About 15 minutes from Kohama Island! How to get to Phantom Island (Hamashima) and recommended tours!

What is Phantom Island (Hamashima)?

Known as the "Phantom Island," Hamashima is a beautiful crescent-shaped island that appears only during limited hours.

Sometimes appearing only for a few hours at a time, depending on the tide, this phantom island has become a popular destination for those who love remote islands and want to experience something out of the ordinary.

In this issue, we summarize such a phantom island (Hamashima). We will also introduce tours that can easily be taken from Kohama Island and activities that can be done on the phantom island, so please take a look.

 

How to get to Phantom Island (Hamashima) from Kohama Island

The timing of your visit to Phantom Island (Hamashima) is critical.

Because the island appears at high tide, it is not something you can just visit when you have time.

In addition, the phantom island that appears in the sea at low tide is difficult to visit on one's own.

Since the island appears in the middle of the ocean, which is impossible to visit by plane or car, you should visit it by taking a chartered boat charter or tour that you have booked in advance.

Tours use boats and ships to reach the island. There are many tours on Kohama Island that combine landing on the island with various activities.

Depending on the type of boat or ship, the average trip will take about 30 minutes each way.

The ride is short and recommended for those who get seasick.

If you are still concerned about seasickness, you should take an anti-sickness medicine 30 minutes before boarding the boat.

Choosing a tour according to your preferred activity will help you create precious travel memories that you can only experience here.

 

How to spend time on Phantom Island (Hamashima)

Phantom Island (Hamashima) is an island with shallow beaches and a 360-degree view of the too-transparent blue ocean.

It is a place with a spectacular view that looks like paradise, so spend your own way to enjoy 120% that view.

Here are a few ways to spend your time on the Island of Illusions.

You can try to imagine what you would like to spend your time doing.

This is an island where you can enjoy a picture-perfect tropical desert island, so your imagination is limitless.

 

Free yourself from daily stress! Spend a relaxing time

Many people with busy lives want to spend their time lying on a tropical beach and not worry about the time they spend there.

Spending time idly under a beach parasol looking out at the beautiful ocean is a luxurious way to spend your time.

Take off your watch, turn off your smartphone, and enjoy doing nothing.

There is nothing but sand and sea around, so there is no unnecessary noise.

However, during the high season period during summer vacation, you may find it noisy with many tourists.

If you prefer a quieter experience, visit off-season in fall or winter to enjoy the beautiful scenery and serenity.

 

Must see on social networking sites! Photography

When you visit Phantom Island, try to capture its beautiful scenery with your smartphone camera or waterproof digital camera.

The scenery there is different from the beaches on the main island of Okinawa and other tropical resorts.

You can take a video while rotating 360 degrees, or stroll to the edge of the island and take a camera shot of the entire island from there, leaving behind wonderful and memorable photos and videos.

Since this is a remote island that offers a beautiful world no matter where you photograph it, it is a good idea to be creative in the composition of your shots.

Don't forget to upload good photos to social networking sites and share the memories of your trip.

However, there are some precautions to take when shooting.

When taking pictures with a smartphone, be careful of water damage.

We often hear stories of smartphones that have been placed in simple waterproof cases that are commonly available and have gotten water damage.

In the worst case scenario, a water-damaged smartphone will lose all of its data and will have to be repurchased.

Therefore, be very careful with your smartphone on the phantom island.

It is safe to use a waterproof or wearable camera with a housing case.

Also, as the seawater dries, salt can adhere to it and cause corrosion, so rinse it off with fresh water when you get home to your hotel.

 

Enjoy the underwater world! Marine Activities

Phantom Island has a shallow beach with many healthy corals and tropical fish.

Marine activities that can be done on this island include snorkeling and experience diving.

The visually beautiful and clear waters of the phantom island are also spectacular in the water.

Because manta rays and sea turtles appear and schools of tropical fish can be observed up close, many tourists join tours that include marine activities.

For those who are not good at swimming, snorkeling with a life jacket is recommended to enjoy the underwater experience from the surface.

If you can swim, you should take the plunge and try experience diving at Phantom Island.

For an extraordinary experience in a special place, marine activities are recommended.

If you sign up for a tour of marine activities, you can rent all the equipment you need.

