Want to see an ocean in Japan so beautiful it will move you to tears!!!!!
If you feel like that, then we highly recommend Aka Island, a remote island in Okinawa.
Aka Island is still not very well known. One of its charms is the laid-back island atmosphere and the way time flows, which you can’t experience in tourist spots. This is a place we recommend to anyone who just wants to relax and take in the beautiful Kerama blue ocean.
What is Aka Island? Where is it?
Aka Island in the Kerama Islands.
Aka Island can be reached by ferry or high-speed boat from Tomarin in Tomari Port in Naha City.
From Tomari Port, board a high-speed boat or ferry and head for Aka Island.
If you use the high-speed boat, the journey takes about 50 minutes if you go directly, and about 70 minutes if you stop at Zamami Island.
If you use the ferry, it takes about 90 minutes. The ferry rocked more than I expected, so if you’re worried about seasickness, I recommend taking some motion sickness medicine!
Popular Nishibama Beach
It’s Nishibama Beach!!!
The sea around the Kerama Islands is world-famous for its beauty, and is known as “Kerama Blue.”
With a cloudless blue sky and blue sea, it couldn’t be any more perfect location!
The water is incredibly clear! A stunning gradation created by nature!
Even if you don’t go into the ocean, just looking at it is a spectacular view!!!
There is a terrace so you can enjoy the spectacular ocean view while sheltering from the sun!
Since I was staying on Aka Island, I spent all my time at Nishibama Beach.
You can read a book, draw, or reminisce while listening to the sound of the waves… it’s an extraordinary and elegant way to spend time!
I spent the morning and afternoon at Nishibama Beach, and what I realized after spending a day there is that the way the ocean looks is completely different depending on the position of the sun!!!
Nishibama Beach in the afternoon. A cloudless sky!!! This is the Kerama Blue!
Nishibama Beach in the morning. The sky was a bit cloudy!!! The gradation is lovely!
It’s such a luxury to be able to enjoy the ocean with all its different expressions.
Access to Nishibama Beach
To get from Aka Port to Nishibama Beach, it takes about 15 to 20 minutes by bicycle or about 30 minutes on foot along an up-and-down road.
The road is not flat and has ups and downs, so it seems a bit difficult to walk in midsummer.
There are no rental cars, taxis, or public buses on Aka Island, so if you want to go by means other than walking, you’ll need to rent a bicycle or motorbike!
Alternatively, if you’re staying overnight on the island, your accommodation may provide a beach shuttle, or you may be able to use the shuttle service provided by equipment rental shops, so it might be a good idea to use these.
There are also toilets, showers, and vending machines near the beach entrance, so you won’t have any trouble spending your time relaxing!
Summary: Let’s go to Nishibama Beach on Aka Island!
Nishibama Beach on Aka Island was such a wonderful place that it’s hard to put into words!
They say the ocean has the effect of calming an excited spirit and relieving mental fatigue, and this is a wonderful place where you can experience that effect for yourself.
Aka Island is not particularly well known. One of its charms is its laid-back atmosphere, so it has become a secret place that we both wish was famous and don’t.
We are grateful that we were blessed with good weather and were able to see the spectacular ocean at Nishibama Beach!
I hope this article will be helpful to as many people as possible ♪