The island can only be reached by ferry service to the city of Kagoshima on the mainland, as there is no airport.

Kuroshima is the westernmost of the Ōsumi islands, and is located 110 kilometres (59 nmi) south of Kagoshima.

The island is of volcanic origin, and has an area of approximately 15.37 square kilometres (5.93 sq mi).

From 1946-1952, the southern seven islands in the Toshima group belonging to the Tokara archipelago came under the administration of the United States as part of the Provisional Government of Northern Ryukyu Islands; however, since Kuroshima is located north of 30 degrees North, it remained Japanese territory during this time, and came under the administration of the village of Mishima in Kagoshima Prefecture.

In 1979, the modern novelist Sawako Ariyoshi wrote a novel set on Kuroshima.