TRAVEL GUIDE
So even your first trip to Pohnpei begins with confidence.
RESTAURANT GUIDE
One of travel's great pleasures is eating what the place itself eats.
Pohnpei has everything from hotel dining rooms to local eateries and Japanese food.
Authentic sushi in the tropics.
A rare find in Pohnpei: a genuine sushi bar. Enjoy fresh-caught fish as sushi — plus famously good fried chicken — over a quintessentially Pohnpeian view.
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The easy way to enjoy a Pohnpei evening.
A favorite of locals and travelers alike.
Burgers, steaks and more, with drinks in a relaxed tropical atmosphere.
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A hideaway loved by locals.
A popular spot in the Sokehs district.
Home-style local cooking in a warm, family atmosphere.
A little removed from the tourist trail — ideal if you want the local mood.
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A casual diner popular with locals.
A varied buffet at friendly prices.
Easy to drop into — a great lunch stop.
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Pohnpei has many more restaurants and cafés beyond these.
Hours and closing days can change — please confirm before you go.
| Name | Type | Hours | Closed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA Getaway Resto | Restaurant | Tue–Sat 8:00–14:00 / Sun 11:00–14:00 | Mon | |
| A-One Restaurant | Restaurant | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Angie's Fast Food | Fast food | Mon–Fri 7:30–20:00 / Sat 7:30–20:30 / Sun 8:00–20:00 | None | |
| Arnold's Pizza | Pizza | 7:00–15:00 / 17:00–21:00 | None | ↗ |
| BlackSand Restaurant | Restaurant | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Café Ole | Café | Unknown | Unknown | |
| China Star Restaurant | Chinese | Unknown | Unknown | ↗ |
| Deja Brew | Café | Mon–Fri 7:00–18:00 / Sat 11:00–17:00 | Sun (confirm) | ↗ |
| Hideaway Bar & Grill | Bar & grill | Mon–Thu 14:00–22:00 / Fri–Sat until 24:00 / Sun 11:00–21:00 | None | ↗ |
| Island Palms | Hotel restaurant | 7:00–14:00 | None | ↗ |
| Kaselehlie Diner | Diner | Mon–Fri & Sun 11:00–15:00 | Sat | ↗ |
| Mangrove Bay Sushi Bar | Sushi bar | Tue–Sat 11:00–14:00 / Sun–Mon 15:00–22:00 | None | ↗ |
| My Shore Bar & Grill | Bar & grill | Mon–Thu 16:00–24:00 / Fri 12:00–25:00 / Sat 16:00–25:00 | Sun (confirm) | |
| Nett Ramen | Restaurant | Mon–Fri 8:30–14:00 / Sat 8:00–15:00 / Sun 8:00–20:00 | None | ↗ |
| Ninsei Restaurant | Restaurant | 6:30–13:30 / 17:30–21:30 | None | ↗ |
| One World Plaza Cafe & Restaurant | Restaurant & café | 7:30–20:30 (Sun until 19:30) | None | ↗ |
| Orchid Restaurant | Restaurant | 6:00–22:00 | None | ↗ |
| Red Snapper | Restaurant | 7:00–14:00 / 17:00–21:00 | None | ↗ |
| Riverside Restaurant | Restaurant | 11:00–14:00 / 17:00–21:00 | None | ↗ |
| Sei Curry House | Curry | 11:00–14:00 | None | |
| Town's Diner | Diner | 8:00–21:00 | None | ↗ |
| Tua's Takeout & Sushi | Takeout & sushi | Mon–Fri 10:30–17:00 / Sat 10:30–15:00 | Sun |
We recommend restaurants to match your tour schedule and tastes.
Whatever it is, just ask.
HOTEL GUIDE
Choosing the right hotel is part of a good trip.
Pohnpei offers convenient in-town hotels, quiet seaside stays and outer-island resorts — each with its own appeal.
Drawing on more than 20 years on the island, Pohnpei Ocean Cruise matches hotels to the way you travel.
A seaside hideaway, handy for fishing and sightseeing alike.
A small eight-room hotel on the water with easy harbor access — a favorite of guests joining fishing charters.
Quiet and restful, with a popular restaurant next door; a great choice for first-time visitors.
An outer-island resort wrapped in South Pacific nature.
Eight villa-style bungalows on a small island just off Pohnpei proper.
Far from the bustle — fall asleep to the sound of the waves.
Chosen by travelers for whom the stay itself is the destination.
A simple 25-room hotel near the airport.
Close to the airport, making it convenient for arrival or departure nights. 25 rooms in total.
The on-site Red Snapper restaurant is available for meals.
A quiet cottage stay in Kolonia.
A relaxed hotel with cottage-style rooms.
The on-site Hideaway Bar & Grill serves food, making it easy to unwind away from the bustle.
Quiet, out on the edge of town.
Set just outside Kolonia, a little removed from the town's bustle.
The neighbouring Riverside Restaurant is a convenient place to eat.
Well placed for getting into town.
Good access to downtown Kolonia, convenient for sightseeing and getting around.
The in-house Ninsei Restaurant is available for meals.
