Irabu Island lies northwest of Miyako Island in Okinawa’s Miyako Islands. Since the opening of the Irabu Bridge in 2015, the island has been directly accessible from Miyako Island by car, making it much easier for travelers to explore its beaches, coastal scenery, and marine attractions.
The island is especially famous for its beautiful tropical waters and is regarded as a world-class destination for marine activities. Diving, snorkeling, swimming, and other ways of enjoying the ocean are among the highlights of a visit.
The Irabu Bridge stretches approximately 3,540 meters between Miyako Island and Irabu Island. When it opened in 2015, it became Japan’s longest bridge that could be crossed free of charge.
The bridge has a distinctive gently arched shape, rising toward the center before descending toward the opposite shore. Driving across it provides spectacular views of the brilliant blue waters surrounding the Miyako Islands and is an attraction in itself.
For visitors arriving on Miyako Island, the bridge has transformed Irabu Island into an easily accessible destination for a scenic day trip or a longer island stay.
Irabu Island is home to numerous scenic locations, including Tokuchi-no-Hama Beach and Sawada-no-Hama Beach. Their white sand and clear tropical waters showcase the natural beauty for which the Miyako Islands are famous.
The coastline features a variety of landscapes, from long sandy beaches to rocky shores and calm turquoise waters. Exploring the island by car makes it possible to discover secluded viewpoints and beaches at your own pace.
Irabu Island is connected to neighboring Shimoji Island by several bridges. As a result, the two islands can easily be explored together, giving visitors the impression of traveling around a single large island.
Shimoji Island has its own distinctive attraction: an airport used for pilot training by commercial aviation companies. It is one of the few places in Japan where visitors can watch aircraft repeatedly perform “touch-and-go” training, landing briefly before taking off again.
The waters surrounding Irabu and Shimoji islands are renowned internationally for their exceptional beauty. The combination of clear water, coral reefs, underwater rock formations, and abundant marine life makes the area particularly popular with divers and other marine-sports enthusiasts.
Depending on conditions and the season, visitors can enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, and other activities that bring them close to the natural beauty of the surrounding sea.
Tokuchi-no-Hama is one of Irabu Island’s most beautiful beaches. Its broad arc of white sand curves along clear blue water, creating a striking tropical landscape.
The beach is an ideal place to slow down and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the island, while the surrounding waters provide excellent opportunities for experiencing the marine environment.
Sawada-no-Hama offers a different coastal landscape, with a mixture of sandy areas and distinctive rocky formations shaped by the sea. The open views and clear waters make it another attractive stop while exploring Irabu Island.
The beach is particularly appealing to travelers who want to experience the quieter side of the Miyako Islands away from the more heavily visited beaches.
One of the best ways to experience Irabu Island is by taking a leisurely drive. The combination of the Irabu Bridge, tropical coastline, beaches, and viewpoints creates a scenic route that can easily be combined with a visit to Shimoji Island.
Because the islands are relatively compact and connected by bridges, travelers can explore several different landscapes in a single day while enjoying the freedom of traveling at their own pace.
Irabu Island’s greatest attraction is its close relationship with the sea. From the moment you cross the Irabu Bridge, the surrounding ocean becomes an essential part of the journey.
For travelers seeking an active Okinawan island experience, the combination of spectacular beaches, crystal-clear water, world-class diving, scenic drives, and the unique atmosphere of a remote island makes Irabu an unforgettable destination.
Irabu Island offers an ideal balance of accessibility and untouched island scenery. The opening of the Irabu Bridge made it possible to reach the island directly from Miyako Island, while its beautiful beaches and exceptional marine environment have preserved its appeal as a destination for nature lovers.
Whether you cross the bridge simply to enjoy the view, explore the beaches of Irabu and Shimoji, watch aircraft training at Shimojishima Airport, or venture underwater to discover the coral reefs, Irabu Island is a place where travelers can experience the extraordinary beauty of Okinawa’s tropical seas.
From Miyako Airport
There is no direct bus service from Miyako Airport to Irabu Island.
If you take a local bus from the airport,
Take the Niisato-Miyakuni Line of Miyako Kyoei Bus to Hirara Port and transfer to the Miyako Kyoei Bus.
Miyako Kyoei Bus to Hirara Port and then change buses.
From Hirara Port
A new bus stop has been set up in the plaza behind the Matida Civic Theater at Hirara Port.
Three bus companies (Miyako Kyoei Bus, Yachiyo Bus, and Kyowa Bus) will be boarding at this new bus stop.
Kyowa Bus operates buses to Irabu Island from this bus stop.
The first floor of the Hirara Port Terminal, which used to be a waiting area for the ferry to Irabu, is now used as a bus waiting area.
The first floor of the Hirara Port Terminal, which used to be the waiting area for the ferry to Irabu, is now being used as the bus waiting area.
A cab stand is also attached to the bus stop.