Hotogaa is a spring on Tsuken Island, a small island in Uruma City, Okinawa.
It is about five minutes on foot from Tsuken Port, and it is a genuinely lovely spring.
The sea across from the spring is beautifully clear as well, which made it a personal favourite.
If you are heading to Tsuken Island, do make time for Hotogaa.
Ratings for Hotogaa
*Ratings are the subjective view of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other beaches in the prefecture
Hotogaa at a glance
| Hours | None in particular |
| Shop | Yes |
| Restroom | Yes |
| Parking | Yes |
| Official website | None |
Highlights
A legendary spring said to have been found by a pigeon
Hotogaa appears to take its name from a legend in which a pigeon discovered the spring.
For a long time it served as an important source of drinking water for the islanders.
*In the Okinawan dialect, hotou means pigeon and gaa means spring
A spring revered as a deity of fertility
Beside Hotogaa stands a small shrine with a limestone cave as its sacred object. The shape of the rock resembles a man and woman embracing, and for that reason it is revered as a deity of fertility.
A photo of the sign explaining Hotogaa is included above.
The sea across from the spring is lovely too
The water across from Hotogaa was beautiful as well.
Some people were fishing, and others were sitting and chatting while looking out to sea.
Access & Parking
| Hotogaa information | |
| Access | 5 minutes on foot from Tsuken Port |
| Address | Katsuren Tsuken, Uruma City, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | Yes |
Getting to Tsuken Island
Here is how to reach Tsuken Island.
- Head to Heshikiya Port and park at the harbour
- Buy a ticket to Tsuken Island at Heshikiya Port (a return ticket is best)
- Board the ferry
Here are the sailings and fares in table form.
| Departing Heshikiya Port (for Tsuken Island) | Departing Tsuken Port (for the main island) | Sailing | |
| 1st | 7:30 | 8:00 | High-speed boat |
| 2nd | 9:00 | 10:00 | Ferry |
| 3rd | 11:00 | 12:00 | Ferry |
| 4th | 14:00 | 15:00 | Ferry |
| 5th | 17:00 | 17:30 | High-speed boat |
- [Fares]
- Ferry (return): Adults 1,240 yen, children 630 yen
- Ferry (one way): Adults 650 yen, children 330 yen
- High-speed boat (return): Adults 1,530 yen, children 790 yen
- High-speed boat (one way): Adults 800 yen, children 410 yen
| Heshikiya Port information | |
| Access | About 1 hour 20 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 3784-21 Katsuren Heshikiya, Uruma City, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | Yes |
For full details on reaching Tsuken Island, see our article “Tsuken Island | Ferry times, how to get there and parking at Heshikiya Port“.
What’s nearby
Tsuken Island Sea Cruise
Tsuken Island Sea Cruise offers marine activities and BBQs as a package.
If you fancy marine activities or a BBQ at Tomai Beach, you can book through Viator or GetYourGuide.
About Tsuken Island
Tsuken Island is about 30 minutes by ferry or 12 minutes by high-speed boat from Heshikiya Port in Uruma City to Tsuken Port, which makes a day trip perfectly manageable.
Tsuken Island is known for its clear blue water and for Tsuken carrots, and has a population of about 350 as of April 2024.
Do make the trip out to Tsuken Island.
*Source: Population of Tsuken Island
Summary
This article introduced Hotogaa in Uruma City.
Hotogaa appears to take its name from a legend in which a pigeon discovered the spring.
If you are heading to Tsuken Island, do make time for Hotogaa.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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