Region

Kerama Islands

Sleep on one island (Zamami or Tokashiki) and day-trip to others; 3 nights minimum for a relaxed pace.

Open Okinawa Plan a trip

More: share, save offline, report a correction

Key facts · Japan

Best months: Mar–May, Oct
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: Yen (JPY)
Language: Japanese
Plugs: A · B · 100 V
Time zone: UTC+9 all year

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 7

East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
Okinawa ↗Driving needs a 1949 Geneva Convention IDP obtained before arrival; the main island has no trains.
Okinawa ↗Ferries and inter-island flights can be cancelled for days in typhoon season (Aug–Sep); keep a buffer before an international flight.

The Kerama Islands are a small archipelago of coral islands 40–60 minutes by ferry from Naha. They are part of a national park and known for clear water, white-sand beaches and whale-watching in winter. Most visitors base themselves on Zamami or Tokashiki and visit Akajima as a day-trip. Kumejima is farther and has its own airport; it works as a separate stop.

Where to sleep

4 places in this region

Sleep base

ZamamiCity guide
Best beaches and snorkelling; small village with a few minshuku and guesthouses.
Best Apr–Jul, Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Zamami →
TokashikiCity guide
More accommodation options; ferry is fastest (35 min fast).
Best Apr–Jun, Oct–Nov
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Tokashiki →
KumejimaCity guide
Separate island with its own airport; 4 h by ferry or 35 min flight from Naha.
Best Apr–May, Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Kumejima →

Day trip

AkajimaCity guide
Small island with a bridge to Fukaji; quiet beaches and a few lodgings.
Best Apr–Jun, Oct–Nov
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Akajima →

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

3 nights: Zamami 3, day-trip to Tokashiki or Akajima
5 nights: Zamami 3 + Kumejima 2 (fly to Kumejima, ferry back to Naha)

Ferry schedules are reduced in winter (Nov–Feb); check the operator's website before booking.
Typhoon season (Aug–Oct) can cancel ferries for 1–3 days; have a buffer in your itinerary.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Akajima	Zamami	60 min	check	Same ferry line; check the return schedule at the port.
Tokashiki	Zamami	70 min	check	Ferry via Naha; a day-trip is possible but tight.

Bags between cities

Luggage forwarding is not available between the Kerama Islands; pack light and use coin lockers at Naha port if needed.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
Zamami	ok	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	go	ok	ok
Tokashiki	×	×	ok	go	go	go	×	×	ok	go	go	ok
Kumejima	ok	ok	ok	go	go	ok	ok	ok	ok	go	ok	ok
Akajima	ok	ok	ok	go	go	go	×	×	ok	go	go	ok
Okinawa (country-wide)	ok	ok	ok	go	–	–	–	–	×	go	go	ok

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Kerama IslandsAll islands	ok	ok	best	best	best	wet	wet	storm	storm	best	ok	ok

best: dry, mildok: workablewet: daily rainstorm: typhoon or flood risk

Kerama Islands: Best months Apr–Jun and Oct–Nov for calm seas and clear water. Typhoon risk peaks Aug–Sep. Winter (Dec–Feb) is cooler (15–20 °C (59–68 °F)) and whale-watching season.Best months Apr–Jun and Oct–Nov for calm seas and clear water. Typhoon risk peaks Aug–Sep. Winter (Dec–Feb) is cooler (59–68 °F (15–20 °C)) and whale-watching season.

Golden Week (late Apr–early May) and summer school holidays (Jul–Aug) are crowded; book ferries and accommodation well ahead.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
Naha (Tomari Port)	Tokashiki	Fast ferry (Queen Zamami / Marine Liner)	35 min	Fast ferry runs 2–3 times daily; slow ferry takes 70 min.
Naha (Tomari Port)	Zamami	Fast ferry	60 min	Fast ferry runs 2–3 times daily; slow ferry takes 120 min.
Naha (Tomari Port)	Akajima	Fast ferry	50 min	Fast ferry runs 2–3 times daily; slow ferry takes 90 min.
Naha Airport	Kumejima	Flight (Ryukyu Air Commuter / JAL)	35 min	Several flights daily; also a 4-hour ferry from Naha.

Regional passes

Verdict first

Kerama Islands ferry pass

check

No multi-island pass exists; buy individual tickets at Tomari Port.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works

Dish	Where	Timing / trap
Okinawan soba	Zamami and Tokashiki	Simple noodle soup with pork; lunch only at a few shops.
Fresh sashimi	Zamami	Caught locally; served at minshuku with advance notice.
Awamori (Kumesen)	Kumejima	One of Okinawa's most famous awamori brands; distillery tours available.

Go next

Okinawa Island

Ferry back to Naha

Explore the main island's castles, museums and beaches.

Yaeyama Islands

planned

Flight from Naha to Ishigaki (1 h)

More remote islands with jungle and world-class diving.

Miyako Islands

planned

Flight from Naha to Miyako (1 h)

White-sand beaches and coral reefs; less touristy than Kerama.

Daito Islands

planned

Flight from Naha (1 h)

Remote islands with limestone landscapes.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep: 3 bases
Day trips: 2, 1 h to 1 h 10
Nights suggested: 3–5 nights
Ways in: 4 listed
Best months: Mar–May, Oct

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

Open Okinawa Up to Okinawa

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources

Sources

officialKerama Islands Tourist Association
officialJapan Meteorological Agency
secondaryWikivoyage: Kerama Islands, revision 5229619 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Ask about Kerama Islands

Loading…

Was this useful?