It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Tomari Port on the main island of Okinawa to Ferry Ryukyu or Ferry Kumeishi.
Shimajirige is located on the east side of Tonaki Island. The walking path leading there has no asphalt roads, and you can experience the nostalgic original landscape of Okinawa with white sand, black walls, and good old red brick houses.
Point 1: What kind of place is Watanaki Island, where the “Shimajirige Walking Path” is located?
First, let me explain what kind of place is Watanaki Island, where Shimajiri Hair is located.
The island is located between the Kerama Islands and Kume Island, a little to the north, and has a population of about 300.
The island is still lined with red brick houses that can be described as the Okinawan style, and has been designated as an “Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings” by the government.
The islanders have a tradition of getting up early in the morning to clean the island three times a week, a tradition that has continued for 100 years, so there is not a single piece of trash in the village.
The ocean is clean and is a dream destination for divers. It is less crowded than the Kerama Islands, so it is a popular destination for divers in secret.
Point 2: How do I get to the “Shimajiri Hair Walking Path” on Watanaki Island?
To get to Tonaki Island, take the ferry Ryukyu or ferry Kumejima from Tomari Port (a.k.a. Tomarin) on the main island of Okinawa, which takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Note that some flights to Kumejima do not go via Tonakijima.
Once you arrive at the port of Tomakijima, it is about a 30-minute drive. Walking in the blazing sun can be tough, so renting a car is a good idea.
Even though Tonaki Island is the smallest island in Okinawa, it has a circumference of 12.5 km.
Shimajiri Ke” is located on the east side of the island. “Shimajiri” is a place name, and “Ke” means “square,” like “Manzame,” so if you read it wrong, you will be in trouble.
Shimajiri Ke is a dynamic cliff worth seeing, and is one of the most scenic spots on the island, but there is a well-maintained walking trail leading to it, where you can encounter a very nostalgic and heart-expanding landscape.
Point 3: The “Shimajirige Walking Path” offers a view of the original landscape of Okinawa that has not yet been turned into a tourist attraction!
Okinawa is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan due to the hotel rush. Even if you were there only a few years ago, the landscape has changed rapidly.
The “Shimajirige Walking Path” is a well-maintained 500-meter long white sand walking path lined with Fukugi trees, black coral stone walls, and typical Okinawan red-brick houses, and is truly an untouched Okinawan landscape.
Also, at night, this walking trail is lit up with footlights, making it very magical!
Some people go all the way from Naha to Watanaki Island by boat to see this original scenery.
There is also a red-brick “Fukugi-ya” on the island, an old private house that can be rented out in its entirety, so if you want to experience the rows of Fukugi trees early in the morning or at night, why not stay there?
