Okinoerabujima

Yakomo Beach

Okinoerabujima (沖永良部島), often written Okinoerabu or Okierabu and in speech just Erabu, is a remote island in the Amami Islands chain in Kagoshima, Japan.

Understand

Heavily agricultural, with a population of some 14,000, Erabu is densely populated by Amami standards and not a common tourist destination. Known as Yirabu in the local dialect, the island is likely named after the black-banded sea krait, a common local sea snake. Oki no means "in the open sea", since it's a solid 60 km north of the Okinawan mainland, and this helps distinguish it from Irabu in the Miyako Islands.

The island is adminstratively divided into two towns, Wadomari (和泊) to the east and China (知名, pron. "chee-na") to the west. Both the port and the airport are in Wadomari.

Tourist information site

The local tourist association has an English guide site.

Talk

There is almost no spoken or written English. Be friendly, respectful of locals, and willing to get by without English. The local Ryukyuan language dialect, Shimamuni (島ムニ), is still spoken by about a quarter of the population.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Okinoerabu Airport (沖永良部空港 Okinoerabu-kūkō). (OKE  ^IATA). JAC turboprop flights to Amami Ōshima, Kagoshima, Naha and Tokunoshima. (updated Dec 2024)

By ferry

• 2 Wadomari Port (和泊港). Round trip ferries depart from Kagoshima City's south port daily, stopping at the Amami Islands, including Wadomari Port on Okinoerabu, and continuing to Naha, Okinawa. These are serviced by Marix and A-Line ferry companies. Fare is about ¥12,570 to Wadomari from Kagoshima City. (updated Dec 2024)

See

Okinoerabu is home to some of Japan's largest limestone caves.

• 1 Shōryūdō (昇竜洞). Wed-Mon 9:00-17:00. The only limestone cave accessible by a 600 meter long self-guided walking tour, without special equipment. ¥1,100. (updated Dec 2024)

Do

Diving, glass-bottom boat rides, riding a jet ski or kayak, and wind sailing are all options.

Drink

Inenotsuyu distills the local speciality, a fiery brown sugar shochu (黒糖焼酎).

Stay safe

Unlike most islands in the region, the habu viper is absent from Erabu.