Kumejima Island, located about 100km west of Okinawa Main Island, has a circumference of approximately 48km.
It's a small island that can be explored in less than an hour by car.

One sightseeing activity I'd recommend on Kumejima Island is "pottering." Pottering refers to a leisurely bike ride of about 2-3 kilometers, and it's an activity that even people who don't usually do sports can easily participate in.

"Walking is painful, but driving feels somehow unsatisfying..."
A bicycle can completely solve all those selfish desires.
　
This time, I'll give a real-time report of my experience participating in a cycling trip for the first time.
We'll introduce you to the island's highlights that you wouldn't discover by renting a car.

<Contents>
1. Meet at 8 AM! Let's try renting a bicycle!
2. Let's go! Explore the island's attractions while learning about its culture.
3. Conclusion

1. Meet at 8 AM! Let's try renting a bicycle!

The cycling tour I participated in this time, "A Cycling Tour with Islanders," included a local guide and cost 5,000 yen (tax included) per person.

The price includes the guide fee, rental bicycle, helmet, insurance, and a 500ml bottle of water.

Wearing comfortable clothing is essential, but since the purpose is sightseeing, even beginners can easily participate.
　　
The day I participated was in mid-January. The meeting time was 8:1 AM.
I greeted Mr. Taira, who would be our guide this time, and immediately rented the equipment.

I was advised that "if you're not confident in your cycling skills, green is a better choice," so I chose a green bicycle.

They may look like ordinary bicycles, but they are all sports-type bikes.
The handlebars have gears, allowing you to adjust the resistance for uphill and flat terrain.

Once you've chosen your bicycle, make sure to wear a helmet.

Turn the yellow screw on the back to adjust it to your head size.

Once you've chosen your bike and put on your helmet, it's time for a test ride!

I did a few light laps in front of the hotel to warm up.
Once you've completed the process up to this point, it's finally time to start your leisurely bike ride.

2. Let's go! Explore the island's attractions while learning about its culture.

The theme of the course is "A leisurely bike ride through the old-fashioned back alleys of Kumejima Island."
The tour takes approximately two and a half hours, from the hotel at the starting point, through the final destination market, and back to the starting point.

2-1 Village Edition ~A leisurely stroll while learning about the island's culture~

We're finally leaving the hotel! For a while, the road runs through vast sugarcane fields.
It almost sounds like the song "Zawawazawawa" is about to start playing.

The piles shown are harvested sugarcane. The sugarcane on the right was cut by machine, and the sugarcane on the left was cut by hand. Looking at them side by side, you can see that the lengths are completely different.
Incidentally, the sugarcane on the left, whose cut surface is less exposed to air, is said to be better at staying fresh.

I rode my bicycle for a little less than 10 minutes.
The first checkpoint looks like a red punching bag. Can you guess what it is?

This is a discarded gas cylinder that was hung vertically and used as a bell to summon the islanders. Apparently, the number of times it rang was used to determine what kind of event it was. It really shows the ingenuity of people from the past.

Along the way to our destination, we saw stones inscribed with "Ishiganto" at various points.

These are placed at intersections and corners of roads, where evil spirits are thought to gather, and they serve a kind of protective charm.
The culture that was introduced from China long ago is still deeply rooted in Okinawa today.

Even if it doesn't say "Ishiganto," if the stone is placed in the appropriate location, it will still fulfill its purpose. It's practically indistinguishable from an ordinary stone! (lol)

Even manhole covers, which I usually wouldn't pay any attention to, feel special when they have a Kumejima design. You wouldn't really notice them if you were just driving by, would you?

There are still many Fukugi trees remaining in the villages of Kumejima, allowing you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of old Okinawa.

Among them, the famous "Churafukugi" is one of the checkpoints.
Although most of the trees were cut down to widen the prefectural road, the row of trees still stands proudly. The trees are over 200 years old and have been designated a prefectural natural monument.

This road has a relatively high volume of traffic, so please be very careful when taking photos.

Although it wasn't included in the tour, we were also able to admire a magnificent house with a red tiled roof from the outside.

This is the home of a school principal who is a friend of Ms. Taira, and I was surprised to see that people actually live in such a traditional house!

