Ferries from Kumejima

Kumejima lies about 100 km west of the Okinawan mainland, the westernmost inhabited island of the Okinawa group and one of the quieter ones. Ferries and hydrofoils use Kanegusuku (兼城港) on the south-west coast; the airport is on the opposite side of the island.

Kumejima Ocean Jet runs the fast service from Naha — 92 minutes on the hydrofoil Tsumugi, against three to four hours on the conventional car ferry. There are two round trips on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, one on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a single afternoon sailing on Saturdays.

The island is known for Hatenohama, a seven-kilometre sandbar off the east coast reachable only by boat, for its sea turtles and for Kumejima tsumugi silk — the fabric the operator named its vessel after. Check-in for the hydrofoil closes 15 minutes before departure.