Iheya Island

448 Maedomari Iheya-son, Shimajiri-gun, Okinawa-ken 905-0702 This is a traditional, Okinawan bungalow, with floor to ceiling glass doors and windows on every side of it, a tatami room with beautiful sliding doors, a fierce  Shisa (シーサー) on the roof, and a Himpun  in front, there to protect guests from both prying eyes and evil spirits. Following Japanese protocol, outdoor shoes remain outside and slippers are worn inside. There is a lovely garden with a papaya tree which has amazing fruit in the late spring, as well as a bike (with gears!) with which to explore the island. Guests can choose to sleep as the Japanese do, on futons in the tatami room, or on beds in the living area. Directions from the port to the house: Less than a kilometre away from the port, the house is very easy to find, and instantly recognisable by the papaya tree in the front yard, and by its distinctive stone wall, which separates it from the houses on either side of it. From the...

View of Iheya Port from the ferry Getting to Iheya Island is part of the adventure in itself. Unlike the Kerama islands, which are south of Naha, and accessible from Naha's port, Iheya is accessible only from Unten port, at the northern end of Okinawa.  Flights to Naha from several of Honshu's larger cities (Tokyo, Osaka, etc) can be found with airlines such as Peach  and Jetstar for relatively low prices (‎~¥‎12,000 round trip, Tokyo-Naha). Once in Naha, there is only one bus line which will take you to Unten Port. Unten Port is destination 29 at the very bottom of the table on the lefthand side. The first two stops (1 and 2) are the domestic and international airport stops respectively, while Tomari Port (Naha) is the 4th entry. Departure times from the domestic terminal at Naha airport  are 6:40 , 10:30 and 12:00 , arriving at Unten for 9:29 , 13:19 and 14:46 . There is no need to reserve bus seats or tickets beforehand. Once on the bus, si...

Iheya's beaches are spectacular in their diversity.  The entire island is surrounded by an impressive reef which does make proper swimming difficult at low tide, however, the sheer beauty of the island's beaches make up for this small slight. From pebble strewn stretches, studded with imposing rocks, to swathes of finely sifted, white sand bordered with impossibly clear, azure waters, each and every beach has its own character and atmosphere.  The western side of the island is easily accessible and only a short 15 minute journey by bike on a road which cuts through rippling rice fields fringed with the island's trademark mountains.  For those who feel like a slightly lazier day, there is a beautiful beach as soon as you reach the west side of the island.  As you reach the west coast, turn right.  Almost immediately on your left, is the dragonfly clouded entrance to the beach. This beach has soft white sand and, ...

When it comes to food,  Iheya's shining star   is definitely its incredibly fresh seafood and sashimi. While more common types of sashimi, such as Salmon, might not always be accessible, Iheya's izakayas and shops make excellent use of the fish native to Okinawa according to the season. These include (but are not limited to); Kampachi (Greater Amberjack), Parrot Fish, several varieties of shellfish, Ika (cuttlefish) and many more. Izakayas There are two very  well priced izakayas in the area, both of which serve incredibly tasty food. The first is less than a minute's walk from the port and is called 海魚. It's a little difficult to be able to predict when this izakaya will be shut, as it doesn't have a set day off. It has spectacular lunch set meals for ~¥‎650 which change daily. Like most of the island, the staff here don't speak English, and there are no English menus, however the staff are extremely friendly and the regular menus are fairly easy ...