Overview
Aguni Island lies in the East China Sea about 60 km northwest of Naha on Okinawa Island, with a coastline of roughly 12 km and an area of about 7.6 square kilometers. With no neighboring islands nearby, the whole island forms its own municipality, Aguni Village, and its name is said to come from awa (foxtail millet), a crop long tied to the community.
Highlights
- ●The pale tuff cliffs at Mahana Point on the island's western tip
- ●Island scenery once used as a filming location for "Nabbie's Love"
- ●The salt fields behind the local specialty, Aguni salt
- ●Surrounding waters popular with scuba divers
History
Detailed historical records are scarce, but the island's terrain hints at part of its story: the western side rises higher and slopes gently down toward the east, and the cliffs at Mahana Point on the western tip are formed of pale volcanic tuff. The island also became known as a filming location for the 1999 movie "Nabbie's Love," which captured its quiet scenery.
Access
Visitors can reach Aguni Island by ferry from Naha or by a short flight using the island's small airstrip; with both a port and an airfield in place, travelers can choose whichever option fits their schedule and the weather. There are no taxis or public buses on the island, so it is worth confirming transport arrangements with your accommodation beforehand.
Best season
Many visitors come for scuba diving, so it helps to plan around periods when the surrounding sea tends to be calm with good visibility. As with other remote Okinawan islands, typhoons can disrupt travel, so check the latest weather forecasts and ferry or flight schedules before departing.
Map
26.5822, 127.2267 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Travel to Aguni Island by ferry or small plane
- 2View the tuff cliffs at Mahana Point on the western tip
- 3Stay at a minshuku and try local dishes made with Aguni salt
- 4Go scuba diving in the waters around the island
Did you know?
💡 The island is known for its local specialty, Aguni salt, produced alongside crops such as the millet that gave the island its name, together forming one of the industries that has long supported island life. With almost no restaurants or convenience stores, accommodation is limited to a single hotel and around a dozen minshuku guesthouses, giving the island a simple, unhurried feel quite different from Okinawa's larger islands.
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