Your First Stop in the Keramas
Tokashiki is also the name of the village and harbor on the eastern shore side of Tokashiki Island. It is linked directly to the Okinawa main island by ferry and high-speed boat. While overseas visitors may not have much use for the village office, fire station, police substation, or primary school, the post office (with an ATM) and supermarkets could well come in handy.
The ferry moors right beside the ferry terminal. This contains a large air-conditioned waiting room, a gift shop, and Tabi no Annai-nin, a tourist information center with various brochures, and staff happy to advise you about places to go and things to do. If you would like a pleasant view of the harbor and the village, there is a viewpoint (Minato no Mieru Tenbodai) up a hill just to the south.
On the second floor of the terminal building and accessed by an external staircase at the back is the Village History and Folk Heritage Museum. The exhibits in this little museum are designed to illustrate the history of everyday life on the island. The highlight is definitely the five-meter-long skeleton of a humpback whale calf found washed up on the beach at Hanarijima Island. Other interesting exhibits include a scale model of the factory for making dried bonito shavings — only a fragment of a brick chimney survives from the actual place—and photographs and other objects from World War II. Note that explanations are in Japanese only and that advance reservations are required.
KEY FACTS: Tabi no Annai-nin Tourist Information Center
| Open: | 365 days a year (9:30am－5:30pm) |
| Phone: | 098-987-3122 |
| Wi-Fi: | Yes |
| Languages: | Japanese only |
KEY FACTS: Tokashiki Village History and Folk Heritage Museum
| Open: | Weekdays (9:00am－5:00pm); reservation required, closed Sat., Sun., and public holidays |
| Phone: | 098-987-2120 |
| Entrance Fee: | ¥100 (adults) ¥50 (children) |
| Languages: | Japanese only |