The final checkpoint in the settlement is "Tianhou Temple".
The Tianhou Temple is a temple dedicated to the goddess of safe voyages, so why did this appear here?

Going back to the 18th century, the islanders rescued a ship carrying a Chinese tributary official that had been shipwrecked. This was apparently a gift from China as a token of gratitude.
I had no idea Kumejima had such a history!

It's been about an hour so far, and the leisurely bike ride continues.

2-2 Kumejima Island Tourist Spots - Kumejima Tsumugi Yuimaru Hall & Point Pure

After taking a look around the village, it's time to tour the tourist spots on Kumejima Island!
The first place we visited was the Kumejima Tsumugi Yuimaru Museum, which is a 5-minute walk from the Tenkou Temple we just visited.

Kumejima Tsumugi is a silk fabric that has been made by the islanders since the Ryukyu Kingdom era, and is a traditional craft that is registered as an important intangible cultural property of Japan.

At the Kumejima Tsumugi Yuimaru Museum, you can learn about the history of Kumejima Tsumugi at the exhibition hall and experience weaving and dyeing techniques.

Since I didn't have much time this time, I only visited the exhibition room.

All of the colorful raw silks are made from natural materials sourced from Kumejima Island.
They create unique colors by boiling down tree trunks and mud to produce dye.

Kumejima Tsumugi is a type of silk fabric where one craftsman handles everything from designing the fabric to the weaving process.
It is thanks to the tireless efforts of skilled craftsmen that this tradition continues to be passed down to this day.

Approximately 90 people are currently creating their artwork in the workshop.

While it is possible to purchase artwork at the Yuimaru Museum, the prices are quite prohibitive, given that everything is handmade.

After leaving the Yuimaru Hall, the next place we visited was "Point Pure".

The first floor sells original cosmetics made with deep-sea water and natural ingredients from Okinawa Prefecture, the second floor has booths where you can try samples, and the third floor is a cafe where you can enjoy sata andagi (Okinawan doughnuts) and drinks.

On the second floor, we actually got to experience a face mask made with kucha, a type of mud.

The left hand is the hand after applying the face mask, and the right hand is the hand that hasn't had anything done to it.
Apparently, kucha clay has the ability to absorb and remove dirt attached to sebum. With such noticeable results, I'm tempted to buy it.

I got so engrossed in the cosmetics that I realized I might miss the auction. With a heavy heart, I left "Point Pure."

I shifted into maximum gear and pushed myself to the market with all my might, but the auction was already over...

Auctions in Kumejima generally begin around 10:00 AM.

Another unique feature of Kumejima is that chefs with auction rights come directly to purchase ingredients, bypassing wholesalers. Hotel meals can sometimes seem bland, but hearing stories like this makes dining at a hotel something to look forward to.

Apparently, there's a plan where the head chef and tourists can watch the fish auction together and then have dinner prepared using the fish they caught. I thought it was really appealing to be able to eat local fish that was caught that very morning.

A conch shell was found on the eaves of a private house just outside the market.

In Okinawa, it has been a long-standing custom to display these as a charm against evil spirits.
It seems that Shisa aren't the only things that serve as protective charms.

I cycled back the way I came for a little less than 15 minutes, having thoroughly enjoyed my 2-hour leisurely ride.

3. Conclusion

This was my first experience of cycling, and it allowed me to discover the "charms of Kumejima" that I wouldn't have noticed if I had been sightseeing on my own.

In particular, the tour that takes you through the villages allows you to pay attention to places you might otherwise pass by in a car, and to witness firsthand how the islanders go about their daily lives.

You can understand it more deeply when you have a guide explain it to you.

In addition to the course I participated in, there are various other options available, including scenic tours and courses for those confident in their physical fitness.

If you'd like to discover aspects of Kumejima Island that aren't found in guidebooks, why not join us?

<Activity Details> ポタリング Time required: Approximately 2 and a half hours Minimum number of participants: 2 people Age: Junior high school students and above Price: 5,000 yen (per person, tax included) *Includes guide fee, bicycle rental fee, and insurance. Meeting place: Lobby of Resort Hotel Kume Island Hotel Reception hours: 9: 00 to 18: 00 *Reservations required the day before. May be canceled due to weather conditions.

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