With its laid back vibes, sultry sub-tropical climate and sun-kissed beaches, it’s easy to slip into island time when marooned on Tokashiki. Covering a 15 square kilometre footprint, it’s white sandy beaches attract hordes of scuba divers and snorkelers in search of colourful coral and tropical fish. For those that prefer to stay above water, glass-bottomed boats are a great way to glimpse the island’s rich marine ecosystem.
Snorkelling and scuba trips are offered from almost all major tourist beaches, with diving stores arranging everything from guides to equipment. WatariYoshimi Sik is eternally popular with divers, while Aharen and Tokashiku entice visitors with golden sand, beach umbrellas, calm waters and an upbeat tourism scene to match. Inland, a network of hiking trails meander through jungles to more than six elevated viewpoints. From January and April, whale watching is a popular activity.
Most visitors arrive via ferry, with daily boats departing from Naha city on Okinawa Island. By high-speed ferry, the journey takes around 35-minutes, dependent on weather. The 70-minute slow ferry is another option, transporting both foot passengers and vehicles. Once on the island, local buses and hotel shuttles are the most popular way to get around, though renting cars, scooters and bicycles is also common.
As the largest of the Kerama Islands, Tokashiki has always been a favourite with local Naha holidaymakers. Unfortunately, this also put it on the radar of WWII bombing planes. While today the island’s three main settlements are tourism hotspots, they still feature a host of buildings from the 1940s, as well as a WWII museum that showcases original weapons and war relics.