DeirdreZamami Island is a pristine slice of sub-tropical paradise, found off the coast of Okinawa, Japan. Easily accessible by boat from the capital city of Naha, Zamami Island is a great addition to any trip to Okinawa, as it offers clear, calm waters, a relaxed island vibe, and plenty of hiking opportunities.
Whether you plan on staying one day or several, there is plenty to keep visitors busy.
This Zamami Island Day trip guide will help assist you by providing information on transport to the island, sites of interest, and helpful tips along the way.
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Where is Zamami Located
Zamami Island is part of a larger chain of islands 32km from Okinawa, called the Kerama Islands. Four of the islands are inhabited: Zamami, Tokishiki, Aka, and Geruma.
These islands are known for their diverse aquatic life and beautiful blue waters, known as Kerama Blue.
How To Get to Zamami
Unfortunately, there are no flights from mainland Japan or the island of Okinawa, connecting Zamami. Instead, there are two ways of reaching the island by boat: high speed boat and ferry.
Both ferry and high-speed boats can be booked online (within 2 months of departure) or in person at the port.
During high season, it is highly recommended to book in advance, as the boats fill up quickly, especially during the peak summer months.
The online booking system allows visitors to view the seating availability, timetable and prices for both options.
The website itself is not necessarily difficult to navigate but it did take several Google searches and digging to find the site to book tickets.
Book Ferry tickets here
To make a booking, press the “Login” button on the homepage and then “Reservation Form”.
There is an automatic 100 YEN added to the final price for the Zamami Village’s “Environmental Protection Tax”.
Schedules and departures can change according to the season, so check back frequently.
By the time I got around to booking my trip, all the high-speed boats were sold out.
Check Ferry Schedule here
High-Speed Boat
The High-Speed Queen Zamami is a 50-minute boat ride from north side of Tomari Port. It typically runs twice a day from Tomari, at 09:00 and 15:00.
The 09:00 journey only stops at Zamami, while the 15:00 stops at both Aka and Zamami.
There are two return departures from Zamami to Tomari, at 10:00 and 16:20.
A one-way journey for an adult costs 3300 YEN and return 6180 YEN.
Ferry
Ferry Zamami is a slower alternative to reach the island. From the south side of Tomari Port, Ferry Zamami leaves once a day at 10:00 and is a 2-hour journey.
There is a short 5 minute stop at Aka, before continuing to Zamami.
The return departure to Tomari is at 14:00 (winter season) or 16:00 (summer season).
A one-way journey for an adult costs 2250 YEN and return 4190 YEN.
The ferry is equipped with comfortable seats, spotty WIFI, vending machines, washrooms, indoor/outdoor seating, and air conditioned rooms for those prone to sea sickness.
I rode the ferry in August and was fortunate enough to have clear skies and calm seas.
How Long Should you Stay on Zamami
Zamami can be enjoyed over a single day or several. If you are lucky and secure return tickets with the high-speed boat, visitors can stay from 09:50 to 16:20, with just under 7 hours on the island to explore.
If you are unfortunate and are only able to catch the ferry on both journeys, then you will only have a total of 4 hours to explore around the island (12:00-16:00).
Unless you stay overnight or several days, it’s impossible to fully embrace everything Zamami can offer. But don’t let that discourage you, as there is still plenty of things to do with even with as little as 4 hours on the island.
What To Do On Zamami
Most visitors who travel to Zamami have either objective in mind: swim/relax on a beach or hike to the lookout points.
However, what you do, depends entirely on how long you have. If you find yourself in an unfortunate position and have to take the slow ferry to reach Zamami, as mentioned earlier, you will only have 4 hours to explore the island.
Since I was travelling with husband and young daughter, we focused out efforts on one beach and one lookout point.
Furuzamami Beach
Arguably the most beautiful beaches on the island, Furuzamami Beach is 1km long, white sand beach, located south-east of the main port in Zamami.
As someone who generally dislikes swimming, I can confirm that the water at this beach is spectacular and insanely clear. Clear, calm waters make this beach ideal for swimming with families, snorkeling for marine life or just lounging on the sand.
As a forewarning, areas of the beach are completely covered in tiny white coral making it difficult to walk barefoot. Sandals or water shoes are highly recommended.
To respect the fragile coral in the area, there is a designated swimming area along the beach. This area also has access to washrooms, a snack bar, equipment rental and a parking area. Lifeguards monitor the area as well.
