Kudaka Island

Kudaka Island is a low, flat island floating in the sea east of the Chinen Peninsula, reached by boat from Azama Port. Its natural landscape survives, from the plant communities along the shore onward, and utaki, historic sites, and the memory of everyday island life are layered across the whole island. Rather than "entering" a tourist destination, you are stepping quietly into the island's nature and its way of life — that is the feeling that suits this place.

Scattered across the island are utaki and historic sites that carry a culture protected since ancient times. The fewer visible buildings a place has, the more carefully its invisible things may be kept. Please do not step into areas that are not marked for visitors. In the villages and at places of prayer, take your time before reaching for the camera, and leave nothing on the shore but footprints. A modest, restrained attitude is what keeps a journey from wearing away the island's beauty.

For access to the island, the Kudaka Kaiun ferry company is the definitive source of information. The boats are affected by weather, so checking the sailing status before departure — and for your return — is essential. Conditions change, so confirm the latest information through the official announcements. Even on a day trip, leave breathing room for getting around the island, for meals, and for rest. Pack the itinerary too tightly, and the hours will slip past before you ever meet the island's stillness.

Kudaka is an island of beautiful seas, and at the same time an island where prayer and daily life still continue. Of all the places on a journey through Nanjo, this is the one we want to introduce in the quietest voice. Walk slowly, as if matching your footsteps to the island's own ways.