About 4 hours from Tokyo! What are the extraordinary experiences that can only be gained at a resort on a remote island? Travelogue of Kohama Island "Haimurubushi"

It might be the ultimate for those who want to enjoy the extraordinary! The 2-night, 3-day experience at Kohama Island "Haimurubushi," just a 30-minute ferry ride from Ishigaki Island, allowed us to enjoy a luxurious extraordinary time that cannot be found in the city, all within the island and hotel.

Connecting from Haneda, to the southernmost resort in Japan

From Tokyo, it takes about 3 hours on a direct flight from Haneda Airport to Ishigaki Island. From there, take a bus to the outer islands terminal for about 30 minutes, and then a ferry for another 30 minutes to arrive at the port of Kohama Island.

The island beach resort hotel "Haimurubushi," located at the southernmost point of Japan, is about a 5-minute ride by shuttle bus from that port.

When I landed at the port, the Haimurubushi shuttle bus was waiting. Looking back, I felt a sense of having truly "come to an island." This is an entrance to an extraordinary world, completely removed from daily life, and I am fully prepared to be healed from the heart.

Kohama Island is a small island with a population of about 700 people. The moment I set foot on it, I could feel with my skin that a completely different flow of time exists here, in contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city.

It was my first time on Kohama Island, but it felt special.

Haimurubushi is a resort surrounded by 360 degrees of sea and sky, offering pools, activities, dining, and relaxation, providing everything needed for a stay, all within the island resort. It had just undergone a renewal in July 2025, and I checked in with high expectations.

The scenery of the trip around Kohama Island by electric bicycle

At Haimurubushi, there are many activities available for enjoyment with prior reservation. There is a rich variety of options, including kayaking and horseback riding experiences. On the first day, I rented an electric bicycle for 700 yen for one hour and explored the island. As I circled the island, I reached Kohama Village via Kohama Port, where traditional red-tiled houses remain.

Stopping by a local shop on the island, I had a casual moment buying and eating ice cream. The relaxed pace unique to remote islands flows, and even without flashy scenery, these ordinary experiences leave a deep impression in my heart.

What stood out was the road called "Sugar Road." It is the path that appeared many times in the NHK drama "Churasan," and the straight view between sugar cane fields and pastures felt as if I were inside a movie or television screen.

Furthermore, at the lookout point on the summit of Nishiodake, a monument from the drama welcomed us, providing a moment to feel both the culture and nature of the island simultaneously. Despite being a small island, I was overwhelmed by the grandeur of the scenery it offered.

Unforgettable dusk kayak experience

I booked the sunset kayak through the hotel. My 4-year-old and 5-year-old children also participated, and the experience of paddling out into the sky and sea dyed orange became unforgettable.

The sunset reflecting on the sea surface and the calm rhythm of the waves provide an extraordinary experience that can never be enjoyed in the city. Just floating on the sea is pleasant, and time passes slowly.

The overwhelming scale of the starry sky and the vibrant morning to come

If you want to enjoy the night in Kohama Island, it’s definitely the starry sky. With few artificial lights, the stars spread out across the night sky, feeling as if they are falling.

The time spent gazing at the sky as the night falls from the daytime is a luxurious experience that can only be savored on this island. During the day, you are enveloped in a 360-degree expanse of sky, and at night, countless stars shine… just the feeling of this scale made me realize I was liberated from my usual life.

Then I woke up at 5 AM, looking up at the star-filled sky while waiting for the sunrise from the horizon.

In the morning, I participated in free morning yoga. The children asked their father to let them join alone. Just stretching my body while feeling the sea breeze reset my mind, and I felt energy rising from deep within my body. Activities that engage with nature further deepened the sense of the extraordinary.

Inside Haimurubushi, the area is so spacious that you can move around in a golf cart.

Haimurubushi is a resort that, while being a hotel, has a vast area equivalent to about 8.5 Tokyo Domes. During my stay, I borrowed a cart that accommodates five people to move around to the beach, pool, lobby, and more.

Since you can enjoy dining, playing, and relaxation within the premises, the hotel itself feels like "one island." You can spend fulfilling time without going outside, which is unique to a large-scale resort. Just being within this resort is enough to experience the extraordinary.

Once you arrive here, you are liberated from your daily life and can experience the extraordinary

From Haneda Airport, I took a plane to Ishigaki Island, and then a ferry to Kohama Island. It takes time to access from Tokyo, but in that time, you get a special experience that liberates you from your daily routine. The scenery of the island explored by bicycle, activities that connect you with nature, and an overwhelming starry sky. Once you arrive here, there is an extraordinary experience that exceeds all expectations.

The 2-night, 3-day stay at Haimurubushi became a memorable resort experience for both my family and myself.

Haimurubushi
Location: 2930-1 Kohama, Taketomi Town, Yaeyama District, Okinawa Prefecture
TEL: 0980-85-3116 (Direct reservation line)

Written by SYURI

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