residential land price is 85,600 yen per square meter, and land prices are an average level among Japan's major municipalities. This is a simple average of residential survey points, so expect large differences between central Naze, where urban functions concentrate, farmland-rich Kasari, and mostly mountainous Sumiyo.
Cars for getting around, and the shop density of an island hub
Alex
Is commuting or shopping hard without a car?
Yuki
After buses were cut, has the city done anything about it?
Alex
How much choice is there for shopping and eating out?
Kai
In the 2020 census, 2.10% of people used rail or bus to commute, and public transport use is lower than the median of Japan's major municipalities. Island transport means bus, rental car and taxi. Shima Bus runs the route buses, but falling ridership and a driver shortage forced a route reorganization in October 2024. Daily travel depends on a car.
Plenty of medical facilities, but island healthcare is at a turning point
Alex
How many hospitals and clinics are there?
Yuki
Does the city face any particular challenge in healthcare?
Alex
What about child-rearing support and schools?
Kai
The 2023 Survey of Medical Institutions counts 7 hospitals and 33 general clinics, together 10.42 per 10,000 residents, higher than the median of Japan's major municipalities, but the count is divided by population and says nothing about specialties or access. Prefectural Oshima Hospital is an emergency and critical care center and the Amami doctor helicopter base, operating since December 2017.
Income and net migration reflect the island's industries
Yuki
What is the island's economy built on?
Alex
What is the income level like?
Yuki
What is the trend in people moving in and out?
Kai
Northern farming combines sugarcane with beef cattle and vegetables, while the south grows tankan citrus, plums and passion fruit on slopes. The coast is ringed by coral reefs, and kuruma prawns and mozuku seaweed are farmed. Honba Oshima Tsumugi silk, with over 1,300 years of history, is known for mud dyeing, and brown sugar shochu is permitted only in Amami.
Registered population and people actually living here
Yuki
What does the residency rate measure?
Alex
How should I read that figure when thinking about living here?
Kai
The residency rate is a supplementary indicator dividing the census population by the resident register population, showing how closely registrations match actual residents. Amami's 2025 census population is 38,380, its resident register population on January 1, 2026 is 39,636, and the 96.83% residency rate is lower than the median of Japan's major municipalities. It is not a score input.
Who this city suits
Families with children
There is a child medical expense subsidy and the Hagukumi family center, and hospitals and general clinics number 10.42 per 10,000 residents. Points to watch: school density per habitable area is average, commuting distances differ between the non-contiguous Kasari, Sumiyo and Naze districts, and school runs tend to depend on a car.
Young singles
Average monthly rent for rented housing is 35,047 yen, and restaurants number 9.33 per 1,000 residents. Points to watch: only 2.10% of people commute by rail or bus, and bus routes were reorganized in October 2024, so confirm how you will get to work before choosing where to live.
Seniors
Hospitals and general clinics number 10.42 per 10,000 residents, and Prefectural Oshima Hospital is an emergency and critical care center and the base for the Amami doctor helicopter. Points to watch: the city is still working through its medical council after clinic closures, and in Kasari a private-vehicle paid passenger service fills gaps after the bus reorganization, so check how you would get around once you stop driving.
Remote workers
The average residential land price is 85,600 yen per square meter, and the city runs a vacant house bank. Points to watch: travel off the island is limited to air routes and the Kagoshima-Naze sea route, and the subtropical maritime climate brings heavy rainfall and typhoons from summer to autumn, so plan work on the assumption that weather can disrupt travel.
Disaster risk and hazard maps
Amami City publishes the Amami City Comprehensive Disaster Prevention Hazard Map online, with four map types to choose from: tsunami, landslide, flood and firefighting water sources. It comes in Japanese and English, and the Naze weather station, Amami police station, Oshima district fire association and Amami coast guard office took part in preparing it. A hazard map for the case of an Okawa Dam failure and maps for Suno Dam, Setta reservoir and priority reservoirs are published separately, with landslide and tsunami zones referred to the comprehensive map. In the October 2010 Amami heavy rain, the Japan Meteorological Agency's damage table records two deaths in Amami City, and the city publishes a record of that disaster. Check down to the block level with the city's official maps and the Geospatial Information Authority's overlay hazard map.
