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Access to Kumejima Island, located about 100km from Okinawa Main Island, is either by plane or ferry.

The ferry service varies depending on the season and day of the week, with 1 to 3 departures per day, and each trip lasts approximately 3 hours.
The advantages of ferries are that they are cheaper than airplanes and can transport cars.

If you're traveling by plane, there are seven round trips a day on the Naha-Kumejima route, and the flight time is extremely short, about 25 minutes.
The biggest advantage of flying is undoubtedly the short travel time.

If time is your priority, choose a plane; if cost is your priority, choose a ferry.

This time, I've researched various aspects of ferry travel, including how to book tickets and the travel time, to help those who want to get to Kumejima Island as cheaply as possible.
(The information in this text is current as of January 2018.)

<Table of Contents>
1. Overview of Kumejima Ferry
2. Ferry fares and booking methods
3. We also transport cars and motorcycles.
4. When boarding the ship
5. Kumejima Ferry Q&A
6. Summary

1. Overview of Kumejima Ferry

Ferries from Okinawa Main Island to Kumejima Port depart from Tomari Port in Naha.
Tomari Port is a central port for travel from Okinawa Mainland to the outlying islands, and is accessible in about 15 minutes on foot from Miebashi Monorail Station.
The terminal building is affectionately known as "Tomarin" and has a large multi-story parking garage adjacent to it.

Check the train schedule now!
There are two options: Ferry Ryukyu and New Kumeshima, but you won't know which one you'll be on until the day of departure.
Naha → Tonaki Island → Kume Island

Ship name		Departing from Naha	Arrived at Tonaki Island	Departing from Tonaki Island	Arrived at Kumejima
1 flights	Ferry Ryukyu	8:30	10:15	10:30	11:50
	New Kumeshima	8:30	10:45	11:00	12:30
2 flights	Ferry Ryukyu	14:00			16:50
	New Kumeshima	14:00			17:15

Kumejima → Tonakijima → Naha (overnight stay) (January 1st - March 31st, November 1st - December 31st)

Ship name		Departing from Kumejima	Arrived at Tonaki Island	Departing from Tonaki Island	Arrived in Naha
1 flights	Ferry Ryukyu	8:30	9:50	10:05	11:50
	New Kumeshima	8:30	10:00	10:15	12:30
2 flights	Ferry Ryukyu	14:00			16:50
	New Kumeshima	14:00			17:15

Kumejima → Tonakijima → Naha (overnight stay) (April 1st - October 31st)

Ship name		Departing from Kumejima	Arrived at Tonaki Island	Departing from Tonaki Island	Arrived in Naha
1 flights	Ferry Ryukyu	8:30	9:50	10:05	11:50
	New Kumeshima	8:30	10:00	10:15	12:30
2 flights Except Mondays and Fridays	Ferry Ryukyu	14:00			16:50
	New Kumeshima	14:00			17:15
2 flights Gold only	Ferry Ryukyu	14:00	15:20	15:35	16:50
	New Kumeshima	14:00	15:30	15:45	17:15

To give you a rough idea of ​​the operating schedule,
1. The morning flight departs at 8:30 AM, and the afternoon flight departs at 2:00 PM.
2. The journey time is a minimum of 2 hours and 50 minutes (if using Ferry Ryukyu), plus 25 minutes if sailing to New Kumeshima, and plus 60 minutes if sailing via Tonaki Island.
3. There is only one flight on Monday mornings.
4. Both the morning flights from Naha/Tomari to Kumejima and from Kumejima to Naha/Tomari go via Tonaki Island, but from April to October, the afternoon flights also go via Tonaki Island on Fridays.

2. Ferry fares and booking methods

Ferry tickets for the Naha/Tomari-Kumejima ferry go on sale one month before departure.
For advance reservations from remote locations, you can call Kume Shosen, the operator, or book through some travel agencies, or online via the SkyTicket website.

<Ticket office>
Tomarin Office, 3-25-1 Maejima, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, 098-868-2686
Kumejima Branch Office, 5 Kanegusuku, Kumejima-cho, Okinawa Prefecture, 098-985-3057
Tonaki Branch Office, 1917-12 Nishi, Tonaki Village, Okinawa Prefecture 098-989-2479

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2-1. Round-trip fares, payment and cancellation rules, etc.

Passenger fares are as follows, and round-trip discounts are also available.
One-way fare: Adult 3390 yen / Child 1700 yen
Round-trip discount fare: Adult 6450 yen

Children's tickets are for elementary school students aged 6 to 11; children aged 5 and under are free.

