Ferries to Izena and Iheya from Unten Port

Unten Port (運天港), in Nakijin on northern Okinawa, is the departure point for ferries to two of the least-visited inhabited islands in the prefecture: Izena (伊是名島) and Iheya (伊平屋島).

Almost nothing is written about this route in English, so here is what actually matters when you are planning it.

The one thing that decides your itinerary

There are only a few sailings a day. Izena and Iheya are served by separate ferries, run by the villages themselves, and the schedule — not your preferences — sets the shape of the trip.

Please check current times and fares on the official village ferry information before you travel. Timetables change with the season, and services are suspended in bad weather, which in Okinawa is a real possibility rather than a formality. Build a margin into your plans.

Why the night before matters here

Unten Port is about 90 minutes from Naha Airport by car — and closer to three hours if you are coming by bus. If your ferry leaves in the morning, that means either a very early start from the south of the island, or a night nearby.

Staying by the port solves several problems at once:

• You can walk to the first ferry of the day instead of driving in the dark.
• You arrive on the island rested, rather than having already done a three-hour drive.
• On the way back, you are not committed to a long drive south the moment you step off the boat — which matters if the crossing was rough or delayed.

Yukumiya is a 10-minute walk from the port

Yukumiya is a 60-year-old traditional Okinawan folk house in the village of Kami-Unten, about a 10-minute walk from Unten Port. You rent the whole house, for your group alone.

For a ferry trip specifically, a few things are useful:

• Free parking for two cars — most people leave the rental car rather than taking it on the ferry.
• Full kitchen, so you can eat before an early departure without hunting for somewhere open.
• Washing machine and gas dryer — genuinely useful between two legs of a trip.
• Sleeps up to 6, so a group travelling together can stay together.

Check-in is from 3:00 PM and check-out is 10:00 AM. If your ferry timing does not fit that, ask us — message through your booking site and we will tell you honestly what is possible.

If you have a spare day at this end

Nakijin is worth more than a transit stop. Kouri Island, the Nakijin Castle Ruins and Churaumi Aquarium are all short drives away — see things to do around Nakijin.

For how to reach the village from Naha Airport by car or bus, see getting here.