From Sefa-utaki to Azama Port Ferry Terminal Where the Ferries for Kudaka Island Depart

After visiting Sefa-utaki, I walked back National Route 331 and headed to Azama Port Ferry Terminal where the ferries for Kudaka Island depart (regarding the access to Kudaka Island from Naha City using bus and ferry, please refer to the previous page).

Entered the road along the ocean from National Route 331 and walked for a while, then I got to Azama Sunsun Beach located next to Azama Port Ferry Terminal. The distance from Sefa-utaki is about 1 km. It was going to rain from the evening according to the weather forecast, but it was sunny during daytime, and I felt very comfortable walking along the beachside road.

Road to Azama Sunsun Beach (Sunsun Road)

Azama Sunsun Beach is quite a big beach. It was at the end of January and off-season, so although it was Saturday, there were few people on the beach. The sea viewed from the beach is clear blue and beautiful.

Azama Sunsun Beach

After relaxing on the beach for a while, I headed to Azama Port Ferry Terminal. It was the former New Year day (January 28, 2017), so the car park of the ferry terminal was packed with the cars of people visiting Kudaka Island. The culture of celebrating the former New Year is still deep-rooted in Kudaka Island, so the relatives of people living in the island visit them to celebrate the former New Year together.

Azama Port Ferry Terminal

There are some accommodation facilities such as minshuku (inn run by a local family) in Kudaka Island, but most minshuku were occupied on this day due to the large number of people visiting the island, and some of them were closed due to the former New Year. I waited for a cancellation and managed to book a room at an accommodation facility run by a local NPO organization at the last minute.

I arrived at Azama Port Ferry Terminal around 11:30 a.m. A ferry was about to depart, but I was not in a hurry as I was staying in the island for a night, besides it was still early to check in the accommodation facility. And also, I thought restaurants in the island were closed due to the former New Year, so I decided to have a lunch around the ferry terminal, and take a ferry which departs at 2:00 p.m.

There is a restaurant called “Uminosoba (near the sea)” in the first floor of an apartment located near Azama Port Ferry Terminal. There are many restaurants around Sefa-utaki, but I didn’t feel like walking back to Sefa-utaki, so I decided to have a lunch here.

Uminosoba (Outside)

Uminosoba (Inside)

I ordered “Soki Soba (Okinawa soba noodle with pork rib called soki)” and a hot coffee. Okinawa soba noodle varies a bit depending on the region, and my favorite Okinawa soba noodle is Miyako soba noodle eaten in Miyako Island, but Okinawa soba noodle in the main island of Okinawa is also nice. Its taste is bit stronger than that of Miyako soba noodle.

Soki Soba

Hot Coffee

After finishing the lunch, I walked around Azama Sunsun Beach again, and waited for the ferry departing at 14:00. The number of ferries for Kudaka Island is six in a day, but extra ferries were running as there were many people visiting the island on this day for the former New Year celebration.

Ferry Kudaka

I boarded Ferry Kudaka and departed for Kudaka Island. I sat on a chair in the second floor, and enjoyed the scenery viewed from the ferry. The ferry is big enough in spite of a short journey, and it rolled but little during the journey.

Ferry Kudaka (Second Floor)

Ferry Kudaka arrived at Kudaka Island after around 20 to 25 minutes. I decided to check in the accommodation facility and leave my baggage first before looking around the island.