Nagannu Island, Okinawa: Visit This Uninhabited Island Just 20 Minutes Away From Naha!

Did you know that the uninhabited island, Nagannu Island, is located just a 20-minute boat ride from Naha? This island is the closest one to the main island of Okinawa, among the Kerama Islands, and comes with superb views!

This article was created with reference to a video on OKIRIP, an Okinawan tourism video channel by Teppei and Shoko, who live in Okinawa. Here are some tips to enjoy Nagannu Island to the fullest!

Nagannu Island is the biggest island among the Chibisi Islands and is an uninhabited island with a 360-degree view of the surrounding coral reefs. The island itself is made of coral, so you can expect to see pure white beaches against a dazzling backdrop of the sparkling blue sea! It is truly an Instagrammable spot - be ready to take lots of stunning photos!

First, head to Tomari Port, which is about 10 minutes by car from Naha Airport. The area around Tomari Port is quite busy in the morning from all directions, so do plan to arrive an hour before the departure time of the boat.

You can get to Nagannu Island by boat on the day itself via walk-in without making a reservation, but there are only 1-3 boats per day, so we do recommend booking the boat ride in advance as it can be fully booked during peak seasons.

If you are heading there by car, you can park at the parking spaces dedicated to Tomarin (Tomari Port) or the coin parking lot near the boarding area. Tomarin's parking lot costs 100 yen every 50 minutes, which is a rather pricey rate in Okinawa.

We recommend the coin-operated parking behind Family Mart (click here for Google Maps) near the boarding area. There are also spots where you can park for 600 yen a day, so it would be a good idea to look for a parking lot around here. A day trip to Nagannu Island takes about 7 hours, so in total, the parking fee for a day would be about 1,000 yen at the Tomarin parking lot, and 600-700 yen for coin parking, so the coin parking is a good deal.

Nagannu Island is a popular tourist spot each year due to its beauty and proximity to the main island, so if you get tickets on the day of your trip itself, there may be a chance that you miss out on them, as same-day ferry tickets sell out quickly! Hence, it's definitely a good idea to book a tour in advance to avoid any surprises.

The Nagannu Island tour on Klook is a top pick for us. You can choose between having a meal or no meal to be included, and the tour is only available from April to November every year, which is the best period to visit Nagannu Island, so do book early!

When you arrive at Tomari Port, the reception point for Nagannu Island will be marked with a blue flag. After checking in, all you have to do is wait in the waiting room until boarding the boat 15 minutes before departure time, and then off you go on your adventure!

The highlight of Nagannu Island is the surrounding clear blue sea. When you arrive, head to the general information counter first to check out the activities you can do that day! During the peak season, these activities are often fully booked,so if you are worried, we recommend booking your preferred activities and rental goods in advance from the official Nagannu Island website.

How about enjoying the blue sea from the best spot on the beach? Shaded 'rest cottages' along the coast can be rented for 5,000 yen per day. It's a nice experience to spend a relaxing day in one of these, while you gaze out at the white sandy beach!

Snorkeling is probably the best activity to do here, and if you're lucky, you might even see a sea turtle! You can apply for a snorkeling tour for 3,000 yen per person. You can also rent snorkeling gear here. When it's time for the snorkeling tour, check-in at the marine counter behind the general counter.

Rent fins that fit your size and put all your other belongings in the free locker provided. It is also possible to apply for fin rentals only without applying for a tour. If you choose this option, you can only swim within the swimming area, but with the tour, you can swim beyond the swimming area as you have a supervising instructor on the boat.

If you like diving in the sea, we definitely recommend a tour that can go further than the coastline. The depth of the seabed that the tour takes you to is as deep as 67 meters. Don't worry if you can't swim, as tour participants wear life jackets. The instructor will give you a thorough guide prior to the activity, so even if it's your first time, you'll be well-prepared and can enjoy it to the fullest.

There are several designated swimming areas on Nagannu Island. Let's start with the beach on the north side. The crystal clear sea and smooth white sand here can only be found on remote islands and are truly a wonderful sight to see.

North-facing beaches are less likely to be backlit in photos, and regardless of the time of day, if the weather is clear, you can definitely see the blue sea. However, there is no shade on the beach, so in the summer you will need to rent a set of parasols and chairs or reserve a rest cottage as we've explained earlier. If you don't, the heat may be a little too much for you to bear!

The water in the swimming area is full of fish, including the iconic clownfish! If you are lucky, you may even encounter sea turtles, though this is super rare. You can also enjoy just swimming in the shallow area, therefore it's a recommended beach for people with young children and for those who don't dive.

The central area of the island is well-equipped not only with toilets, showers, changing rooms and coin-operated lockers, but also with air pumps for your floats. The use of coin lockers is priced at 300 yen for a one-time use.

There is also a garbage disposal area , so you don't have to carry around garbage all day long, which is a nice point. Trash cans are provided, but do note that outside food and beverages are not allowed to be brought into the island to prevent the increase of garbage from outside the island.

On the other hand, the northwestern part of ​​the island is also a highly recommended spot, where you can enjoy fun water activities such as banana boats. This area is also outside of the swimming area, so if you would like to take pictures of the sea without anyone photo-bombing you, we recommend taking them here!

The pier and sand dunes area are also recommended photo spots. The pier will be crowded during arrival flights, so it's a good idea to avoid that time when taking pictures. The recommended shooting method is to use a wide-angle lens with the camera above your head, then you can take a beautiful picture.

Drinks and food are available for purchase on the dining terrace in front of the pier. If you have applied for a tour with a lunch/snack exchange ticket, including the Klook tour, which you can use to exchange for food at this dining terrace.

However, both ends of Nagannu Island are off-limits areas as they serve as nesting grounds for sea turtles and seabirds. Only the middle area is open for the public to enjoy.

Nagannu Island is uninhabited, but there are accommodation areas such as guest houses and camping areas. Beach chairs and parasols are available in front of the guest house. At night, you can have the starry sky and the sea all to yourself on this quiet uninhabited island. There is also a camping space where you can pitch a tent to stay at.

As for glamping, in the past, travel agencies such as JTB sold Nagannu Island glamping packages for tours for a limited time. As of June 2022, there doesn't seem to be any tours running, but we recommend checking for updates.

If it's your first-ever trip to Okinawa, why not check out the must-visit places in the area? We've compiled and listed out the top spots to visit as a first-time visitor to Okinawa.