Experience the tropical paradise side of Japan by visiting the Kerama Islands in Okinawa. The Kerama Islands are a chain of islands that are the perfect place to experience the gorgeous ‘Okinawa blue’ waters that this area is famous for. The mainland of Okinawa is actually quite developed and not where you will find the idyllic paradise island images seen on postcards. To experience pristine beaches, crystal clear waters and amazing snorkeling/scuba diving, you must visit the Kerama Islands. In this 3 day itinerary, discover things to do, how to get there, where to eat, where to stay and other tips to enjoy your getaway to paradise!
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Where are the Kerama Islands?
The Kerama Islands are a chain of islands that are a part of Okinawa Japan and can be accessed by ferry from the capital, Naha. These islands are part of a national park so they are well protected, truly pristine and not developed like mainland Okinawa. The islands that you can stay on are Tokashiki, Zamami and Aka. You can access the smaller uninhabited islands via boat through a tour or by kayaking.
How many days do you need on Kerama Islands?
3 days is ideal in order to explore multiple islands and do various water activities such as snorkeling, swimming and kayaking. If you only have one day, you can take the earliest ferry and leave on the last ferry which will roughly give you from 9am to 5pm. You could also book a diving or snorkel tour that will take you to the islands on their boat and they usually pick up and drop off to your hotel in Naha.
Which of the Kerama Islands is best?
All of the islands have something to offer but it would be rushed to see all of them within 3 days. In this 3 day itinerary, we decided to visit Aka, Geruma, Fukaji and Zamami island. We also did a sailing snorkel tour in order to experience and snorkel at the more remote islands. Although we did not visit Tokashiki Island, it is another beautiful island destination. However, Tokashiki is larger and less connected to the other islands. Aka Island is connected to both Geruma and Fukaji via bridges you can bicycle across and Aka Island is connected to Zamami Island via a short and frequent ferry so it is straightforward to visit these 4 islands together in one trip.
Detailed 3 Day Itinerary of the Kerama Islands Okinawa
| Day 1 | High speed ferry from Naha to Aka Islands Leave belongings in the locker Rent bicycles and snorkel gear for the day from Rental Shop Sho Bike to Nishibama beach and snorkel the reef from the beach Bike to lunch at this 軽食 パーラー ひびき Bike across the connecting bridge to Geruma and Fukaji See the viewpoint at Fukaji Observation Deck Bike back towards Aka beach to see turtles at higher tide Return rentals, get bags from the locker and catch the last ferry to Zamami Island Dinner at Restaurant Marumiya Stay overnight at Guesthouse Iyonchi |
| Day 2 | Full day sailing snorkel tour with Zamami Sailing Rest up and change Early dinner at パーラー・マギイ Walk to Ama beach and watch the sunset Stay overnight at Guesthouse Iyonchi |
| Day 3 | Walk to Furuzamami beach – snorkel and swim Walk to Mt. Takatsuk viewpoint Check out Catch the ferry back to Naha |
Getting to the Kerama Islands (Zamami or Aka)
Ferries depart regularly from Naha on the mainland. If you are going to Zamami or Aka island, you can either take the high speed boat(Queen Zamami) or the slow car ferry boat. The fast boat takes about 50 minutes and the slow ferry takes about 2 hours. Check the official website for the ferry schedule and fares, you can also book your tickets through the website. Make sure you book well in advance during peak season because the high speed boat does sell out.
Where to Stay in the Kerama Islands
There aren’t a lot of accommodation options on the Kerama Islands because the towns are small and not very developed (which is what makes them so charming!). This means that you need to book very early and the rooms can be expensive for something basic. We recommend staying on Zamami island because there are more restaurants and conveniences around. Aka is also a fine option if Zamami is fully booked.
This is where we stayed and although it was basic, it was really good value compared to the other options. It was comfortable, clean, in the town center and near the ferry port. They have both tatami mat rooms with futons and beds with mattresses. The shower is shared for some rooms but our room had its own toilet room.
Zamamia International Guesthouse
This is another good-value option nearby that we almost booked but it was unavailable for one of our nights.
Things to Do in the Kerama Islands
Aka island:
Nishibama Beach
This beach is about a 10 minute bike ride from the ferry port. This is the most gorgeous beach on Aka island! It’s 700m of beautiful white sandy beach and has really beautiful blue and emerald green waters. You can put on your snorkel gear and enter straight from the beach for immediate amazing snorkeling. Swim a bit further out to see more colorful corals and fish. It can be quite shallow close to the shore so make sure you avoid low tide – check the low and high tide times online in advance.
Aka Beach
This beach is very near the ferry port and doesn’t look impressive but this is where you will most certainly see a turtle! It’s best to see them at high tide early in the morning or later in the afternoon because that is when they feed. We saw a turtle that was not shy at all and let us hang out and respectfully observe from a safe distance.
Biking from Aka to Geruma to Fukaji
Not only is biking a practical way to get to the beaches, it’s an excellent activity in itself to explore all 3 islands connected by island bridges. Simply cross the bridge to Geruma and then follow the route along the coast until you get to Fukaji. You can stop and explore as you like but it’s more about the journey. The endpoint at Fukaji Observation deck has an amazing view of the surrounding area. This is an up a big hill so you might want to park your bike and walk up.
