What to know
Kumejima (久米島) is part of the Okinawa Shoto island group, roughly 90 kilometers west of Okinawa Honto. Like many smaller islands around Okinawa Honto, Kumejima offers a less developed version of the beaches and Okinawan culture the prefecture is famous for. The island is compact, with journeys from one end to the other rarely exceeding ten kilometers.
As elsewhere in Okinawa, Kumejima's beaches, snorkeling, and diving are top attractions. Hatenohama Beach, a seven-kilometer-long sandbar just east of the island, is the most famous. Known for its white sand, it is only accessible via a tour. Other beaches on Kumejima are also lovely and generally less crowded than those on Okinawa Honto.
Kumejima's history mirrors the rest of the archipelago, with local rulers building castles as power centers. The Uegusuku Castle Ruins sit on one of the island's highest peaks, offering panoramic views. However, the castle fell to forces from Okinawa Honto, and Kumejima became part of the Ryukyu Kingdom in the early 1500s.
Kumejima has two main towns: one around the port, mostly residential, and a small tourist hub of hotels, restaurants, and shops near Eef Beach. Several minor attractions are scattered across the island.