Nature
Keise Islands
The Keise Islands , also known as the Chibishi Islands or Chibishi Atolls, are a group of three coral islands within the Okinawa Islands, 8 kilometers from the archipelago's main island. They constitute the eastern end of the Kerama Islands, a subgroup of the Okinawa Islands. As with the rest of the Kerama Islands, the Keise Islands are administered by the village of Tokashiki in Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The islands are a popular day-trip site for tourists, particularly divers.
Chibishi's coral reefs off Naha
The Keise Islands are a cluster of three low coral islets around 8 kilometers off the main island of Okinawa, at the eastern end of the Kerama Islands chain. Unlike a beach destination, there's little to see on land — the draw is the surrounding reef, which is why the spot is almost exclusively visited by boat, and mostly by divers and snorkelers rather than sightseers.
Getting there
You can't reach the islands by road. Access is by boat tour departing from marinas around Naha, with the crossing itself taking roughly 30-45 minutes depending on the operator and conditions. Most visitors book through a dive shop or day-tour operator rather than arranging transport independently.
How much time to allow
Plan for a half-day to full-day outing once travel time is included. Diving or snorkeling trips typically build in a couple of hours in the water plus time on the boat, so treat this as a dedicated excursion rather than a quick stop.
When to go
Conditions matter more than time of day here — sea state and visibility depend on wind and weather, and trips can be cancelled or rerouted if the water is too rough. Warmer months are more reliable for comfortable diving and snorkeling conditions. Because access depends entirely on boat operators, it's worth booking ahead rather than showing up expecting a same-day trip.
Combining with other sights
Since this is a boat-based excursion departing from the Naha area, it doesn't pair naturally with same-day sightseeing elsewhere. Save central Naha attractions like Naminoue Shrine, Shiseibyō, the Tsushima-maru Memorial Museum, and Fukushūen (all within about 12 kilometers of each other) for a separate day exploring the city on foot.
Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
