Kume Island, Okinawa, Japan
Boats leave Naha for a three-hour sail across the Okinawa sea. Stay in a beachside flat, or choose a traditional house in the hills for a slower pace of life. Explore the island on an electric bike, stopping for a plate of Okinawa’s famous taco rice. If you’re lucky, you might stumble upon locals gathered for a barbecue - grilling fresh fish, meat, and seafood, dressed in traditional clothes, with cold beers flowing and laughter carrying into the night.
About Kume Island
Kume Island is far from touristy—most visitors are Japanese, and even in summer, supposedly the peak season, it feels almost deserted. With only around 8,000 inhabitants, many of them elderly, the island carries a quiet, almost ghostly charm. Abandoned buildings dot the landscape, and at night the streets are barely lit. If you need something practical, like renting a bicycle, head to the local Lawson convenience store - they know everyone and have the right contacts. Because the island isn’t on the mainstream travel map, you can stumble upon incredible deals: five-star resorts for as little as $20 a night.
Transport
Only two boats depart daily, except on Tuesdays when there’s just a morning sailing. You can also fly with Air Japan - slightly pricier than the ferry, but the view from above is breathtaking.
Lost in Kume Island
A quiet road through Kume Island’s green hills - freedom, stillness, and the joy of the ride.
From Tuesday to Saturday, boats leave Naha for a four-hour sail across the Okinawan sea. Stay in a beachside flat, or choose a traditional house in the hills for a slower pace of life. Explore the island on an electric bike, stopping for a plate of Okinawa’s famous taco rice. If you’re lucky, you might stumble upon locals gathered for a barbecue—grilling fresh fish, meat, and seafood, dressed in traditional clothes, with cold beers flowing and laughter carrying into the night.