Visit the gems of Okinawa 🏝💎
Japan’s secret paradise, Okinawa nestles 160 remote islands with some islands still uninhabited! The best part is, you can head to Okinawa’s remote islands for a day trip by boat even if you are staying on the main island.
We have picked the top 8 must visits among the many remote islands of Okinawa and we will be guiding you on how to get there and ease your planning for the trip!
Island hop to one of Okinawa’s remote islands for a day trip!
Enjoy the sights of the surrounding remote islands of Okinawa by getting on a boat first thing in the morning and returning in the evening.
Remote islands of Kerama Islands
The Kerama Islands are located about 40 km west of the main island of Okinawa, and only takes 20 minutes by boat from the main island. You will be surrounded by beautiful clear waters which boast the highest level of transparency in the world!
Because the area around the Kerama Islands is also a national park, a lot of nature remains untouched when compared to other remote islands of Okinawa, Ishigakijima and Miyakojima.
If you dive into the waters, you will discover an abundance of coral reefs spreading out in front of you. Definitely a sight to behold and remember! The Kerama Islands are also known as a breeding ground for humpback whales. Whale watching tours to the Kerama Islands are held in winter, and you will have a high chance of seeing these majestic whales!
All the ships going to the Kerama Islands leave from Tomari Port in Naha, so the meeting point for most tours is at Tomari Port.
Here are four remote islands of the Kerama Islands that you must visit!
1. Tokashiki Island
Tokashiki Island is the largest among the Kerama Islands. There are two main beaches on Tokashiki Island.
The main beach is "Aharen Beach", a place to soak in the sea, shop to your heart’s content, have a few bites, and even rent snorkeling equipment!
As for traveling around Tokashiki Island, you will need a car to move around. Since Aharen Beach is about 5 km from the port of Tokashiki, it is recommended to book a tour in advance and secure your means of transportation!
If you are a fan of discovering untouched islands, the uninhabited Hanari Island is your go-to. It can be easily accessible from Aharen Beach. Just hop on a banana boat and make a short 10 minute trip there!
Toshiku Beach is another beach worth visiting to experience swimming with turtles! Located north of Aharen Beach, this beach gives you an incredibly high chance of encountering sea turtles in Okinawa even at the shallowest parts of the sea.
As for beach facilities, it is not as exhaustive when compared to Aharen Beach, but it has the necessary amenities like showers, toilets, and places to eat.
2. Zamami Island
If you are planning to head to Zamami Island for a day trip, it is recommended that you take a high-speed boat for a 50-minute ride from Tomari Port in Naha. But if you are not chasing time, you can also reach there by ferry from the same port!
Zamami Island itself has two main beaches, similar to Tokashiki Island.
The first beach is Furuzamami Beach where you can find shops and any information on marine activities. There is also a tour to visit an uninhabited island known for its scenic view from Furuzamami Beach!
The other beach is located on the West side of the port — Ama Beach. Here, you will have an 80% chance of encountering sea turtles, and if you arrive during high tide, there is a higher chance of meeting them.
If you are island hopping among the Kerama Islands, you can easily take the buses from Kerama Island, head to Zamami Port, and transit to Furuzamami Beach and Ama Beach by bus!
3. Aka Island
Aka Island is a remote island located just south of Zamami Island. This island is also a popular spot for diving and snorkeling due to its beautiful waters!
Kitahama Beach is one of the main beaches in Aka Island where you can find lifeguards on duty, shops, and parasol rentals. It is a family-friendly beach where you can do fun activities with your children like swimming, building sandcastles, and even playing tag!
To be able to go around the area, we suggest renting bicycles and motorbikes as there are no car rentals available on Aka Island. It will nonetheless be a fun experience to cycle across the bridge to Geruma Island which is just next to Aka Island!
Aside from the clear blue waters, there are also some interesting wildlife facts that you should know — if you are at the beach at night, you might come across the Kerama deer, native to the Kerama Islands who comes down to the beach at night.
If you are interested in visiting Tokashiki Island, Zamami Island, and Aka Island by ferry, there is the Mitsushima ferry that connects all three islands.
4. Nagannu Island
Nagannu Island is a small uninhabited island surrounded by coral reefs, and the closest to Naha city. It can be reached in just 20 minutes from Naha!
Despite this island being an uninhabited island, you can find plenty of parasols and snorkels available for rental, and you can also enjoy marine activities!
Don’t miss your chance of taking pictures here! Take advantage of Nagannu Island’s photogenic pier and take your pictures around noon when there is no boarding or disembarking.
Remote islands around the main island of Okinawa
Besides the Kerama Islands, there are many other remote islands surrounding the main island of Okinawa.
We have handpicked four famous tourist spots among the 160 islands!
1. Minna Island
Minna-jima is located just 15 minutes away by boat from the main island of Okinawa. It is also known as Croissant Island because of its croissant-like shape when looked at from an aerial view!
