Limited time offer! Enjoy a whale watching tour on Kume Island!

Can I go whale watching in Kume Island?

The waters of Kumejima are known to be visited by whales in winter.

If you are going to the trouble of visiting Kume Island, you may also want to try whale watching, which is something you don't get to see very often in your daily life.

For those people, we recommend whale watching, which can be experienced on Kume Island.

There are many other places besides Kumejima where whale watching can be done, such as in Hokkaido, but it is difficult to find a place with favorable conditions in all aspects, including encounter rates and the surrounding environment.

On Kume Island, where such favorable conditions are available, whale watching is a very popular and moving experience that allows visitors to observe the powerful movements of the whales up close and personal!

In this issue, we will tell you about the attractions of whale watching, so please take a look if you are coming to Kumejima!

From the northern part of Okinawa's main island.
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When to enjoy whale watching in Kume Island

Whale watching can be enjoyed on Kume Island from late December to early April.

Whales often gather on Kumejima Island and Okinawa in winter because the sea water is warm throughout the year, but they are especially numerous during this season when various conditions coincide.

Therefore, among the limited-time activities and experience tours on Kume Island, whale watching is extremely popular, and it is said that many people visit Kume Island every year to see whales.

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The ecology of humpback whales seen on Kume Island

On Kume Island, a variety of whales can be seen, including the classic large-bodied humpback whale, smaller minke whales, and sperm whales, which are abundant in the island.

Among them, we will explain the ecology and behavior patterns of humpback whales, which are frequently seen on Kume Island.

Please check each one of them and make use of them during your whale-watching trip.

Brow.

Blows are breath-holds or gusts of air, and the blows coming from large individuals such as humpback whales can be over 3 meters high.

Therefore, when looking for whales on a whale-watching trip, you can often use the blows as landmarks to locate the whales.

Fooding

Hooding is the act of feeding by whales.

The sight of these fish eating large quantities of sardines and other small fish, whole from the seawater, is a powerful sight, and is one of the most popular whale-watching performances.

We encourage you to observe this hooding carefully during your whale-watching trip.

Whales use their whiskers to take in food only, and later release seawater from their mouths, so there is no need to worry if fish and seawater are swallowed together.

Peduncle Arch

The large arching of the back of a whale before it dives is called a peduncle arch.

It is a truly whale-like sight, and a great shutterbug opportunity to capture it in a photograph.

Bleaching

Breaching is a behavior in which the whale's body appears to jump in the air.

Such breaching is rare and precious, with a probability of only 51 TP3T or less.

If you are lucky enough to see and photograph this sight, it is no exaggeration to say that you are lucky!

Pex Wrap

Peck slaps are said to be the whales' way of signaling other fellow whales with their water temperature by slapping the surface of the ocean.

When striking the surface of the sea, the body is floated sideways and the pectoral fins are swung down hard from the air to the surface of the sea, an action that is repeated many times.

This behavior is especially common in humpback whales, so by all means, watch closely when whale watching for humpback whales.

Spy Hop

Sometimes whales will emerge from the surface of the ocean and behave as if they are looking at their surroundings, and this behavior is called a spy hop.

This behavior is especially important to check when the whales swim around the shore or when a boat comes close by.

From the northern part of Okinawa's main island.
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Why come to Kumejima?

Whales come to Kume Island every winter season, and most of them are said to be here to breed and raise their young.

Originally, whales give birth between December and April, but because the waters of Kumejima are warm even in winter, the whales gather there in droves.

Therefore, this season offers an excellent opportunity to see a large number of whales up close, something that is rarely possible during this time of year.

 

Why Whale Watching on Kume Island is So Popular

Whale watching on Kume Island is one of the most popular in the country.

One of the reasons for this is the incredibly large number of humpback and other giant whales that migrate to Kume Island every year, from 100 to 400.

Also, the whales' amazing performances at the surface of the ocean are truly a great whale-watching experience.

There are many tours that allow visitors to see these performances up close from the boat, so there is no end to the number of people who come to Kumejima for an emotional experience that takes them away from their daily lives for a while.

 

Few places in Japan where whales can be seen.

There are only a few places in Japan where whales can be seen, and it is said that there are only about five whale-watching spots in Japan, including Kumejima and Okinawa.

Meeting whales is not something that can be fulfilled only by the condition that there is an ocean, but it is necessary to fulfill various conditions such as the time of year and environment.

It is no exaggeration to say that whale watching is such a limited and rare activity.

 

A powerful performance

The highlight of whale watching on Kume Island is the dynamic movements and powerful performances of wild whales.

The whales, especially when seen up close from the boat, will be more powerful than you can imagine, yet still graceful and full of power.

You can never take your eyes off the whales, even at the moment they emerge from the surface of the ocean.

Some of the whales are larger than whale-watching boats, and you will be overwhelmed by the sight of them.

Also, the action of the breaching and the action of floating on the surface of the water and exhaling as much as possible when breathing is also very powerful.

Legend has it that if you are splashed by the blows that rise to the sea at that time, you will be happy, so if you want to bring good luck, be prepared to take on the water as much as you can without fear.

 

High probability of encounter.

On Kume Island, there are many opportunities to see groups of whales and parent and calf whales swimming together, and the encounter rate is high.

Whale-watching is held in many other places in Japan, but Kumejima Island is said to have the best spots with the highest probability of whale-watching.

In particular, it is not uncommon, when whale watching, to encounter a group of whales once, and then to experience seeing several more whales later on.

From the northern part of Okinawa's main island.
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Rules and precautions for enjoying whale watching

This section explains the rules and detailed precautions for enjoying whale watching.

First, even though Kume Island has a mild climate year-round, it gets very cold at sea during the winter season, so warm clothing is essential.

In addition, you should take waterproof measures, such as wearing a waterproof jacket or raincoat, in case you get wet while watching.

On the day of whale watching, most people join a local guided tour, board a boat, and head for the spot.

Therefore, please avoid heavy drinking or lack of sleep the day before so that you do not feel ill during the boat ride.

Also, be sure to follow the guide's instructions during the tour to ensure safe watching.

If you are prone to motion sickness, it is recommended that you take anti-sickness medicine before boarding the ship.

From the northern part of Okinawa's main island.
Click here for whale watching tours

 

A rental car is recommended for sightseeing in the islands!
Book your rental car on Kumejima Island early!

A rental car is recommended for getting around on Kume Island!

It is recommended because we can move around during the trip and also at our own timing, such as early morning (sunrise), sunset, or a short trip outside to see the stars!

↓arrow (mark or symbol)Learn more about car rentals 

 

summary

Now that we have introduced whale-watching experiences on Kume Island, many of you may be interested in trying them out.

Whale watching is definitely a valuable experience in Japan, as the seasons and regions in which you can participate are limited.

The repeat rate is so high that people join the tour not only once, but many times, making it a must-see for those planning a trip to Kume Island in winter!

When you come to Kume Island, you should definitely try whale watching, which allows you to enjoy the beautiful nature and magnificent whale viewing.

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