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Detailed Data
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Crime Rate (per 1,000) | 6.15 | 2025 |
| Avg. Land Price (¥/m²) | 85,600 | 2026 |
| Avg. Rent (¥) | 35,047 | 2023 |
| Public Transit Usage (%) | 2.1 | 2020 |
| Retail Establishments | 530 | 2021 |
| Retail Establishments (per 1,000) | 13.81 | 2021 |
| Restaurant Establishments | 358 | 2021 |
| Restaurant Establishments (per 1,000) | 9.33 | 2021 |
| Residency Rate (%, census ÷ resident register) | 96.8 | 2025 |
| Medical Facilities (per 10,000, hospitals + clinics) | 10.42 | 2023 |
| Hospitals | 7 | 2023 |
| Hospitals (per 10,000) | 1.82 | 2023 |
| Clinics | 33 | 2023 |
| Clinics (per 10,000) | 8.60 | 2023 |
| Schools (elementary + junior high + high) | 36 | 2024 |
| Schools (per 1,000) | 0.938 | 2024 |
| Schools (per habitable km²) | 0.524 | 2024 |
| Taxable Income per Capita (¥) | 3,060,935 | 2025 |
| Net Migration | -298 | 2025 |
| Net Migration Rate (%) | -0.78 | 2025 |
| Total Population | 38,380 | 2025 |
| crime_count | 236 | 2025 |
| crime_count_pref | 8,441 | 2025 |
| crime_rate_pref_per_1000 | 6 | 2025 |
| habitable_area_km2 | 69 | 2024 |
| resident_registry_population | 39,636 | 2026 |
- ※ Retail and restaurant figures are per resident and include shops serving tourists
Data sources
| Indicator | Source | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 2025 Population CensusStatistics Bureau of Japan | 2025 | |
| Crime Rate (per 1,000) | Reported penal code offenses by municipalityKagoshima Prefectural Police | 2025 | Counted where offenses occur; per 1,000 uses the 2025 census population |
| Avg. Land Price (¥/m²) | Official land prices (National Land Numerical Information L01)Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism | 2026 | Residential sites only; simple average of sites |
| Avg. Rent (¥) | 2023 Housing and Land SurveyStatistics Bureau of Japan | 2023 | Monthly rent of rented housing; next survey in 2028 |
| Public Transit Usage (%) | 2020 Population Census (means of commuting)Statistics Bureau of Japan | 2020 | To be updated when the 2025 census commuting tables are published |
| Retail Establishments (per 1,000) | 2021 Economic Census for Business ActivityMIC and METI | 2021 | Next survey in 2026 |
| Restaurant Establishments (per 1,000) | 2021 Economic Census for Business ActivityMIC and METI | 2021 | Next survey in 2026 |
| Medical Facilities (per 10,000, hospitals + clinics) | Survey of Medical Institutions (System of Social and Demographic Statistics)Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare | 2023 | Hospitals and clinics combined |
| Schools (per habitable km²) | School Basic Survey and habitable area (System of Social and Demographic Statistics)MEXT and Statistics Bureau of Japan | 2024 | Elementary, junior high and high schools per habitable km² |
| Taxable Income per Capita (¥) | Survey on municipal tax assessmentMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications | 2025 | Taxable income per taxpayer |
| Net Migration Rate (%) | Report on Internal MigrationStatistics Bureau of Japan | 2025 | |
| Residency Rate (%, census ÷ resident register) | Census population ÷ resident register populationMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications | 2025 | Resident register population as of January 1, 2026 |
Sources (36)
- Amami City: Birth of Amami City
- Amami City: Location, terrain and climate
- Amami City: City profile
- Amami City: Disaster prevention (hazard maps)
- Amami City Comprehensive Disaster Prevention Hazard Map
- Amami City: Okawa Dam hazard map
- Amami City: Suno Dam and Setta reservoir hazard maps, priority reservoirs
- Kagoshima Prefectural Police: Crime by municipality, 2025
- Amami City: Honba Oshima Tsumugi
- Amami City: Agriculture
- Amami City: Fisheries overview
- Amami City: Amami brown sugar shochu
- Amami City: Bus route reorganization and paid private-vehicle passenger service trial
- Amami City: Amami Oshima regional and city public transport plans
- Amami City: Kasari district paid private-vehicle passenger service
- Amami City: Access to Amami Oshima and transport on the island
- Amami City: Child medical expense subsidy
- Amami City: Hagukumi family center
- Amami City: Sick-child daycare
- Amami City: Vacant house bank
- Amami City: Amami City Medical Council
- Kagoshima Prefectural Oshima Hospital: Emergency and critical care center
- JMA Kagoshima Local Meteorological Office: Heavy rain in the Amami region, October 2010
- Forestry Agency: Overview of the World Natural Heritage site Amami-Oshima, Tokunoshima, northern Okinawa and Iriomote
- Amami City: Reversion of the Amami islands to Japan
- Amami City: Usuku shell mound historic site park
- Amami City: Child-rearing support
- e-Stat 2025 Population Census, basic population tabulation (0004065881)
- e-Stat 2023 Housing and Land Survey, rent of rented housing (0004021452)
- e-Stat 2020 Population Census, means of commuting (0003454513)
- e-Stat 2021 Economic Census for Business Activity (0004005684)
- e-Stat System of Social and Demographic Statistics, Survey of Medical Institutions (0000020209)
- e-Stat System of Social and Demographic Statistics, School Basic Survey and habitable area (0000020205)
- e-Stat Report on Internal Migration (0003419945)
- National Land Numerical Information, official land prices L01 (MLIT)
- MIC Survey on municipal tax assessment
Data years: mainly 2025 (2020–2026 by indicator)
Published 2026-04-30 · Article updated 2026-10-20 · Data updated 2026-10-20