It is located 3 km further west from Sesoko Island, which can be reached easily by car from Motobu Town. Even though it’s located 15 minutes away from town, the sea is as beautiful as Kerama Islands and boasts crystal clear waters. It’s a small island with only 1 km from start to end so you don’t have to rent a car.
You will be spending most of your time at Minna Beach and the restaurants surrounding the port, so you won’t have to worry about traveling far after landing, which is an added advantage.
If the crystal clear waters aren’t enough to entice you, there are corals and fishes in the shallow waters too! Definitely a great spot for snorkeling! If you are up for snorkeling, we suggest you book a tour that will bring you to the best snorkeling spots by boat!
2. Kumejima
Kumejima is one of the farthest remote islands compared to the rest mentioned above! Located 100 km west of the main island of Okinawa, this island is the fifth largest island in Okinawa, followed by Honjima, Iriomote Island, Ishigaki Island, and Miyako Island.
Hatenohama is one of the most famous sightseeing spots on Kumejima island. It’s well-known for being an uninhabited island made of only sand, floating off the coast of Kumejima! It consists of three beaches, "Menu Beach", "Nakano Beach", and "Hatinu Beach", coming up with the name “Hate no Hama”. This white sandy beach surrounded by the vast blue sea is definitely a wonderful sight to be lost in.
During peak holiday seasons, there will be some shops and toilets on Nakano Beach. Though it is recommended that you use the toilets before the tour begins.
Eef beach is Kumejima’s main beach and was awarded as one of Japan’s top 100 beaches! The sea at Eef beach is shallow, so it’s not favorable to swim during low tide, but you can still enjoy being in the waters and take some photos of the picturesque view!
To get to Kumejima, you can ride a boat from Tomari Port in Naha. The same port that goes to the Kerama Islands!
Another tourist attraction is the stone pavement of Oujima. You can get there via a bridge from Kumejima. This attraction tells the story of an andesite that erupted 20 million years ago, now designated as a national natural monument. It resembles a rocky area that looks like a turtle's shell!
Since Kumejima is pretty far compared to the other remote islands introduced in this article, it will be quite a tight schedule if you plan it as a day trip. So, if you are not planning to travel by plane, which takes 35 minutes one way, we recommend that you plan your day to include staying overnight.
3. Kudaka Island
Kudaka Island is part of Nanjo City, located in the southern part of Okinawa Prefecture. It is still a remote island, and can be reached in 15 minutes by high-speed boat or 25 minutes by ferry from the main island.
Kudaka Island is known as "God's Island" and has been said to be the first land where the god "Amamikiyo", who is said to have created the land of the Ryukyu Kingdom, descended!
A must-visit sightseeing spot is "Habyan", as it is the sacred place where Amamikiyo is said to have landed! However, you will need to rent a bicycle to head there as it is located at the northernmost tip of Kudaka Island, which spans more than 3 km from the port. Enjoy the wind in your face as you cycle through the scenic view of the island, among nature on the unpaved road leading to Habyan!
If you are curious about whether or not you can swim in Kudaka Island, Megi Beach is the part of the sea where you can swim in, near the port.
Since there are no car rentals available on the island, take time to enjoy the breeze in your face with rented bicycles and electric scooters! But do take note that you cannot drive an electric scooter without a motorcycle license.
Though, be aware that Kudaka Island is a sacred island rich in nature, and has some important rules. There will be areas where you are restricted from entering such as Utaki, places of worship, and flora and fauna should be untouched, so do check the Kudakashima tourism exchange website before entering the island so you can enjoy a peaceful trip there!
4. Ie Island
The last must-visit island is Ie Island, which is located slightly north of Minna Island.
It is one of the more popular tourist destinations among the remote islands of Okinawa. The main attraction of le Island is the Tachu (Mt. Gusuku) due to its unique shape that came to life from a phenomenon. What makes it even more interesting is that le Island is the only place in the world where you can find this phenomenon!
This unique-shaped mountain can be recognized even from the west coast of the main island of Okinawa!
Climb up to the peak of Mt. Gusuku and take in the spectacular view of the whole island at an altitude of 172m!
The main beach of Ie Island is "Ie Beach". It is well equipped with beach amenities and there is also a net to prevent jellyfish and other dangerous critters. So, enjoy the beach with peace of mind.
Towards the west side, GI Beach is also known for its beautiful beach and pristine waters. However, if you are keen to swim in the sea, be wary, as it’s a bare beach with no facilities provided.
There are also plenty of other tourist attractions such as Lily Field Park, which is famous for the Iejima Lily Festival held every year during Golden Week, and Nyatiya Cave, known for its holy stone that is said to cure female infertility if one manages to lift it up.
In Ie Island, you can rent a car, bicycle, or motorbike to get around the island. You can also get to Ie Island in about 30 minutes by boat from Motobu Port in northern Okinawa. So a day trip is possible!
Planning to head to Okinawa?
Be sure to rent a car beforehand if you are heading to Okinawa and travel with peace of mind. Not sure how to book a car rental? Check out our Klook car rental guide:
