Hamahiga-jima
浜比嘉島Bamahija-shima26°19′ N 127°57′ ECentral Okinawasacred sitesred-tile villagesquiet
Hamahiga-jima is a 2.09 km² island in Uruma that the 900 m Hamahiga Ohashi joins to Henza, and Ryukyuan tradition makes it the home of the creator deities Amamikyu and Shinerikyu. About 410 people live in its two red-tiled villages of Hama and Higa.
Photo Kugel~commonswiki · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Hamahiga sits about 3 km east of the Katsuren peninsula, and since February 1997 a 900 m bridge has tied it to Henza. Hama holds the west side of the island, and the district of Higa covers the east along with the small hamlet of Kaneku. Before the bridge, boats from Yakena called at both ports and took 25 to 35 minutes to cross. Farmers grow peppers and melons, and the island's own speciality is squid salted with sea urchin.
Ryukyuan tradition holds that the goddess Amamikyu came across the sea to Hamahiga and lived with Shinerikyu in a cave in the woods south of Higa. That cave is Shirumichu. A torii marks the start of 108 steps up to it, and people come to pray for children. The pair's tomb at Amamichu stands on a rock islet east of Higa that you can walk out to at low tide. In Hama, the prayer site of Shinugu-do keeps the story of a Chuzan general who hid on the island and prayed to the two deities until a storm sank his pursuers' ships.
Old red-tile houses still line the lanes of both villages, and Uruma's tourism association suggests a walk through them and an hour on the shallow beaches. Sea-kayak trips run around the back of the island from the Higa side. A resort hotel opened south of Higa village after the bridge made the island easy to reach.
Getting there
Drive or ride the Kaichu Doro to Henza, then turn south over the 900 m Hamahiga Ohashi, which opened on 7 February 1997. Uruma City's paid local bus runs out to the islands from the Yakena area.
Getting around
The island is small enough to walk between its two villages, and most visitors come over the bridge by car or bike. Sea Kayak Okinawa Kamome no Jonathan runs a shop in Higa and rents bikes from its Kaichu Doro boathouse.
Riding on Hamahiga-jima
The Hamahiga Ohashi arches over a shipping channel with 13.7 m of clearance for boats, so the crossing from Henza is a short climb and a quick roll down. The coast road links Hama and Higa. Inland the island rises to 78.7 m at Sugai-yama, and the lanes away from the shore climb more than anything on the causeway.
Sea Kayak Okinawa Kamome no Jonathan rents cross bikes and e-bikes from its Kaichu Doro boathouse opposite Umino Eki Ayahashi-kan; see the Henza page for prices.
December to March
December to March is quiet on Hamahiga. The north-east monsoon hits the Hamahiga Ohashi side-on, and sea temperatures sit at about 21–23 °C. Prayer days follow the lunar calendar, so look for a rite under way at Shirumichu or Amamichu and keep your distance when one is.
Worth knowing
- Amamichu is reached on foot at low tide only, so read the Heshikiya tide table on Uruma's tourism site before you plan the walk out.
- Shirumichu and Amamichu are active prayer sites: speak quietly, stay outside the shrine at Shirumichu and leave any offerings untouched.
- Leave the bike below the torii at Shirumichu, because the 108 steps climb through the woods.
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FAQ
Quick answers about Hamahiga-jimaよくある質問
How do you get to Hamahiga Island?
By road. Hamahiga-jima connects to Henza by the 900 m Hamahiga Ohashi, and Henza connects to the Okinawa main island by the 4.75 km Kaichu Doro from Yakena in Uruma.
Can you visit Amamichu and Shirumichu on Hamahiga?
Yes. Both are open to visitors, and both are working prayer sites. Shirumichu is the cave where the creator deities lived, and it sits at the top of 108 steps beyond a torii south of Higa village. Their tomb at Amamichu stands on a rock islet off Higa, which you walk out to at low tide.
Is Hamahiga Island good for cycling?
Yes, for a short and hilly detour. The bridge from Henza is 900 m long with a modest climb over its shipping channel. Inland the island rises to 78.7 m, so the lanes away from the coast road have short climbs.
How big is Hamahiga-jima?
Hamahiga-jima covers 2.09 km² and is home to about 410 people.
Can you cycle on Hamahiga-jima?
The Hamahiga Ohashi arches over a shipping channel with 13.7 m of clearance for boats, so the crossing from Henza is a short climb and a quick roll down. The coast road links Hama and Higa. Inland the island rises to 78.7 m at Sugai-yama, and the lanes away from the shore climb more than anything on the causeway.
What is Hamahiga-jima like in winter?
December to March is quiet on Hamahiga. The north-east monsoon hits the Hamahiga Ohashi side-on, and sea temperatures sit at about 21–23 °C. Prayer days follow the lunar calendar, so look for a rite under way at Shirumichu or Amamichu and keep your distance when one is.
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