Shimajiri brings together a quiet coast, a nature park and a traditional settlement. One particularly easy-to-plan outing is the approximately 15-minute walk from the car park at Tori-no-Kuchi to a viewpoint; the park offers a different focus, with walking trails, birdwatching and views of Tumbara. This makes it easy to choose outings based on a set walk or on nature themes.
Coast and beach
A continuous reef in front of Shimajiri Bay largely encloses the bay and shapes its quiet coastline. The sand at Shimajiri Beach is slightly reddish. Wild Monpa trees, among other plants, grow around the beach. Alongside the reef-shaped bay, the beach has other distinctive features: the sand colour and vegetation give this stretch of coast its own character.
Walking trails and nature observation
Tokujimu Nature Park has walking trails and is suitable for birdwatching. From a viewpoint in the park, you can look out over Tumbara, a rocky outcrop rising from the sea just offshore. The trails, birdwatching and views of the outcrop offer different ways to enjoy nature. If you like to distinguish between exercise, wildlife observation and scenic views on an outing, the park offers several options.
Tori-no-Kuchi: a walk to the rock viewpoint
Tori-no-Kuchi is a huge andesite rock on the coast at Shimajiri Cape, at the southern tip of Kumejima. From the Tori-no-Kuchi car park, an approximately 15-minute walking trail leads to a viewpoint from which you can see the entire rock. The approximate walking time gives you a practical guide to how long it takes to reach the viewpoint and makes it easier to plan this walk.
The two rock formations differ above all in their locations: Tori-no-Kuchi is on the coast at the cape, while Tumbara rises from the sea just offshore. Their viewpoints also differ. At Tori-no-Kuchi, the trail leads to a view of the entire rock; Tumbara can be seen from a viewpoint in Tokujimu Nature Park. This comparison helps you consider the coastal rock and the offshore outcrop as distinct destinations.
Traditional settlement
Many Fukugi tree groves, stone walls and houses with tiled roofs have been preserved in Shimajiri’s traditional settlement. This combination draws attention to both the groves and the architectural features, making the townscape readable as a whole. If you would like to see Shimajiri for more than its coastal scenery, you can consider these preserved features as a cultural highlight in their own right.
Beach clean-ups and dates
A notice from July 2024 reported that the Kumejima Tourism Association carried out beach clean-ups on the second and fourth Monday of each month; Shimajiri Beach was among the locations. The schedule at the time may have changed. If you would like to include a current date in your travel plans, check the details in advance.
Discover more travel destinations: Kunigami District, Okinawa, Uza, Yomitan, Yonaguni, Nakagami District, Motobu, Ishigaki
For the broader travel overview: Okinawa Prefecture.
