Iheya-Jima: Island Paths, Marine Life and Traditions

Iheya-Jima and Noho form an island group connected by a bridge and surrounded by coral reefs. Narrow plains with fields and five settlements lie between the mountains. Here, mountain scenery, paths, dive sites and local traditions give your trip a variety of focuses.

Paths, Views and Island Scale

Iheya Island's landscape is defined by mountains around 200 meters high; the island is considered a trekking destination. A forest park and walking paths have been created and are also suitable for beginners. Check local conditions before setting out.

A walking path about 1.2 kilometers long leads from near the Koshi-dake viewpoint to Katakuma Shrine in Gakiya. From Koshino Hiramatsu near the summit of Koshi-dake, you can see Maedomari Port. The longer route to Tana takes about 30 minutes at a leisurely pace; a shorter route branches off from it to Katakuma Shrine in Gakiya and takes about 15 minutes.

The Moonlight Marathon route also passes through Iheya and Noho, circling almost all the way around both islands. Their combined circumference is about 40 kilometers.

Coast and Water Activities

Kumaya Beach, below Kumaya Cave, is a camping area and fishing spot. The cave is considered the southernmost location of the Ama-no-Iwato legend and was designated a natural monument of Okinawa Prefecture in 1958.

At the Majinbu dive site, you can observe dense schools of Golden Sweepers and threadfin cardinalfish, a resting whitetip reef shark, and garden eels over a sandy bottom. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. At the Yahe-iwa dive site, divers can swim around the rugged rock, with its crevices and holes, and wait for larger fish to pass by.

A Sabani snorkeling and skin-diving tour takes you under sail to snorkeling spots. With a guide, participants observe marine life and coral in shallow water at close range. Dates and booking conditions may change; check them before making plans.

Festivals, Rituals and Island Culture

Unjami in Tana is a sea-god festival regarded as particularly well known and of scholarly interest. Shimajiri and Gakiya have two Kami Ashiage, sites for rituals in which deities are summoned down and sacred dances are performed. According to tradition, the deities descend on festival days and bless worshippers. At the Hōnen Festival, performances including stick fighting are held in front of the Kami Ashiage in Shimajiri.

The Jugoya Festival on Iheya is considered a traditional major event enjoyed by young and old alike. It includes stick-fighting performances by young people, performing arts and village theater. Gakiya's grand tug-of-war competition also has a long tradition, estimated to date back about 300 years; on the day of the event, residents make the rope together.

Terukuguchi and Iruchayō, passed down on Noho, are considered valuable cultural heritage preserved only on Iheya and Izena. The Yagura Tomb on the Yagura coast is a stone burial site in a cave, about one kilometer south of the Gakiya settlement. It is associated with Yagura Ufushī, an ancestor of the First Shō Dynasty, and retains an ancient atmosphere.

Crafts and local flavors offer other ways to connect with the island: In a workshop, participants make a traditional Kuba hat from local kuba leaves and bamboo, guided by island residents. In an experience focused on rice cultivation and awamori production, rice that participants have planted or harvested is processed into awamori at the island's only distillery. Participants learn about the production process and taste special varieties. Seasonal dates and participation conditions may change.

Getting There and Choosing Accommodation

Ferries to Iheya depart twice daily from Unten Port in Nakijin Village, alongside the service to neighboring Izena Island; the crossing to Iheya takes about 80 minutes. Check the timetable before your trip.

If you're looking for a vacation rental, first choose one based on the focus of your trip: paths and mountain scenery, diving and snorkeling experiences, or village traditions.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Okinawa, Tokashiki, Nakagami District, Naha, Urasoe, Shimajiri, Taketomi, Yonaguni.

Back to the main travel overview: Okinawa Prefecture.