Ōjima – A Cat Island With Grease, Salt, and Soul

Ōjima isn’t the kind of place that slaps you in the face with beauty. It’s small. Three minutes to drive around, half an hour to walk. A fishing village connected by a bridge, dangling off Okinawa’s southern coast. The kind of place most tourists skip — unless they’ve heard about the cats. Or the tempura.

First Stop: Nakamoto Fresh Fish Tempura 🍤

Every island has its shrine. Here, it’s not behind stone steps or under a red gate — it’s a grease-stained paper bag of tempura from Nakamoto (中本鮮魚てんぷら店). Fresh squid, fish, shrimp — dunked in batter and fried until golden. Each piece is about 100 yen. Hot, salty, unapologetic. You eat it standing by the shop, oil dripping onto your hands, cats circling like they know the rules better than you do.

Address: 9 Ō, Tamagusuku, Nanjo City, Okinawa
Hours: 10:30 – 18:00
Closed: Sundays, plus occasional closures after Golden Week, for the Sea God Festival, and weddings/funerals
Parking: Free, about 8 cars

Next: Ōshiro Tempura Shop (大城天ぷら店)

If Nakamoto is fast and furious, Ōshiro makes you wait. You grab a ticket, stand in line 10–15 minutes, and watch the fryer do its work. The reward? Seaweed tempura — crisp, briny, like eating a bite of the ocean itself. They’ll hand you chopsticks, but honestly, your fingers will do just fine.

Address: 193 Ō, Tamagusuku, Nanjo City, Okinawa
Hours: 11:00 – 17:45
Closed: Mondays & Tuesdays (if Monday’s a holiday, closed Tuesday instead)
Parking: Free lot nearby

Cool Off at Cafe Maimu (まいむ)

Just down the road, shaded by a giant banyan tree, sits Maimu. It’s half beach shack, half community hangout. Order Okinawa soba, taco rice, or shaved ice. Grab a drink, sit in the shade, and let the cats take their shift as unofficial hosts. This is where the island exhales.

Address: 21-1 Ō, Tamagusuku, Nanjo City, Okinawa
Hours: 09:00 – 19:00

The Harbor: Seafood Market & Imaiyu Restaurant 🐟

Walk toward the port and you’ll smell it before you see it. Imaiyu Market (いまいゆ市場) and the seafood restaurant beside it sell the day’s catch — sashimi, seafood rice bowls, more tempura. Locals sit shoulder to shoulder with visitors, chopsticks clattering, beer bottles sweating in the heat. It’s not fancy, but it’s real.

Address: 41 Ō, Tamagusuku, Nanjo City, Okinawa
Hours:

• Weekdays: 11:30 – 15:00 / 17:00 – 24:00
• Saturday: 11:30 – 24:00
• Sunday: 11:30 – 22:00

Closed: Mondays (if Monday’s a holiday, closed Tuesday instead)
Parking: Shared with the fish market

Beyond Food: Life on Ōjima

Ōjima is more than its kitchens. Every summer, villagers drag dragon boats into the sea for the Sea God Festival. It’s loud, sweaty, and holy all at once — less a show, more a prayer disguised as sport. Wander inland and you’ll find Ryūgū Shrine, a place where fishermen once begged the gods for safe return. Nearby, Kannon Hall waits quiet, with ocean views that remind you who’s really in charge out here.

And if you want to see beneath the surface, book a ride on a glass-bottom boat from the harbor. Twenty-five minutes drifting over coral reefs and, if you’re lucky, sea turtles gliding like they own the place — which they do.

Why Ōjima Stays With You

Ōjima isn’t polished. It doesn’t need to be. The charm is in its pace — in the cats sunbathing on seawalls, in the kids laughing on the beach by the bridge, in the rows of squid drying in the salt air from June to October.

Come here if you want more than a beach. Come here if you’re tired of “bucket lists” and want something slower, messier, more human. Ōjima won’t dazzle you. It’ll sit quietly until you realize you don’t need dazzle. Just a bag of tempura, a few cats at your feet, and the sea reminding you what matters.

⚠️Disclaimer

The information provided in this website is for general informational purposes only. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we cannot guarantee its completeness, reliability, or complete accuracy. Travel information, including attractions, accommodations, and transportation, may change over time. Readers are advised to independently verify details, check travel advisories, and make necessary reservations. We do not assume any liability for loss or inconvenience caused by relying on the information. Remember, travel experiences are subjective and vary based on personal preferences. Tailor your travel plans to your individual needs and interests. Happy travels!

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