Uruma City is connected to the main island of Okinawa by marine roads and bridges. Here we introduce you to cycling around the remote islands of Uruma City, which is easily accessible from Naha City, using bicycle rental service that you can easily enjoy.
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What is “Uruma Cycle Project”?
Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture, is the third most populous city in Okinawa Prefecture after Naha City and Okinawa City.
Located on the east coast (Pacific Ocean side) of central Okinawa Island, Katsuren Peninsula and eight islands. Five islands (Ikei Island, Miyagi Island, Henza Island, Hamahiga Island, and Yabuchi Island) are connected by marine roads and bridges.
The 4,700-meter-long marine road connecting Katsuren Peninsula and Heianza Island is a road that, unlike a bridge overlooking the ocean, allows visitors to ride at a height close to their eyes while viewing beautiful Kinwan Bay.
“Uruma Cycle Project” is the name of a project to develop various projects for cyclists to promote cycle tourism utilizing the attractive tourist resources and regional characteristics of Uruma City.
The Uruma City character “Ulu Ulala” is depicted in some of the turning traffic spaces.
Bicycle Rental at Marine Road Park
Cross bikes and electric-assist bicycles can be rented at Churashima Kaido Information Center in Marine Road Park.
We started cycling with the cross bike we had reserved.
First, ride east to Hamahiga Island.
Day 1: From Marine Road to Hamahiga Island
If you ride 3km east from Marine Road Park and turn south at the intersection of Henza Island, you will reach the 1,430-meter-long Hamahiga Bridge.
Near Hamahiga Bridge, at the entrance to Hama Fishing Port Green Park, you will see a large number of Shishas that serve as car stops.
(The Shisa is an Okinawan lion dog statue.)
After passing the park, we had lunch at Maruyoshi Foods in front of Hamahiga Fishing Port.
At this quaint old-fashioned restaurant, you can enjoy a variety of Hamahiga local food, including the popular mozuku croquettes (130yen each), Okinawa soba noodles (700yen), and the fish butter set meal (2000yen; 1500yen or 1300yen depending on the size of the fish).
After lunch, head to the nearby (northwest part of the island) Hamahiga Beach. The beautiful sandy beach and blue ocean stretches out before you, and the marine road can be seen from the beach.
From Hamahiga Beach, ride clockwise around the island for about 1.8km to Tomb of Amamichu.
Amanji (small island), which can be crossed on foot, is said to be the tomb of a goddess called Amamichu and a god called Silmichu.
From Tomb of Amamichu, ride south on the island for about 1.7 km to Takaesu Saltworks.
Okinawa Hamahiga Salt of Takaesu Saltworks is 100% seawater salt made using the traditional salt-making method of “Ryukashiki Enden” (Saltpan with flow-through system).
Visitors can learn about the salt-making process in front of the bamboo frame.
The saltworks has its own private beach.
You can visit the beach during the saltworks’ business hours, so it is recommended to spend a relaxing time on the quiet beach, playing with the waves and feeling the wind.
Pedaling leisurely through the peaceful scenery, which is typical of the remote islands, you will arrive at Kominka Asahi, a house where you will stay for the night.
Spend the time until dusk, talking about today’s memories and tomorrow’s plans.
At night, the sky was full of stars.
Day 1: Course
Distance: approx. 10km Elevation gain:12m
Day 2: Sea Fishing Experience in Uruma
In the morning of the second day, we crossed Hamahiga Bridge to Uminoyado Umikaze on Henza Island.
From here, we drove to Henza Fishing Port to experience sea fishing.
The fish you catch can be brought back to Uminoyado Umikaze and enjoyed on the BBQ.
Orion Beer Clear Free and Uruma Blue Pottery make your lunch more enjoyable.
From Henza Island to Miyagi Island
After lunch, ride east from Heianza Island to Miyagi Island. Once on Miyagi Island, you will climb a hill with an average gradient of 9% for about 1km.
Ride through the fields that stretch across the island to Sinugudo Banta.
In Okinawan dialect, “banta” means cliff. This is a spectacular spot at the Sinugudo Ruins.
The view from about 100m above sea level is a reward for climbing the hill.
Ride clockwise around Miyagi Island to Nuchi Masu Salt Factory.
“Nuchi”means life and “Maasu” means salt in Okinawan dialect.
At the directly-managed store on the first floor, you can buy Nuchi Masu salt and various related products. At Nuchi Masu Restaurant Takahanari on the second floor, you can enjoy popular salt ice cream and various sweets.
From Kafu Banta on the premises, you can enjoy a spectacular view of emerald green.
The beautiful beach viewed from Kafu Banta is Ndakachina Beach.
If you go down the hill from Nuchi Masu Salt Factory and enter Henza Island, you will see a series of works from Hiramiya Seawall Art Competition painted on the embankment.
After riding along the marine road and returning to Marine Road Park, you can return your bicycle at Churashima Kaido Information Center to complete your cycling tour.
Day 2: Course
Distance: approx. 23km Elevation gain: 166m
Access/Information
〇From Naha Airport to MarineRoad Park- about 1hour by car (rental car).
〇By bus -about 2hours from Naha Bus Terminal to Ayahashikan-mae stop via JA Yonashiro-mae.
▼Uruma Cycle Project
https://urumacycle.jp/
▼Uruma City Tourism and Products Association official website “Uruma-iro”
https://uruma-ru.jp/
Summary
The biggest attraction of Uruma City is that it is a remote island accessible by land from the main island.
Unlike the remote islands, which can be reached by plane or boat, the accessibility from Naha allows visitors to make good use of a day’s time, so they can enjoy the islands in one night and two days from the city center.
And the islands beyond the marine road offer a relaxing time that is completely different from that on the main island side.
We felt that the most luxurious thing about cycling here was the freedom to enjoy it without worrying about distance, time or speed.
In winter, there are many days when the northerly wind is a little strong, but even the wind feels comfortable.
Writer: Yasushi Hanada
Photography: Kenji Hashimoto, Yasushi Hanada
Advertiser: Uruma Cycle Project