Pohnpei's main hotels, so you can choose to suit your budget and style of stay.
| Hotel | Area | Features | Wi-Fi | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mangrove Bay Hotel | Kolonia | Seaside / 8 rooms / handy for fishing | ○ | ↗ |
| Para Nuii Island Resort | Para Nuii Island | Outer-island resort / 8 villas | ○ | ↗ |
| Ocean View Hotel | Kolonia | Hilltop, convenient for sightseeing | ○ | ↗ |
| China Star Hotel | Kolonia | Japanese-run / central | ○ | ↗ |
| Island Palms Hotel | Kolonia | In town / restaurant on site | ○ | ↗ |
| Hideaway Hotel | Kolonia | Cottage-style / quiet setting | ○ | ↗ |
| Sea Breeze Hotel | Kolonia | Near the airport / 25 rooms | ○ | ↗ |
| Yvonne's Hotel | Kolonia | Homely atmosphere | ○ | ↗ |
| 7 Stars Inn | Kolonia | Quiet, out-of-town setting | ○ | ↗ |
| Cliff Rainbow Hotel | Kolonia | Good access to town | ○ | ↗ |
Facilities and services may change. Please contact us for the latest information.
We welcome questions like these. With more than 20 years on the island, our staff will guide you to the right stay for your trip.
Ask about hotels & toursKOLONIA TOWN WALK
Kolonia, Pohnpei's harbor-town gateway, is a compact center you can cover on foot.
Spain, Germany, Japan, the United States — four eras of memory overlap in this small town, while the market hums with island life.
Even half a day between tours is enough for a walk through its history and everyday rhythms.
Tap a number to view each spot
Tap a number on the map to jump to that spot's details.
The outer wall of Fort Alphonso, built in the late 19th century under Spanish rule. Its dark stone remains edge a park and ballfield today, a quiet symbol of Kolonia.
The bell tower of a church raised in 1909 by Capuchin missionaries during the German era. The church itself was lost in World War II; the tower and its masonry apse still watch over the town.
For about three decades from 1914, Pohnpei — then called “Ponape” — was under Japanese rule. Kolonia became the seat of the South Seas Bureau, lined with schools and offices, among them the Ponape National School attended by Japanese children. Around the former school grounds and throughout the town, traces of that era still remain.
Home to people from the far southern atoll of Kapingamarangi, famous for ivory-nut carvings, wooden sharks and manta rays, and weaving. Watch the craftspeople at work and pick up a souvenir.
Taro, breadfruit, bananas and just-landed tuna — the island's kitchen, laid out as daily life. Small exchanges with the vendors become travel memories of their own.
The working harbor where fishing boats come and go is the departure point for fishing and island tours. At dusk the still water turns the color of the sunset.
Sokehs (Pohndollap), the rock ridge behind town, holds WWII relics, and its summit commands the whole of Kolonia and the reef beyond — a fine finish to a town walk.
Behind the ACE Hardware store in Kolonia, a row of Japanese army tanks abandoned after the Pacific War still rests quietly. Believed to be Type 95 light tanks, they were gathered here during the post-war disarmament. No ground battle was ever fought on Pohnpei, making this a rare reminder of the war the island still carries.
Founded on this spot in 1888, in the Spanish era, as a church dedicated to Our Lady. The present white sanctuary was completed after the war in 1953 and is formally named Our Lady of Mercy. Together with the German bell tower it carries the island's history of faith.
A stone church raised around 1930 with donations from Japanese residents, and still fondly called the Tanaka Church. During the war it served as barracks and a warehouse for the Japanese army. One of Pohnpei's largest Protestant churches, its stone silhouette still anchors the streetscape.
About 20 minutes from Kolonia by car. After independence in 1986, the new national capital was built with American support, and government moved to Palikir in 1989. Government halls with roofs echoing traditional architecture stand among the palms. Best visited by car alongside your town walk.
Peek into the island's kitchen — gifts of the mountains and the sea, lined up as the day's catch decides.
Our History Discovery Tour covers the sights of Kolonia with a guide.
TRAVEL BASICS
Precisely because Pohnpei is still little known as a destination, most travelers feel a touch of uncertainty alongside the excitement.
Pohnpei Ocean Cruise has run tours here for more than 20 years, since our founding in 2004.
This page gathers the practical knowledge that comes from living here and guiding travelers every day.
From pre-trip preparation to daily life on the island — we hope it serves you well before departure.
Warm all year, in a rain-fed tropical climate
Pohnpei averages about 27°C year-round with little seasonal swing. Mornings and evenings are relatively mild, and the punishing all-day heat of a Japanese midsummer is rare — comfortable travel weather.
It is also one of the wettest places on earth: around 5,000 mm of rain a year, exceeding 10,000 mm in the mountains. Most of it falls as brief squalls — sudden rain under blue sky that clears within thirty minutes — so a little rain rarely spoils sightseeing or tours.
Most travelers connect through Guam
There are currently no direct flights from Japan. Most guests fly to Guam and connect on United Airlines to Pohnpei.
