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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Kumejima
Spend 2 days on Kumejima: one day for Hatenohama beach and Uezu House, second for diving or kayaking; travel time from Naha ~35 min by plane or 3.5 h ferry.
Kumejima is a small Okinawan island 100 km west of the main island, reachable by short flight or ferry. Its main draws are beaches, historic sites and water sports, which fit comfortably into a two‑day itinerary.
- Country
- Japan
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (typhoon risk)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥8,000–12,000 excl. bed · High ¥12,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Flight Naha → Kumejima | ¥10,000 one‑way |
| Round‑trip ferry Naha → Kumejima | ¥6,450 |
| Bus ride (full island loop) | ¥300–¥500 |
| Bike or scooter rental (half‑day) | ¥800–¥1,200 |
| Eef Beach dive ticket (single dive) | ¥3,000–¥5,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- UEO · Kumejima Airport
- 35 min flight from Naha, ¥10,000 one‑way
Typical fares
- Naha → Kumejima (plane)
- about ¥10,000, 35 min
- Naha → Kumejima (ferry)
- ¥6,450, 3.5 h each way
- Island bus day pass
- ≈ ¥500
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Island bus runs the whole circuit (infrequent, check schedule). Car rentals at airport and ferry port; bicycles and scooters available from shops.
See and do
Known for
- Hatenohama beach
- Uezu House
- Uegusuku Castle ruins
- Eef Beach diving
- Kumesen awamori
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tokashiki Island | Ferry from Kanegusuku Port, about 1 h 15 min | ≈ 2 h total |
| Zamami Island | Ferry from Naha to Zamami (≈ 2 h), then local ferry to Kume (≈ 1 h) | ≈ 4 h total |
| Okinawa Main Island (Naha) | Plane 35 min or ferry 3.5 h back to Naha | ≈ 1 h (plane) or 4 h (ferry) |
Sleep
- Kume Island Resort Hotel
- Luxury resort near Eef Beach; ideal for a beach stay.
- EN Resort Kumejima Eef Beach Hotel
- ¥5,000 per person including breakfast; western‑style rooms.
- La Teada Kumejima Terrace
- Mid‑priced hotel.
- Kumejima‑Bekkan
- Minshuku near Kanegusuku Port; from ¥4,200/night.
- Minshuku Amimoto
- Traditional minshuku on Ojima; from ¥3,675/night.
- Dormitory Kum
- Budget hostel; from ¥1,800/night.
Language
Japanese everywhere; English on rail signs, ticket machines and in large hotels, thin elsewhere. Menus with photos and translation apps close most gaps.
- Write addresses in Japanese for taxi drivers; the hotel card works.
- A camera translation app reads menus and machine labels.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Bus service is limited, especially evenings; plan trips early.
- Ferry and flight times can vary seasonally; verify before travel.
- Summer heat and occasional typhoons; bring sun protection and monitor weather.
Kumejima is generally safe; crime is low, but watch your belongings on crowded ferries and stay alert during typhoon season.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kumejima yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Hatenohama beach
- Uezu House
- Uegusuku Castle ruins
- Eef Beach diving
- Kumesen awamori
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Kumejima tourist association (Japanese): www.kanko-kumejima.com/
- Wikivoyage: Kumejima, revision 5239143 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5239143
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/kumejima). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.