Walking route to Furuzamami Beach here
Ama Beach
Located southwest of Zamami Port, Ama Beach is another fabulous beach to explore. While not as popular as Furuzamami, Ama still boasts the same white sand and crystal-clear water.
This beach is closer to the port and is a much quieter option, for those seeking solitude. The water at Ama Beach is more shallow and marine life is found further out.
There is a lifeguard present during daylight hours and other facilities can be accessed at the nearby campground, including washrooms.
The real highlight of Ama Beach is the potential of spotting sea turtles.
Walking route to Ama Beach here
Kayaking/Snorkeling
Kayaking and snorkeling are also two fun activities that can be enjoy while on Zamami. While it is possible to rent your own snorkeling equipment at Furuzamami Beach, sometimes it’s just easier to pre-arrange tours, especially if you are short on time.
Most tours operators will meet visitors at the docks (around 10am if taking the speed boat) and provide transport to and from your preferred activity.
Half-Day Kayaking Tour of Zamami BOOK HERE
Snorkeling Tour BOOK HERE
Lookout Points
Zamami has many beautiful observation decks that are scattered throughout the small island. These observations decks provide views of the nearby islands, beaches and the blue waters.
The more popular decks are Unajinosachi, Chishi, and Takatsukiyama.
To reach the closet observation deck to the port, Takatsukiyama, the trail leads past the Zamami Village Peace Monument, which was built to remember those lost in the Okinawa War.
This area is tucked away, off the main road, which leads to a secluded little forest and views of the harbour.
I only had time to visit Takatsukiyama on my trip to Zamami. Most of the trail was uphill and on the main road. This would not be an issue in the cooler months, but in mid-August, it was quite humid and hot. The views were amazing and we enjoyed a packed lunch at the top.
How to Get Around the Island
For day trippers, there are four main ways of getting around the island of Zamami: bus, bicycles, scooters/motorcycles, or walking.
There is a local bus that runs to the popular areas on Zamami, including Ama Beach, Ama Camp, Furuzamami Beach, and Asa Kominkan. The fare is 300 YEN per way, and it takes around 5 minutes to reach either beach.
Check out the Bus Timetable for the Island here
There are several companies near the port that offer rental cars, scooters/motorcycles, or bicycles for the day.
Check out the Zamami Village Association for more details on the companies or this map here showing all the locations.
The prices for the above rentals are reasonable, as they can range from 1500 YEN for 1 hour for a scooter and 3000 YEN for a 1 hour car rental. Bicycle rentals start at 500 YEN for 1 hour or 1000 YEN for 3 hours.
Walking is another mode of transport around Zamami. While it’s harder to explore the entire island on foot, it’s possible to walk to some of the observation decks and beaches within the allotted time.
From the port, the walk to Furuzamami Beach or Ama Beach takes around 20-25 minutes.
Where To Eat on Zamami
There are a few restaurants and cafes not far from the port to enjoy a meal or two.
Little Kitchen
- Cuisine: Fusion: Pizza, Jerk Chicken, Salad, Tofu, Seafood
- Address: 29 Zamami, Shimajiri District, Okinawa 901-3402, Japan
- Cuisine: Japanese: Specializing in Mozuku Soba and Mozuku Gohan
- Address: 9 Zamami, Shimajiri District, Okinawa 901-3402, Japan
La Toquee
- Cuisine: Okinawan: Mozuku Seaweed Tempura, Okinawan Stir Fried Salt Pork, Okinawa Soba
- Address: 105 Zamami, Shimajiri District, Okinawa 901-3402, Japan
There are two small grocery stores on the island: Komine Store and 105 Grocery Store. Both have little snacks and takeaway options for picnic lunches.
I visited 105 Grocery and was able to pick up a few items for our trip, including pre-made meals, water and biscuits.
Where To Stay on Zamami
If you plan on extending your stay on Zamami, rest assured there are several places to stay, despite its small size.
Dining & Stay 38 Miyahira: Located 100m from Ama Beach, this small hotel offers free WIFI, terraced rooms and has an onsite restaurant that offers both American and Japanese breakfast options- CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY
Oceana Portvillage Zamami: This 3 star hotel offers free continental breakfast, WIFI and is located less than 1km from Furuzamami Beach-CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY
St.Maire Zamami サンメール座間味: Centrally located, this hotel is 270m from the port and just over 1km from Ama and Furuzamami Beach. American breakfast is served and there is also a hot tub onsite–CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY
Okinawa looks so fun! Thanks for the helpful guide 🙂
Thanks for this detailed blog! I’m sure that no one will never get lost.