If you purchase (and pay for) a ticket directly at the counter and then cancel it, a cancellation fee may be charged depending on the timing.
The cancellation fee is a flat rate of 200 yen up to 7 days before departure, 1% of the fare (minimum 200 yen) from 6 to 3 days before departure, and 3% of the fare from the day before departure until departure.
Refunds are not possible after departure, so please cancel at the ticket counter as soon as you decide to cancel.

During Golden Week, summer vacation, and other holiday periods, reservations tend to fill up quickly, and bookings that haven't been paid for at least three days in advance may be cancelled.
This is quite a challenge for travelers.

In times like these, the internet is the answer.
With SkyTicket, you can book ferries to Kumejima and pay in advance with a credit card.
It seems that round-trip discounts don't apply, but I'd still like to try it during peak season.

See below for details. *Please be sure to check cancellation charges and other details yourself.
SkyTicket:https://skyticket.jp/ferry/

3. We also transport cars and motorcycles.

While there are rental car offices, motorbike rental shops, and bicycle rental shops on Kumejima Island, some people might prefer to bring equipment they rented in Naha.

While there is a fee, it is certainly possible to transport your vehicle by ferry. However, since the number of vehicles that can be transported is limited, be sure to mention this when making your reservation if you plan to take a rental car or motorcycle on the ferry.

When transporting a vehicle from Naha to Kumejima Port, the ferry fare for vehicles is ¥12,080 for vehicles less than 3m in length, and ¥66650 for vehicles between 11m and 12m in length. The fare increases by ¥5500 for each additional meter thereafter.
The above price includes the fare for one driver.

Additionally, bicycles and motorcycles are charged a baggage fee, which is the fare plus an extra charge. The fee is 1190 yen per bicycle, 2360 yen for motorcycles under 50cc, and 3550 yen for motorcycles larger than that.

4. When boarding the ship

If you are boarding the ferry, you will need to fill out a boarding application form, whether you have a reservation or not.

At Tomarin, each bus route has a designated counter, and in the case of Kumejima, it's counter number 2.

If paying at the counter, only cash is accepted, so those who prefer using credit cards should take note.
*There are ATMs and convenience store ATMs inside Tomarin.

Boarding begins 45 minutes before departure time.
If you're going to Kumejima for sightseeing, most people will likely pay on the day of departure, so head to the marin (fish market) at least 30 minutes before departure to complete the payment.

The port of arrival on Kumejima Island is Kanegusuku Port. It has a strong residential feel, and there is only one hotel nearby.
The area around Eef Beach, the main tourist hub, is about 6 km away, so getting around by bus or taxi is the basic option.
The bus fare is ¥200 one way, and the journey takes approximately 25 minutes.

5. Kumejima Ferry Q&A

Q: Are flights ever cancelled?

A: Yes, there is a possibility of cancellations if the sea becomes rough due to typhoons or heavy rain. A clear cancellation rate has not been announced, but extra caution is needed during August and September, when typhoons are frequent.
Cancellations due to bad weather will be decided around 7:00 AM on the day of departure.

Q: I get seasick easily...

A: Both the "Ferry Ryukyu" and "New Kumeshima" are large ferries weighing over 15 tons, so you won't feel much rocking if the weather is calm. However, since the journey takes over two and a half hours, caution is advised.
Being hungry or sleep-deprived can easily lead to seasickness, so be careful. If you're worried, it's recommended to take motion sickness medication beforehand.

Q: Is it possible to choose two ships to board?

A: The decision of whether to use the "Ferry Ryukyu" or the "New Kumeshima" ferry will be made the day before departure. Therefore, you cannot specify which ship you will be using.

Q: What facilities are available on board?

A: Both ships have large TVs, so you can watch them during the voyage. Of course, there are also toilets, so even those prone to seasickness can relax.
There are vending machines, but no shops, so be sure to buy any food before boarding.

6. Summary

The voyage to Kumejima takes a little time, but that's part of the charm of a sea voyage.
Furthermore, Tomari Port is located near the city center of Naha, making it easily accessible.
Kumejima Island, which can be reached by ferry for just ¥6,450 round trip, is definitely worth considering as a destination for your next trip to Okinawa.

Kume Shipping Co., Ltd. http://www.kumeline.com/

★Let's go to beautiful Okinawa, Kumejima Island!★