Therefore, there is no need to carry heavy baggage yourself, and you can participate in the event empty-handed.

 

Special Occasion! Surprise your loved ones!

Many people want to visit the phantom island for a special occasion or to propose a marriage proposal.

Surprise them on a beautiful remote island that appears only for a limited time and they will be delighted.

Surprises at the Phantom Island will surprise your partner in various occasions such as marriage proposals, anniversary trips, birthday celebrations, and kanreki celebrations.

If you want a surprise that will last a lifetime, why not execute it on a phantom island?

Make your anniversary special by taking a surprise support tour or plan to charter and land on a phantom island.

 

Short and easy participation!
What is the attraction of the *Phantom Island Tour from/to Kohama Island?

A tour that is shorter and easier to join than going from Ishigaki Island is the Phantom Island Tour from/to Kohama.

Kohama Island can be reached by ferry from the Ishigaki Island Terminal.

Kohama Island is a remote island that attracts many tourists in high season, partly because it was the filming location for a serial TV drama.

If you are planning to visit such a popular Kohama Island, please join a tour to and from Kohama Island.

Here are some of the attractions of the Phantom Island Tour to and from Kohama Island.

This is a great tour for those who like to visit remote islands.

 

It is also challenging for those who get seasick!
Phantom island (Hamashima), 15 minutes from Kohama Island

If you go to the phantom island from Ishigaki Island, it will take about 1 hour round trip.

The trip from Kohama Island to Phantom Island takes about 10 to 15 minutes one way, so it will take less time than from Ishigaki Island.

Even those who are concerned about seasickness can participate in this tour, which is relatively easy for a 30-minute round trip.

Since the island can be visited during a gap in sightseeing on Kohama Island, it is easy to incorporate it into your sightseeing plans.

If you think you will be in good physical condition and able to enjoy sightseeing if the boat ride is short, try the Phantom Island Tour from Kohama Island.

 

Abundant coral reefs around the Phantom Island

The Phantom Island tour from Kohama Island allows you to go ashore in a short time and even enjoy the abundant coral reefs around the island in a short time.

Phantom Island is a shallow beach where you can observe healthy coral reefs as soon as you enter the ocean.

Even if you are short on time, you will be able to return to Kohama Island in about an hour and a half, having enjoyed both landing and snorkeling.

The ability to observe healthy coral reefs even in shallow waters is a unique feature of this phantom island, which is usually submerged in the sea.

Even if you are not a good swimmer, you can enjoy the wonderful view by wearing a life jacket and looking into the ocean with underwater glasses.

If you want to experience the best of the Phantom Island in a short time, join a tour.

 

Elderly people can easily participate.

Tours from Kohama Island to the Phantom Island are also popular, as are tours that just land on the island.

Some people may not need to participate in activities, such as wanting to take pictures of the spectacular scenery, spend time doing nothing on the beach, take a short stroll, watch the sunset from a phantom island, or go there anyway even though they can't swim.

If so, join a tour that only takes you ashore.

Tours that only go ashore are easy and less physically demanding for older travelers.

Short boat trips and short stays can be planned for the Phantom Island Tour from Kohama Island.

First-time visitors to Phantom Island may wish to take the Phantom Island Tour, which departs from Kohama Island, to get a feel for the island.

Many tropical resorts offer physically demanding tours, but there are also tours that allow you to enjoy wonderful and spectacular scenery in a short time.

If you are planning a trip with elderly people, please consider this.

 

Fun with small children! Recommended activities with landing on the Phantom Island

Phantom Island is an island with a shallow beach, so small children can enjoy the island together.

The whole family will be able to enjoy this fantastic island, as they can play in the sand on the beautiful white sand and look for small creatures in the lapping waves.

The short time it takes to land from Kohama Island is also attractive for children.

Children will be in a good mood the whole time, as they can have fun playing on a fantastic island without getting bored and cranky on the boat.

Activities are the best way to make the most of the features and attractions of such a fantastic island.

A popular tourist attraction, Phantom Island offers many activity tours.

There are also tours where you can rent sand play equipment, which is recommended for those who want to enjoy the phantom island with their children.

Here is a summary of some of the most popular activities.

