Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Tsuken Carrot Observatory, with the Harbor Lighthouse at left rear.
A passenger and vehicle ferry (left) and a passenger express (right) serve Tsuken's transport needs.
Tsuken is a small, low-lying island known for its wonderful carrots. For whatever reason,
good soil conditions or just tradition, Tsuken is the most famous place in Okinawa for carrot
growing. You'll find them in all the produce markets, usually marked as “Tsuken Carrots.”
Compared to US carrots, they're quite different. They are shorter and much thicker, not long
and narrow as the ones we're used to. They have . . . what can I say, a carrot flavor.
Tsuken Island is quite rectangular in shape, about 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) long and 1
mile (1.5 kilometers) wide. Its area is a bit less than 2 square kilometers (0.73 square miles or
1.88 square kilometers) and its circumference is 4 miles (7 kilometers).
Kamiya-sō Minshuku on Tsukenjima.
Surrounding the port is the island's only village. The population of Tsuken is 550 and
most of the inhabitants live there. As mentioned, the island is mostly flat. The highest point
is 125 feet (39 meters) and that spot is in town. On this high point is a small park. It's usu-
ally deserted, but in the park is Tsuken's premier sight—a giant carrot! You can enter the big
carrot sculpture and climb to the top on its interior spiral staircase. There's a nice view of
the village and port. On a 10-point scale of the world's greatest tourist sites, with the Grand
