Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Those in town have the advantage of being near the ferry dock and those in Nakazato are
within a block of Eef Beach. In fact, most are lined up, along with many restaurants, along Eef
Beach Street (
イーフ ビーチ通り
; Īfu-bīchi dōri). Japanese pensions generally run around
4,000-5,000 Yen per person per night, breakfast (and sometimes dinner) included.
Namiji Restaurant (
波路
)
You can't miss it. Namiji's right off the beach (Īfu-bīchi) on the main drag in town. It's packed every
night and there's usually a line of patrons waiing outside the door for a table (or sushi bar space).
So why are people waiing when there's lots of other restaurants on the same street? How about the
freshest, finest seafood? And how about the mouth-watering sushi and sashimi, and friendly service
and reasonable prices? How about the Shikwasa beer? That last one's tricky. You'll have to go to find
out for yourself. But try it, it's delicious.
Although Kume is often described as a “small” island, to anyone familiar with the Ry-
ukyus that's a relative statement. For in this chain of several hundred small islands and islets,
all things considered it's a pretty big island. In fact, it is Okinawa Prefecture's fifth largest.
Describing its shape is a little tough. How about a large lopsided mushroom or a giant tooth,
specifically a molar with a single root? Kume is another one of these islands where a picture
is worth a thousand words. From its northern top to its very southernmost pointy tip, it is 7
miles (12 kilometers) long. And coincidentally, from end to end, east to west, across the is-
land's widest points, it is also 7 miles (12 kilometers). Its area is just over 25 square miles (63
square kilometers) and its circumference is approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers). Kume
Island's official website lists a 2011 census population figure of 8,626 inhabitants. That's ex-
ceptionally large compared with many other “small” islands.
Kumejima has just about everything you might wish for on a peaceful tropical paradise.
It has both mountains and the sea. The island is volcanic in origin, breathtakingly moun-
tainous, yet is fringed by coral reefs and pure white sand beaches. Let's circle the island in a
clockwise direction starting in town at the Marine Terminal, right by the Kanegusuku Port
