Irabu

Not to be confused with Okinoerabujima aka Erabu, one of the Amami Islands.

Irabu (伊良部) is an island in the Miyako Islands of Okinawa, Japan.

Understand

With a population of some 5,000, Irabu is the second-largest of the Miyako Islands. Immediately to its west is the island of Shimoji (下地島 Shimojishima), which is linked by numerous bridges and hosts the airport.

Irabu and Shimoji became much more accessible in 2015 when the 3,500-meter Irabu Ohashi (伊良部大橋) bridge was completed in 2015, linking Irabu directly to the main island of Miyako.

Get in

In 2019, 1 Shimojishima Airport (SHI  ^IATA) opened on the island of Shimoji, with services to major Japanese cities on Skymark and Jetstar as well as flights from Seoul, Korea on Jin Air. Alternatively, Miyako Airport on Miyako is only a 25-min drive away.

Get around

See and do

Irabu's main attractions are the beaches and scuba diving.

• M-Air Kiteboarding, 233 Yonaha, Shimoji, ☏ +81 980-７6-2479. A huge kite in the sky and a board (usually) in the water with a crazy-ass fool in the middle. 

Sleep

• Marea Diving Resort (マリンロッジ・マレア), 847-3 Yonaha, Shimoji (1,500 m off Rt. 390 in Shimoji, just NW of Maehama Beach and the Tokyu Resort Hotel), ☏ +81 980-76-3850. A really nice place catering to divers of all levels. 6-hour dive for ¥14,000, 4-day open water diving course ¥61,000. Rooms from ¥5,000. 
• Villabu Resort (ヴィラブリゾート), Irabu Island (Ferry to Irabu), ☏ +81 980-78-6777, front@villabu.jp. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. Incongruous with the surroundings, absolutely gorgeous bungalows with restaurant, private beach, pool. Ooh but the price! ¥35,000 per person, per night.