Flights are limited, so build slack into your itinerary. If you have questions about tickets or connections, feel free to ask.
Check before departure
Entry to Pohnpei requires a passport valid for at least three months beyond your planned stay, and you may be asked to show onward or return tickets on arrival.
No visa is needed for tourist stays of up to 30 days; extensions can be applied for locally if you wish to stay longer.
Passport validity is also checked at airline check-in, so confirm it before you leave.
For peace of mind
Pohnpei has a state hospital and clinics, but cases needing advanced specialist care may require evacuation to Guam or Hawaii. We therefore recommend travel insurance before your trip.
It covers not only illness and injury but flight delays and baggage trouble. Review your coverage before departure.
Japanese summer clothes are all you need
Short sleeves, shorts and sandals are comfortable year-round. No suits or formalwear are needed at hotels or restaurants.
Aloha or short-sleeve shirts for men, dresses or resortwear for women — anything cool and easy to move in.
On boat tours and fishing trips the glare off the water burns more than you expect — many guests wear long sleeves as sun protection.
Check before you leave home
If you're joining a fishing or boat tour, polarized sunglasses and a neck gaiter are also recommended.
The currency is the US dollar
Pohnpei uses the US dollar. Exchanging money in Japan before departure is the safest plan.
There are ATMs on the island but not many, and maintenance can put them out of service — bring the cash you'll need.
Wi-Fi is available at hotels
Major hotels offer free Wi-Fi, though speeds are slower than in Japan and connections can wobble at busy times.
It's not suited to video uploads or online meetings, but social media and messaging generally work fine.
Many guests tell us the trip became “time away from the phone, closer to nature.”
Buying a SIM card and prepaid card from Telecom (FSM Telecom) gets you data coverage almost anywhere in Pohnpei, including the outer islands. For a short stay, the 5GB / 5-day / US$5 plan is a good choice.
FSM Telecom (official site)Japanese devices work as-is
Pohnpei runs on 110V / 60Hz with Type-A outlets, the same shape as Japan — no adapter needed in most cases.
Phone, camera and laptop chargers can be used as they are.
Bottled water is the way to go
Tap water is considered drinkable, but nearly all travelers stick to bottled water, easily bought at hotels, supermarkets and convenience stores.
On boat tours and treks, drink regularly to avoid dehydration.
Daily necessities are available locally
Kolonia has supermarkets, convenience stores and small shops — drinks, snacks, sundries, repellent, shampoo and most travel needs are easy to find.
Japanese products and variety are limited, though, so bring the medicines and cosmetics you normally use.
Two hours ahead of Japan
Pohnpei is two hours ahead of Japan: noon in Japan is 2:00 p.m. in Pohnpei.
With so small a difference there's almost no jet lag — you can enjoy tours from the day you arrive.
Pohnpei has no public transport
There are no trains or route buses. Travel is by taxi, rental car, hotel shuttle or tour transfer.
For first-time visitors we recommend tours with transfers included, or hotel shuttles.
Taxis are the most common way to get around, and hotels or restaurants will call one for you.
Fares can vary with distance and passengers, so confirm the price before you ride.
For roaming the island freely, rent a car — roughly US$55–70 per day including insurance.
Roads are simple to navigate but unevenly surfaced in places. Drive carefully and avoid driving at night where possible.
Pohnpei Ocean Cruise also provides transfers between your hotel and the airport.
On a first visit, booking hotel, tours and transfers together makes for a far smoother trip.
One of the safer islands to travel
Pohnpei is comparatively safe among South Pacific islands, with an unhurried atmosphere. First-time travelers abroad, couples and groups of women are all regular guests of ours.
It is still overseas travel, of course — keep normal precautions with valuables and take care going out at night.
If you fall ill or run into trouble during your trip, contact Pohnpei Ocean Cruise first.
We will guide you to hospitals or the relevant authorities as the situation requires.
Facilities are available if something happens
The island has a state hospital and several clinics offering general care and first aid, plus a decompression chamber for diving incidents.
General medicine, emergency care and inpatient treatment.
A private hospital centered on general outpatient care.
A clinic providing general medical care.
Cases requiring advanced specialist care may be evacuated to Guam or Hawaii.
We recommend arranging travel insurance.
Close to the equator, UV levels are higher than in Japan and sunburn comes quickly. On fishing and boat tours the glare off the water adds to it — bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a rash guard.
Sudden rain is common but usually stops within thirty minutes. A folding umbrella or rain jacket keeps you comfortable.
On so green an island, mosquitoes increase from dusk into evening. Repellent spray and long sleeves keep things pleasant.
Some households let their dogs roam. Most are used to people, but don't approach or touch them — just walk calmly past.
Cards work at hotels and some restaurants, but small shops and the market may be cash-only, and ATMs are sometimes out of service. A little extra in US dollars is reassuring.
ADVICE
The five things guests most often wish they had packed are:
On fishing and boat tours, gear can get wet. If you bring a phone or camera, a waterproof case or dry bag is well worth it.
If anything worries you, ask us before departure — our local staff will advise on packing and clothing to fit your itinerary.
