island in Okinawa, Japan
(Redirected from Shimoji)
Irabu (伊良部) is an island in the Miyako Islands of Okinawa, Japan.
Understand
editWith 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
editGet around
editSee and do
editIrabu'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.
Buy
editEat
editDrink
editSleep
edit- 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.