Islands · Okinawa
Zamami-jima
座間味島ざまみじまZamami-jimaKerama blue: coral, turtles and whales off Okinawa
Zamami-jima is one of the main inhabited islands of the Kerama Islands, about 40 kilometres west of Naha in Okinawa Prefecture. Its clear 'Kerama blue' waters, coral reefs and sea turtles, and the humpback whales that arrive each winter, lie within Kerama Shoto National Park.
Overview
The Kerama Islands are a cluster of more than twenty islands and islets west of Okinawa Island. Zamami-jima, the seat of Zamami village, is hilly and small, with its settlements around sheltered bays on the south coast and forested ridges and viewpoints above.
The water around the islands is exceptionally clear, and its colour is known across Japan as 'Kerama blue'. Coral reefs with a high diversity of species, beaches where green sea turtles feed close to shore, and the humpback whales that come to breed from January to March make Zamami one of Okinawa's main destinations for snorkelling, diving and whale watching.
The island also carries the memory of the Battle of Okinawa. US forces landed in the Kerama Islands on 26 March 1945, before the main landing on Okinawa, and many civilians on Zamami died in compelled mass suicides.
Landscape and formation
The Kerama Islands are the peaks of a submerged ridge, separated from Okinawa Island by the deep Kerama Gap. Their coasts combine steep cliffs with white coral-sand beaches, and the waters between the islands are shallow enough for extensive coral communities. Low river input and the Kuroshio-influenced current keep the sea unusually clear.
Highlights
Furuzamami Beach
古座間味ビーチFuruzamami BīchiLong white beach on the east coast with coral close to shore.
Ama Beach
阿真ビーチAma BīchiBay on the south-west coast where green sea turtles often graze on seagrass.
Takatsukiyama viewpoint
高月山展望台Takatsukiyama TenbōdaiHilltop viewpoint over the village, the bays and the neighbouring islands.
Inazaki viewpoint
稲崎展望台Inazaki TenbōdaiWestern viewpoint used by whale spotters in winter and for sunsets.
Statue of Marilyn
マリリンの像Maririn no ZōStatue at Ama commemorating a dog that swam between Zamami and Aka to visit her mate, the story of a 1988 film.
Ecology
The Kerama reefs are among the richest in Japan and an important source of coral larvae for Okinawa's reefs. Humpback whales migrate from northern waters to breed around the islands in winter. Coral bleaching in hot summers and crown-of-thorns starfish are the main threats, and local divers take part in reef protection.
Flora
Coral reefs
Hard and soft corals in the shallow straits between the islands.
Seagrass beds
Grazing grounds for green sea turtles in sheltered bays.
Fauna
Humpback whale
ザトウクジラzatōkujiraArrives in winter to breed and calve; whale watching runs from January to March.
Green sea turtle
アオウミガメaoumigameFeeds year-round in the bays; snorkellers must keep their distance.
Kerama deer
ケラマジカKeramajikaSmall sika deer of the Kerama Islands, a Natural Monument, found mainly on neighbouring islands such as Aka and Geruma.
Culture
Zamami was historically a base for ships sailing between the Ryukyu Kingdom and China, and in the early 20th century a centre of bonito fishing. The events of March 1945 are commemorated by memorials in the village, and the whale-watching association founded by islanders in 1991 helped shape Japan's ecotourism.
Memorials of the Battle of Okinawa
Monuments in the village recall the civilian victims of the US landing and the mass suicides of 1945.
Zamami Whale Watching Association
座間味村ホエールウォッチング協会Zamami-son Hoēru Wotchingu KyōkaiIslanders' group that pioneered whale watching in Okinawa and sets voluntary rules for boats.
History
Ryukyu Kingdom
Zamami serves as a port for tribute ships sailing to China.
1945
US forces land in the Kerama Islands on 26 March; many civilians die in mass suicides.
1972
Okinawa returns to Japanese administration.
1991
Islanders found the Zamami Whale Watching Association.
2005
The Kerama coral reefs are listed as a Ramsar wetland.
2014
Kerama Shoto National Park is established.
Through the seasons
Spring
Warm, calm seas in April and May before the rainy season.
Summer
Peak season for snorkelling and diving; typhoons can suspend ferries.
Autumn
Warm water into November with fewer visitors.
Winter
Humpback whale season from January to March; cooler and windier.
Routes and trails
Whale watching
Boats leave from Zamami port in winter, guided by spotters on the island's viewpoints.
Sea kayaking to nearby islets
Guided kayak trips cross to the uninhabited islands of Agenashiku and Gahi.
Viewpoint walk
Roads and paths link Takatsukiyama, Inazaki and Kaminohama viewpoints.
Practical notes
- High-speed boats from Tomari port in Naha take about 50–70 minutes, the car ferry about two hours; sailings are cancelled in rough seas.
- Rental scooters and bicycles, and a small village bus, cover the island.
- Do not touch or chase turtles, and avoid stepping on coral.
- Plan a buffer day when travelling onward, as boats may not run in bad weather.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Zamami-jima?
By high-speed boat or ferry from Tomari port in Naha, taking between about 50 minutes and two hours.
When can you see whales at Zamami?
From about January to March, when humpback whales come to breed around the Kerama Islands.
Can you see sea turtles on Zamami?
Yes, green sea turtles frequently feed in the bay at Ama Beach; snorkellers should keep a respectful distance.
What is 'Kerama blue'?
The name for the exceptionally clear, deep-blue water around the Kerama Islands.
Related
Sources
- 1.慶良間諸島国立公園 (opens in a new tab) — 環境省
- 2.座間味村 (opens in a new tab) — 座間味村
- 3.Ramsar Sites Information Service (opens in a new tab) — Ramsar Convention Secretariat