Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
country. Zamami village is home to more than 600 of the island's 700 residents and is the
main place for
minshuku
. There were over 30 at last count and almost an equal number of
dive shops. Although Zamami is the main center for the island's tourism industry, there are
several
minshuku
in each of the island's two other tiny villages, Ama (
阿真
) and Asa (
阿佐
).
These really little places are right on the shore and it doesn't get any more laid-back than
this. Asa, strangely enough, has the biggest and newest “hotel” in the Keramas. It's called the
Kerama Beach Hotel and it's quite nice. However, it's $150 a night whereas the
minshuku
run
$30-50 per person per night.
The Unajinozaki Observation Platform.
The best way to see Zamamijima is to rent a bicycle or scooter and drive around. You can
visit the whole island in a few hours. There are good beaches everywhere, but two of the best-
known are Furuzamami (
古座間味ビーチ
; Furu-Zamami bīchi) and Ama (
阿真ビーチ
; Ama
bīchi).
Wherever you go, you'll find strategically sited observation platforms. The Takat-
sukiyama Lookout (
高月山展望台
; Takatsuki-yama tenbō-dai) offers a good bird's eye view
over Zamami Port, the Kerama Strait, Aka and the other islands to the south. It's 450 feet (137
meters) above sea level. The Inazaki Observation Tower (
稲崎展望台
; Ina-zaki tenbō-dai)
on Cape Ina gives a good perspective of Zamami Island and the sea to the north. Both the
Unajinozaki (
女瀬ノ崎展望台
; Unaji-no zaki tenbō-dai) and Kami-no hama tenbō-dai (
神の
浜展望台
; lit. “God's Beach Lookout”) viewing platforms on Zamami's westernmost cape have
spectacular views out to Yakabi, Kuba, Tonaki and, in clear weather, Kume. These two plat-
forms are also superb places for watching the sunset.
