Kume Island is located 100km away from Naha city. The island has lots of forests ant water, so the wet-rice cultivation was popular and the island was once called `rice island.’ The island was also mentioned in Chinese and Japanese historical books, and it played an important role as a way stop for trading ships pf Ryukyu dynasties. Neolithic remains including the Ohara shell mounds have been discovered there. Kume Island is regarded as one of the most beautiful islands in Okinawa Prefecture, and is to be reserved as a natural park. Kume Airport has direct flights to Naha and Haneda Airport in Tokyo.