If you would like to visit the Island of Illusions with your children but are not sure what to do to have fun, please refer to this page to plan your trip.

 

Landing only cruising

A popular activity for those who cannot swim is cruising ashore only.

Many people want to visit the island, which is reputed to be like heaven with its beautiful sea and white sandy beaches.

Some people may want to visit this sacred place because it has been used as a location for commercials and music videos of music groups.

For those who do, participation in a landing-only cruising tour is recommended.

You can stay on the island for about an hour after landing, so you will have plenty of time to enjoy the island.

Imagine a deserted island during your stay and enjoy as many remote island trips as you can imagine.

Cruising ashore only is enjoyable for everyone from small children to the elderly.

Even if you are worried about getting seasick, the short boat ride on the Phantom Island will allow you to enjoy the spectacular scenery while staying in good physical condition.

If you are concerned, it is better to take an anti-sickness medicine.

 

snorkeling

Snorkeling at the Phantom Island is the most popular activity.

Tropical fish school around the healthy coral reefs, providing an up-close experience of the marine ecosystem.

There are also snorkeling tours that take you to spots where sea turtles and manta rays appear, so if you have an idea of what kind of snorkeling you want to do, you can find the perfect tour for you.

Life jackets, underwater glasses, fins, and snorkels can be rented for snorkeling, so you can enjoy snorkeling with nothing.

Some tours will take pictures of you snorkeling and provide you with data for your photos, so you can enjoy the underwater world to the fullest.

For sea turtle snorkeling and manta ray snorkeling, touching the creatures is prohibited.

However, you will feel like you are swimming with them as you watch them swim gracefully and flap your legs, so please experience this on the phantom island.

 

Experience Diving

Diving is a marine sport that requires a license, but a license is not required for experience diving.

All equipment necessary for the experience can be rented here as well.

There is no need to bring heavy underwater cylinders or bulky wetsuits, so you can participate in this activity empty-handed as long as you wear a bathing suit.

After landing on a fantastic island, the dive site is decided based on the wind direction and ocean conditions, so this is an activity that offers new discoveries no matter when you participate.

This is one of the activities you should try if you are visiting Phantom Island, as it is your first chance to dive on the island.

Please note that you cannot board a plane the day after diving, but if your timing is right, try diving on the phantom island.

It is highly recommended, as it offers a better experience of being at one with tropical fish than snorkeling.

 

Sunset Tour

The Sunset Tour is an activity that visits the island at sunset time.

The feature of this tour is that you can enjoy not only the beautiful sunset but also the view of remote islands such as Taketomi Island, Kohama Island, and Iriomote Island dyed in bright red.

If you arrive and depart from Kohama Island, you can travel in a short time without missing any beautiful moments.

The luxurious moment of watching the sunset in the middle of the ocean will be a memorable experience.

If you are thinking of proposing, you may want to take a sunset tour to execute the surprise.

A sunset at a special location is sure to be an unforgettable moment.

 

Charter

If you want to fully enjoy the island of illusion, a chartered tour is recommended.

Not only a boat but also a guide can be chartered for a luxurious sightseeing experience.

Private (chartered) tours are characterized by private sightseeing, allowing visitors to enjoy the phantom islands at their own pace without worrying about the eyes of other participants.

It is also recommended for those who do not want to bother their children with noise or for those who want to take their time sightseeing with elderly people. Snorkeling, boat fishing, experience diving, island hopping, photo weddings, etc. are also available as options.

You can also go at a time when there are fewer people, making it easier for those who do not like crowds.

Half-day and full-day charters are also available, so you can choose the tour that best fits your travel plans.

 

summary

In this article, we introduced a phantom island that can be reached in 15 minutes from Kohama Island.

The phantom island, which appears out of sight in the ocean for a limited time, offers a variety of views depending on the time of day and ocean conditions.

Some people feel a sense of adventure, as if they were on a deserted island, while others feel relaxed and at ease, as if they were visiting the tropical countryside, so there is a wide variety of ways to enjoy the experience.

Okinawa is busy with sightseeing tours, but if you visit Ishigaki Island or Kohama Island, you should also visit the Phantom Island.

An unforgettable experience and a spectacular view that will remain etched in your mind's eye await you on the Island of Illusions.