Kume Island (久米島;Kumejima)
When we moved here in Okinawa, my husband and I agreed that one of the things that we want to do while we’re here is to explore each small island surrounding the Okinawa Main Island, and one of those small islands is Kumejima. These small islands are called Okinawa Shotō (沖縄諸島) and there are about a dozen of them around the Okinawa main island (Okinawa Honyo; 沖縄本島)
So we planned a trip and went.
Where is Kumejima?
Kumejima is located about 90 kilometers West of Okinawa Main Island. It is a relatively small island that is known for its snorkeling and diving, like elsewhere in Okinawa.
There are just two major towns in Kumejima. The one near the port where most of the locals live. The other one which is near Eef Beach is mostly for tourists as this is where most of the restaurants, hotels, and the shops are located.
Kumejima Port
Beaches at Kumejima
Hatenohama Beach
One of the most popular beach in Kumejima is Hatenohama Beach. It is an approximately 7km sandbar that is about 5km east of Kumejima (based on Google). There are a lot of tourist boats that operate to and from Kumejima to Hatenohama. The ride is approximately 20-30mins.
It was sometime in October when we went which I believe is not their peak season, as it is close to winter, so we were able to book a boat kind of last minute. I was able to call the boat service called Kumejima Ocean Leisure (久米島町海洋レジャー). I honestly forgot how much we paid for this because it was almost 2 years ago but the people were so nice. They also offer hotel pick-up and drop-off which is convenient especially if you don’t have a car. If you don’t have any life jacket or snorkeling gear you can also rent with them. But we brought our own so we didn’t have to. Since it was not the peak season or if it was just too early because we booked the 9am one, it was just my husband and I on the boat.
The boat service we booked to take us to Hatenohama Beach
The beach was so beautiful with its white sands. Just don’t forget to bring sunglasses as it is really so bright, especially when the sun is high, and it hurts the eyes. The water was like emerald green. When we went, it was low tide and there weren’t many people yet, and you can already see the small fishes near the shore. We stayed there for close to 2 hours snorkeling.
Hatenohama Beach
Ara Beach and Eef Beach
Ara Beach and Eef Beach are two other beaches at Kumejima. Eef Beach is where most tourists go because Ara Beach is located a little bit far from the main tourist area. Sadly, we didn’t really went and checked out these two beaches, so I can’t say a lot about them.
Other places to check out at Kumejima
Uegusuku Castle Ruins
Besides the beautiful beaches, there are a lot of other places to check out at Kumejima. One of them is the Uegusuku Castle Ruins. We visited these ruins on the same day that we arrived on the island. This one is located at bout 300 meters above sea level, which is the highest point on the island. Keep in mind that this is a castle ruin, so you will just most likely to see few stone walls remains, but you will still definitely enjoy the panoramic view of the island that is visible from its hilltop location.
Uegusuku Castle Ruins information board
Tatami Ishi ( Tatami Rocks)
This one is a unique rock formation that resembles a tatami mat, hence the name. It is located at a small island, Ojima, that is connected to Kumejima by a bridge. There is also a sea turtle museum and a public bathhouse near it that we weren’t able to see.
Tatami Ishi
Pools of Tropical Fish
Probably the coolest place at Kumejima for me! I remember I was really excited to see this when we went there because I saw from the reviews on Google Maps that you can clearly see the fishes inside the “mini pools”. At that time, I didn’t know that it needs to be low tide to see the pools and I honestly thought that it was just there no matter the condition of the water is. But thankfully, it was low tide and we were able to see the small fishes!
Pool of Tropical Fishes
Torinokuchi Rock
Which literally translates to “bird’s beak” rock, so it is a rock that is similar to the shape of a bird’s beak. Getting there, we have to walk a path to be able to view the rock, but if you’re worried about hiking don’t worry because the path is really nice, just straight and not that hard. The only problem we had that time was there weren’t any parking areas, so we just parked our car at an empty space by the entrance of the trail. Luckily, there weren’t any cars besides us.
Torinokuchi Rock (taken during sunset)
Kumesen Distillery
Whenever we travel, my husband and I always includes a tour to a local distillery at the place we are visiting. We like to try different Awamori or Sake unique to that place. So I searched and I’m quite glad to have found this local distillery. The place was nice and the staff were nice and accommodating. When we went, we didn’t have to make any reservations. They let us sample (technically it’s just my husband who tried the samples because I’m driving) some of their products. I recommend this if you want an Awamori or a Sake souvenir that is made and produced here at Kumejima. It’s also much cheaper buying directly from the distillery.
Their opening hours are Monday-Saturday from 8:00-17:00. They are closed every Sunday.
A Jar from Kumesen Distillery
I wasn’t really thinking that time of taking pictures of the inside of the distillery so I only have this picture of a jar from the entrance.
Even though, it is a small island, there are a lot places to see and explore. What I listed here are the places that my husband and I personally able to see and check out when we went there.
How to get to Kumejima
There are two means of transportation to Kumejima; by air and/or by sea. If you prefer to go by air, JAL and RAC (Ryukyu Air Commuter) operate approximately 6-8 flights per day between Naha Airport and Kumejima. The flight takes about 35 minutes and I’m guessing depends on the date of your trip and/or the season, the fare will be between ¥13,000-¥16,000 (with today’s exchange rate, that’s probably roughly around 82-100USD).
If you’re going by sea, like what we did, there are ferries operated twice a day from Naha Tomarin Port to Kumejima Port. This is highly recommended if you’re planning on bringing your own car. You can find ferry tickets and schedules at Tomarin Port’s Official website (https://tomarin.co.jp/for-foreigners/). If you’re planning to bring your car, it is recommended to book at least a month in advance as there is a limit on how many cars they can bring on board the ferry.
Where to stay and how to get around Kumejima
Since the island is quite a popular tourist destination, there are a lot of accommodations that you can choose from. You can just search Kumejima on google maps and click hotels and it will show you all the hotels or accommodations that is available on the island. You can also use booking websites/apps like Agoda. We stayed at Bears Stay Kumejima Eef Beach and we booked it through Agoda. It’s an apartment-type hotel. So you have your own kitchen and washing machine, which is nice. It is also self check in.
As for getting around the island, there are a few companies by the airport and by the port where you can rent a car, a bicycle, and some you can even rent a motorcycle. Please make sure you have the appropriate driver’s license that will allow you to drive locally. For us, we just brought our own car as it was most convenient and cheap for us.
Here is the Kumejima website where I think will be helpful: https://www.kanko-kumejima.com/en/
We took the Kume Line Ferry to Kumejima
That’s all folks! Hopefully this blog somehow gave you an idea on what to expect if you’re planning a trip to Kumejima and somehow encouraged you to visit this beautiful island and experience its wonder.
But just keep in mind to be respectful of the locals living on the island, the places you will go to as most of them are sacred to the local community and be respectful of their culture as well. This beautiful island is their home and we’re just their visitors.
