The island is of volcanic origin; however, unlike neighboring Yakushima, it presents a flat appearance, with its highest elevation at only 282 metres (925 ft) above sea level.

Other burials on Tanegashima, namely the Yokomine and Hirota sites, attest to a uniquely well-developed Yayoi period culture at the end of the 4th century AD.

[3] During the Nara period, the embryo state of Japan began to make contact with Tanegashima.

According to the Shoku Nihongi, people from Tane, Yaku, Amami and Dokan (possibly Tokunoshima) came to the imperial court to pay tribute in 699.

Sometime around 1140, the whole island of Tanegashima became part of the Shimazu Estate, the largest medieval shōen of Japan.

The Tanegashima clan enjoyed a high degree of autonomy until Shimazu unified southern Kyūshū in the late 16th century, and after that, served as a top-ranking retainer to the Satsuma domain.

The two Portuguese traders, António Mota and Francisco Zeimoto, should actually be credited as the first Europeans to introduce firearms.

During the Muromachi period, Tanegashima functioned as a relay station for one of the main routes of Chinese trade that connected Sakai to Ningbo.

[7] Edge tools (particularly knives and scissors) made in Tanegashima are famous traditional handicrafts in Japan.

Craftsmen in Tanegashima have kept alive traditional techniques for forging and sharpening iron tools.

[citation needed] These craftsmen were the original users of the distinct techniques used for forging and sharpening.

It is run by JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and is located at the southeastern end of Tanegashima.