Ou-jima
奥武島Ō26°20′ N 126°50′ EKume-jimarock pavementsea turtlestiny village
Ou-jima is a 0.63 km² island of 29 people that a sea road and bridge join to Kume-jima's east coast, and the andesite columns of Tatami-ishi on its shore have been a national natural monument since 29 July 2014 and show best at low tide.
Photo narchived.net · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Ou-jima measures about 2 km around, and the 2020 census counted 29 people living on it. Before the sea road opened in 1983, Japanese Wikipedia says, people crossed to Kume on foot at low tide. Several islands around Okinawa share the name Ō, and dictionaries tie it to the old word for blue.
Tatami-ishi lies on the south-west shore, where waves have worn andesite lava columns down to a floor of pentagons and hexagons each 1 to 1.5 m across. The Agency for Cultural Affairs counts several thousand of them and dates the rock to the Pliocene, and the town also calls them kikko-ishi, turtle-shell stones. The Kumejima Sea Turtle Museum stands a short walk away with live turtles in a big tank, and Ojima Campground sits beside the beach.
Getting there
Ou-jima sits about 600 m off Kume-jima's east coast and joins it by a sea road that opened in 1983, with the 170 m Shin-Ou bridge added in 2008. The Kumejima Town airport bus stops at Nishi-Ou and at the Tatami-ishi stop.
Getting around
On foot or by bike from Eef Beach. Minshuku Amimoto lends bicycles to its own guests.
Riding on Ou-jima
Ou-jima is a short ride from the Eef Beach hotels along the coast road and over the causeway, and Tatami-ishi and the Sea Turtle Museum sit together at the far end.
Minshuku Amimoto lends bicycles to its guests; the Eef Beach rentals on Kume-jima cover everyone else.
December to March
The north wind of December to February runs across the open causeway, and the tourism association says that wind makes 15–20 °C air feel colder. Tatami-ishi is open shore with no fee or hours, so it stays a good winter stop at low tide, and the Sea Turtle Museum gives you a roof. The Japan Meteorological Agency's 1991–2020 normal puts the sea south of Kume-jima at about 22 °C in February.
Worth knowing
- Check a tide table and walk Tatami-ishi near low water, when the most columns are dry.
- Pair Tatami-ishi with the Sea Turtle Museum, which closes on Tuesdays.
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FAQ
Quick answers about Ou-jimaよくある質問
How do you get to Ou-jima from Kume Island?
By road. Ou-jima joins Kume-jima's east coast by a sea road that opened in 1983 and the 170 m Shin-Ou bridge, so you can drive, cycle or take the Kumejima Town airport bus.
When is the best time to see Tatami-ishi?
At low tide. Tatami-ishi on Ou-jima is a pavement of andesite columns on the open shore, and more of it shows when the water is low. Entry is free.
Is Tatami-ishi a natural monument?
Yes. Kumejima-cho Ou-jima no Tatami-ishi became a national natural monument on 29 July 2014.
How big is Ou-jima?
Ou-jima covers 0.63 km² and is home to about 29 people.
Can you cycle on Ou-jima?
Ou-jima is a short ride from the Eef Beach hotels along the coast road and over the causeway, and Tatami-ishi and the Sea Turtle Museum sit together at the far end.
What is Ou-jima like in winter?
The north wind of December to February runs across the open causeway, and the tourism association says that wind makes 15–20 °C air feel colder. Tatami-ishi is open shore with no fee or hours, so it stays a good winter stop at low tide, and the Sea Turtle Museum gives you a roof. The Japan Meteorological Agency's 1991–2020 normal puts the sea south of Kume-jima at about 22 °C in February.
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