Kumejima Island offers itineraries from day trips to 3-night stays. Day trip (KOJ jetfoil): Hatenohama sandbar tour + island lunch. 1-night 2-day: Add Tatami-ishi rocks, Kumejima Tsumugi weaving workshop, kuruma-ebi prawn dinner. 2-night 3-day: Add diving/snorkeling at Tomori Reef, Ou Island, awamori distillery tour. The Kumejima Ocean Jet (82 min from Naha, ¥7,800) makes all these possible. Best seasons: April-October for beaches, year-round for culture and food.
*Photos are for illustrative purposes only
Kumejima is an island that rewards both quick visits and extended stays. With the Kumejima Ocean Jet launching in May 2026, the island becomes accessible in just approximately 82 minutes from Naha — making day trips possible for the first time. This guide covers three itineraries scaled to your available time.
Day Trip: Hatenohama Express
Take the morning KOJ from Naha, join a half-day Hatenohama boat tour (the 7km uninhabited sandbar is Kumejima’s top attraction), enjoy lunch at a local seafood restaurant, and return on the evening jetfoil. This itinerary was impossible before the jetfoil — the old ferry took 3.5 hours each way, leaving no time on the island.
1 Night 2 Days: Island Highlights
Day 1: Morning jetfoil from Naha. Visit Tatami-ishi (hexagonal natural rock formation, National Natural Monument) and Ou Island (connected by bridge). Evening: kuruma-ebi prawn dinner — Kumejima is Japan’s largest producer. Day 2: Morning Hatenohama tour. Afternoon: visit the Kumejima Tsumugi weaving workshop (UNESCO-recognized traditional textile). Evening jetfoil back to Naha.
2 Nights 3 Days: Deep Kumejima
Add diving or snorkeling at Tomori Reef (sea turtle cleaning station, manta rays in summer), an awamori distillery tour (Kumejima has several craft distilleries), and time to explore the island’s quieter beaches like Shinri Beach for sunset views. This pace lets you experience Kumejima at island tempo rather than tourist tempo.
Getting There
The Kumejima Ocean Jet departs from Tomari Port in Naha (82 min, ¥7,800 one-way). For a full transport comparison including flights and ferry, see our how to get to Kumejima guide.
A well-planned Kumejima sightseeing itinerary can cover the island’s highlights in 1–2 days. With the launch of Kumejima Ocean Jet in May 2026, day trips from Naha become feasible with the 82-minute journey each way, though an overnight stay allows for a more relaxed exploration of the island’s diverse attractions.
Key sightseeing spots include Hatenohama (a stunning sandbar accessible by boat tour), Tatami-ishi (natural hexagonal rock formations designated as a national monument), Uegusuku House (an important cultural property of traditional Ryukyuan architecture), and the Kumejima Tsumugi textile workshops where you can observe the traditional silk weaving process. The island is also known for its premium kuruma-ebi (tiger prawns) and deep sea water products.
