Okinawa, Japan · Remote island, Sea / Beach
A Kerama island famous for the 'Kerama Blue', with Furuzamami Beach ranked among the best in Japan for snorkeling alongside sea turtles.
Ferry — High-speed ferry Queen Zamami from Tomari Port (Naha), about 50-70 minutes; there is also the slower Ferry Zamami, about 2 hours.
🥾 Active nature
Guided dives with local operators in the waters of Kerama Shoto National Park, with visibility up to 30 metres.
One of the best beaches in Japan for snorkeling, with a coral reef just metres from the shore.
Ama is where green turtles graze the seagrass bed, very close to shore. Keep your distance and never chase or touch them.
Aka is fifteen minutes away on the inter-island boat. The Kerama deer, a National Natural Monument since 1972, often come down to the village and the beach in broad daylight. In the port stands the statue of Shiro, the dog who in the 1980s swam three kilometres from Aka to Zamami to see Marilyn; her statue is on Ama beach.
The Inazaki observatory is one of the best places in the archipelago to see humpback whales from land in winter, without getting on a boat. The Nishibama viewpoint overlooks the longest beach on Aka.
Boat trips from January to March to see the humpback whales that migrate to Kerama's waters every winter.
The town hall maintains an official map: the 1941 monument with bullet marks on its steps, the Azalea Tower where the mass suicide of 26 March took place, the memorial to municipal officials and their families, the Popcorn Tower dedicated to the children who died and the remains of the suicide-boat bunker. The municipality warns against entering caves or the hills alone.
A National Park centre devoted to coral: it explains the park's 248 species, bleaching and the rules for using the sea. It is the best introduction before getting into the water, and it has a twin on Aka.
With almost no light pollution, the island's sky is exceptional. The viewpoints and Ama beach are the usual spots, and in winter the dry air gives the best visibility.
An Okinawan house from the late Ryukyu Kingdom and an Important Cultural Property of Japan, with a red-tiled roof and a windbreak wall. It is the only serious architectural heritage in the municipality, reached on foot or by bicycle from Aka across the bridge.
A monument to more than 1,200 war victims, among them 624 residents of the municipality, ten minutes on foot from the port. Every 26 March the families hold the memorial there for the 1945 American landing and the forced suicides that followed. It is visited in silence.
Quieter than Furuzamami, with fewer tourists and a great spot for a sunset swim.
Boat tour to nearby uninhabited islets, such as Agenashiku, for snorkeling in nearly untouched waters.
A municipal campsite beside the beach, with very cheap pitches and tent rental. It is the cheapest way to sleep inside the national park and lets you see the sunrise and the stars without going anywhere.
The village has barely a dozen places to eat local fish, mozuku and agu pork with awamori. They close early and many require booking the same day; beyond that, nightlife comes down to the beach and the stars.
Throughout November there are open-air performances, stalls and discounts from local businesses in the middle of the low season. It is the best time to see the island without crowds and with the community fully involved.
The sabani is the traditional Okinawan wooden boat. In June and July Zamami holds a sailing race and a yacht race that fill the port, and both can be watched for free from the quay.
Crossings through the coves and out to the nearby islets, recognised by the national park. It is the alternative to diving when the sea is calm and a good option for anyone who does not dive.
Panoramic viewpoint over the Kerama Islands, very popular for watching the sunset.
The Ministry of the Environment officially acknowledges bleaching, crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks and diving damage as the park's main threats, and recent summers have been especially hot. Local dive clubs remove starfish and monitor the coral voluntarily. The reef is alive but stressed: go with operators who follow the rules and do not expect intact coral.
Community rites for safety at sea and a good catch, and a visit to the family tombs followed by a coastal parade of decorated boats, on dates set by the lunar calendar. These are neighbourhood ceremonies, not shows: watch from outside and ask before photographing.
A summer festival in August, with an open-air stage, eisa, stalls and fireworks. Accommodation sells out: book months ahead.
The island is small with barely any traffic, ideal for getting around by rented bicycle or electric scooter.
Bridge connecting Zamami to neighbouring Aka Island, great to cross by bicycle or scooter.
Stroll through the small village centre, known for its stray cats and relaxed island atmosphere.
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