Zamami Island:
Sailing Snorkel Tour
The islands are actually great for snorkeling on your own from the beach but if you want to go to the best snorkel spots and see more remote islands, you will need to join a tour. After much research, we did a tour with Zamami Sailing because they had excellent reviews and we loved the idea of sailing in comfort in a catamaran. They also offer diving so you can choose either activity. The staff speak minimal English but they are extremely friendly and will take care of you. It’s a lovely family run operation that has been around for decades.
Other tours to consider if you only have one day from Naha, Okinawa:
Kerama Islands Snorkeling Tour
Ama beach
This is another beach known for spotting turtles. Again, make sure to time your visit for high tide in the morning or late afternoon for your best chances at seeing them. This is also a great area to watch the sunset. You’ll see a lot of people stop near the faithful dog statue to watch the sunset.
Furuzamami beach
The most famous beach on Zamami, a long stretch of white sand and beautiful blue clear waters. It’s another beach where you can immediately start snorkeling by entering from the beach. It’s walkable from the town center but there’s a big hill that could be challenging without a motor vehicle.
Mt. Takatsuk viewpoint
A great viewpoint if you have some extra time to explore Zamami. There’s a nice path with observation decks that will give you views of different sides of the island. You’ll also be surrounded by lovely tropical flowers and butterflies. There’s a lot of uphill to get here so you’ll either need a motor vehicle or be okay with some exercise.
Where to Eat in the Kerama Islands
The food options are great considering you’re on an island. Make sure you double check the opening hours because a lot of restaurants don’t open for lunch and don’t open everyday.
Aka Island
軽食 パーラー ひびき
There are limited restaurants on Aka Island but we really enjoyed our local Okinawan lunch here. It was nice home-cooking and the seating is very likely in the owner’s living room. Try the local bittermelon if you are adventurous, otherwise you can get something more safe like the taco rice which is an interesting Okinawan fusion of Mexican taco flavors.
Zamami Island
Restaurant Marumiya
This place was recommended by our guesthouse and it’s very popular. It has a huge menu and you’ll find most of your favorite Japanese dishes. It’s also very reasonably priced.
105 Grocery Store
This grocery store has great to-go food options to take to the beach or for your snorkel/diving tour. Some options are rice balls, bento boxes and spam musubi. They also have a good selection of grocery items too. It’s a good place to treat yourself for an ice cream!
Cost of Trip to Kerama Islands
A trip to the Kerama Islands is not inexpensive but it’s very worthwhile. The limited options on an island means that you have to pay a premium for things like accommodation and activities. Fortunately for visitors from foreign countries, the currency conversion to yen is currently quite strong so you can get a lot of value traveling in Japan.
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| Category | Total Cost USD | Details (for 2 people) |
| Accommodation | $150.00 | 2 nights at Guesthouse Iyonchi |
| Recreational Activities | $143.30 | – Bike rental: $16 – Catamaran tour: $127 |
| Local Transportation | $75.53 | Round trip ferry tickets + locker fee on our first day |
| Dining Out | $63.41 | 3 lunches and 2 dinners at restaurants |
| Snacks | $3.63 | Various snacks |
| TOTAL | $435.87 |
Other Tips
- Check the ferry schedules: Depending on the time of the year, the schedule varies and it can sometimes be canceled because of weather. They don’t run very frequently so make sure you plan accordingly. official website
- Book ferry tickets in advance: The high-speed boat will sell out during high-season. You’ll likely be able to get on the slow car-ferry but then you’ll have less island time.
- Book accommodation in advance: Accommodation on the Kerama Islands is limited and get fully booked well in advance. You can always book first and then make sure you cancel within the free cancellation window if your plans change.
- Collect stamps: The visitor center gives out a fun sticker for those that collect stamps from all of the Zamami islands.
- Check the tide: Snorkeling is best during high tide for ease of swimming and also for the best chances of spotting turtles!
- Lockers near the ferry ports: There are lockers near the ferry ports if you need to store your belongings. Make sure you check their opening hours because they do close.
Things to Avoid
- Peak season: Peak season has the best weather but it’s also the most crowded and most expensive. Shoulder season at the end of April and early November will be less busy.
- Rainy and cloudy days: Out of your control but if you are more flexible, try to schedule your activities on sunny days because it makes a big difference to the scenery.
- Missing the ferry: The ferries depart right on time so make sure you give yourself a buffer before departure.
Final Thoughts on Kerama Islands
The Kerama Islands are a must-visit destination for anybody visiting Okinawa. The snorkeling and water activities are incredible because of the crystal clear blue waters with amazing visibility. Cycling along 3 connected islands is also really special and gives wonderful views of the area. Make sure you plan well in advance because this small but special place books up, especially during peak season. Enjoy your visit to these Japanese paradise islands!
Planning a trip to Japan? You might be interested in the Ski Trip Guide to Nozawa Onsen and Driving in Japan.
What do you think of the Kerama Islands? Have you considered visiting? Please leave us a comment, we’d love to hear from you.
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