Barasu Island
バラス島24°26′ N 123°49′ ESandbar
Barasu Island is a small islet of broken coral between Iriomote and Hatoma that snorkel tours visit for the dense branching coral around it, and the highest tides can cover its pile of white rubble.
The name comes from the Japanese word for ballast gravel, because the island is nothing but coral rubble, most of it in long sticks broken from the branching Acropora that grows thickly around it. It sits on an oval reef about 1 km by 0.3 km and is small enough to walk round in two or three minutes at its largest, with a crown about 3 m high. Air photos show it existed in 1963, and it grew fast in 1998–99, probably from coral killed in the mass bleaching of 1998.
The waters around it form part of the Hatoma Barasu–Unarizaki marine park area in the national park, and the snorkelling on the south side is the reason the tours come. You can only get here by boat.
Before you swim
- Barasu has no shade, and the highest tides can cover it.
- Taketomi Town designates none of its beaches as official swimming beaches and posts no lifeguards; it asks swimmers to wear a life jacket or wetsuit and never to swim alone or after drinking.
- Habu-kurage box jellyfish occur in Okinawan and Amami waters from May to October; if stung, leave the water and pour plenty of vinegar on the sting before removing tentacles.
December to March
Barasu sits off the north coast, which takes the winter north-east wind; JMA's February mean wind at Iriomote is 4.6 m/s, so tours depend on the day's sea.
Snorkelling · 5/5
Entry From the tour boat
Dense beds of branching Acropora coral grow on the reef around the islet.
Our ratings
- Swimming
- Snorkelling
- Quiet
- Families
- Scenery
Worth knowing
- Wear reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard; Barasu has no shade at all.
FAQ
Quick answers about Barasu Islandよくある質問
How do you get to Barasu Island?
On a boat or snorkel tour from Iriomote. Barasu Island has no ferry, and tours from the north coast stop there to snorkel.
Does Barasu Island disappear at high tide?
Sometimes. Barasu changes shape with the tides and the highest tides can cover it, though it has stood on its reef since at least 1963.
Can you swim at Barasu Island?
Barasu Island has no jellyfish net.
Is Barasu Island worth visiting in winter?
Barasu sits off the north coast, which takes the winter north-east wind; JMA's February mean wind at Iriomote is 4.6 m/s, so tours depend on the day's sea.
Is Barasu Island good for snorkelling?
We rate the snorkelling at Barasu Island 5 out of 5. Dense beds of branching Acropora coral grow on the reef around the islet. Entry: from the tour boat.
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