Hoshizuna Beach
星砂の浜24°26′ N 123°47′ ESnorkel
Hoshizuna Beach on Iriomote's north-west coast is the island's easiest snorkel from the shore; it takes its name from the star-shaped grains in its sand and lies 6 minutes by bus from Uehara port, with no lifeguards.
Photo 663highland · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5 and others, credited in the gallery
Hoshizuna means star sand, and the beach is named for the tiny star-shaped shells mixed into it; the tourism association invites you to look for them. Big rocks sit in the shallows, and small fish live in their cracks and shadows, so a mask and fins show you plenty within a few strokes of the sand. The operator Iriomote Kotsu calls the waves small and the water warm, and recommends it for swimming and snorkelling.
Like every beach on Iriomote, Hoshizuna has no lifeguards and no official swimming designation, because Taketomi Town designates none. Swim with a partner, wear a life jacket or wetsuit, and check the conditions with your inn. The rest house above the sand serves lunch until 19:00.
Before you swim
- 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
The beach faces north on the coast that takes the winter north-east wind; JMA's February normals for Iriomote give a mean of 19.0 °C and a mean wind of 4.6 m/s from the north-east. Bring a wetsuit for a winter snorkel, and check that the rest house is open, as it may take a winter break.
Snorkelling · 4/5
Entry Walk in from the sand
Small reef fish shelter among the large rocks just off the beach.
Our ratings
- Swimming
- Snorkelling
- Sunset
- Quiet
- Families
- Scenery
Worth knowing
- Take the star sand home only as a photo; the island's rules ask visitors to leave nature where it is.
- Keep your fins off the coral, as the island's rules ask.
FAQ
Quick answers about Hoshizuna Beachよくある質問
Can you snorkel at Hoshizuna Beach?
Yes. Hoshizuna Beach on Iriomote has large rocks in the shallows with small reef fish around them, entered straight from the sand. There are no lifeguards, so snorkel with a partner.
Are there lifeguards on Iriomote beaches?
No. Taketomi Town designates none of its beaches, Iriomote's included, as official swimming beaches and posts no lifeguards.
How do you get to Hoshizuna Beach?
By car, bike or the Iriomote Kotsu bus along Route 215 west of Uehara. The bus takes about 6 minutes from Uehara port to the Hoshizuna-no-hama stop.
Can you swim at Hoshizuna Beach?
Hoshizuna Beach has no jellyfish net.
Is Hoshizuna Beach worth visiting in winter?
The beach faces north on the coast that takes the winter north-east wind; JMA's February normals for Iriomote give a mean of 19.0 °C and a mean wind of 4.6 m/s from the north-east. Bring a wetsuit for a winter snorkel, and check that the rest house is open, as it may take a winter break.
Is Hoshizuna Beach good for snorkelling?
We rate the snorkelling at Hoshizuna Beach 4 out of 5. Small reef fish shelter among the large rocks just off the beach. Entry: walk in from the sand.
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