Kumejima, an outlying island of Okinawa, boasts stunning ocean scenery, so much so that it's known as "Kumi Island." Beyond its breathtaking views, Kumejima offers a wealth of local products nurtured by its rich natural environment, resulting in a variety of attractive souvenirs. This time, we've carefully selected some of the best souvenirs from Kumejima. Be sure to check out the firefly glass, which captures the sparkle of Kumejima's ocean.

<Table of Contents>
・Shimafuku Miso Cookies
・Cercle's Purple Sweet Potato Cookies
・Kumejima Cafe Popcorn 612
・Kumejima-jirushi Shoten's Kuruma Ebi Senbei (Prawn Crackers)
・Kumejima Blue and Hatenohama Blue from Glass Studio Choshichiya

Show all table of contents

Shimafuku Miso Cookies

"Ganso Miso Cookies" are a classic souvenir representing Kumejima Island. Made with plenty of miso, a specialty of the island, these cookies offer a fragrant flavor and a gentle sweetness. Created in 1994 with the desire to "deliver sweets that make the most of the island's ingredients," the company has continued to uphold the traditional method of carefully kneading each cookie by hand. This dedication has paid off, as the cookies won a gold medal at the 26th National Confectionery Exhibition. Furthermore, their consideration for allergies by not using eggs or milk has been highly praised, and they received a special award for excellent local products at the "Remote Island Fair 2000." They have also been featured in numerous media outlets, and their popularity has spread beyond Kumejima Island to become widely known throughout Okinawa Prefecture. Today, they are a beloved and popular hit product in the local area.

Where to buy: Available at all kinds of shops on the island, including Chiitou-dokoro Fukuya and shops inside Kumejima Airport (3 locations), and many others.

Cercle's Purple Sweet Potato Cookies

UMU YA-CHI, a popular sweet potato cookie, is a signature product of Cercle, a baked goods shop on Kumejima Island. In the Okinawan dialect, "UMU" means sweet potato and "YA-CHI" means baked goods, and as the name suggests, it is a baked good that features sweet potato as the main ingredient. It uses the same amount of Kumejima-grown sweet potato as butter, and with one bite, a natural sweetness reminiscent of baked sweet potato spreads in your mouth. The accent of salt sprinkled on top is also excellent. Despite Kumejima accounting for about half of Okinawa Prefecture's sweet potato production, there are few souvenirs using sweet potatoes, so it was created to promote the appeal of sweet potatoes. Another impetus was the voices of islanders who said, "We want a product that feels special, like a gift with a ribbon." It is a heartwarming confection filled with stories that cherish the island's ingredients and feelings.

Sales locations: Cercle, Kumejima Inshoten inside Kumejima Airport

Kumejima Cafe Popcorn 612

"Popcorn 612" is an original popcorn created by Kumejimaru Cafe, inspired by the deep-sea water of Kumejima Island (collected from a depth of 612m). Recommended flavors are "Kumi Salt Caramel" and "Kumejima Purple Sweet Potato." The savory flavor and light texture of the corn are exquisitely combined with the elegant sweetness of the purple sweet potato, creating a delightful crunchy texture. The flavor, which uses Kumejima salt and purple sweet potato generously, has a comforting sweetness and pairs perfectly with coffee, tea, and hot milk. Furthermore, the cute bottle design stands out for its good taste, making it an ideal souvenir that symbolizes the vibrant charm of Kumejima Island.

Sales locations: Kumejima Cafe, shops inside Kumejima Airport (2 locations), shop inside Kaneshiro Port Ferry Terminal

Kumejima-jirushi Shoten's Kuruma Ebi Senbei (Prawn Crackers)

Kumejima boasts the largest production of farmed kuruma prawns in Japan. "Kuruma Prawn Crackers," which fully utilize this bounty, are a highly popular souvenir. These hand-baked crackers, generously kneaded with fresh Kumejima prawns, are characterized by their fragrant aroma and crisp, light texture. With each bite, the rich and profound flavor of prawns, reminiscent of Kumejima's beautiful sea, spreads throughout your mouth. The exquisite balance of savory flavor and subtle sweetness makes them perfect as a snack with tea or as an accompaniment to alcoholic beverages. Simple yet elegant in taste, they are enjoyed by people of all ages and are highly popular as a special treat that allows you to savor the blessings of Kumejima's sea.

Sales location: Kumejima Inshoten (shop inside Kumejima Airport)

Kumejima Blue and Hatenohama Blue from Glass Studio Choshichiya

The sea of ​​Okinawa is a special place that not only shows different faces depending on the location and time, but also changes color depending on the heart of the person who sees it. If you can feel the sparkle of the sea reflected in that moment forever, not only the memory of your visit but also the feelings you had at that time will remain vividly in your mind. At Choshichiya, which values ​​"making things that bring happiness," original firefly glass pieces themed on the various seas of Okinawa are carefully handcrafted by artisans. Among them, "Kumejima Blue" and "Hate no Hama Blue," born from the fascination with the beautiful sea of ​​Kumejima, are special items available only at the Kumejima store. Please come and experience the sparkle of the sea of ​​Kumejima.

Sales location: Glass Studio Choshichiya - Gallery Shop Kumejima Branch - (2nd floor of Kumejima Airport)

Final thoughts

So, what did you think? In Kumejima, you can take home a variety of delicious flavors and a unique blue color that you won't find anywhere else. The products we've featured here are just a small sample. Why not add a special touch to your travel memories with a souvenir from Kumejima that you find yourself?