Ie-jima
伊江島Ii26°43′ N 127°47′ ENago & Motobuflatfarmlandlilies
Ie-jima is a flat 22.77 km² island 30 minutes by ferry from Motobu, where the 172.2 m rock peak of Gusuku-yama rises above fields of Easter lilies in late April.
Photo ブルーノ・プラス · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
From Motobu the island shows as a long green line with a single rock sticking up from it, Gusuku-yama, which islanders call Tacchu. Everything else is fields and farm roads between small villages, which makes it an easy island to cycle. Around 3,700 people live here, and the village flower is the Easter lily that fills Lily Field Park each spring.
The island suffered terribly in April 1945. US forces landed on 16 April and declared it secured on 21 April, and about 1,500 islanders died, roughly half the population at the time. The American war correspondent Ernie Pyle was killed here on 18 April, and a monument by the 77th Infantry Division marks the spot. The anti-war museum Nuchidu Takara no Ie keeps the islanders' own record of the war and of the long struggle over land taken for the base.
The US base once covered about half the island, and after five partial returns the Ie Shima Auxiliary Airfield still takes about 35% of it, which is why the roads bend around the north-west.
Getting there
The Ie village ferry crosses from Motobu port to Ie port in 30 minutes, four times a day each way on a regular day (8:00, 10:00, 13:00 and 16:00 from Ie; 9:00, 11:00, 15:00 and 17:00 from Motobu). Adults pay ¥730 one way or ¥1,390 return from Motobu, and a bicycle costs ¥600 one way on top.
Getting around
TM Planning in Kawahira rents bicycles from a fleet of 240 for ¥400 an hour or ¥1,000 a day, plus scooters and cars. The island is flat apart from Gusuku-yama.
Riding on Ie-jima
Ie-jima is a flat island of fields and quiet farm roads around one rock peak, and you can loop it on a rented bike in a few hours with stops. The US airfield covers about 35% of the island in the north-west, so the roads route around it.
TM Planning (Kawahira): bicycles ¥400 an hour, ¥1,000 a day; scooters and cars too.
December to March
The south coast with Ie port and Ie Beach sits sheltered from the north wind. The north coast past Lily Field Park and Wajii takes it head-on. The ferry runs its regular four sailings; rough seas can cancel them.
Worth knowing
- Book the car ferry only if you need a car; bikes go on for ¥600, and TM Planning rents them in Kawahira.
- On lily festival days in early May the boats fill; the village asks day visitors to come early and leave on afternoon sailings.
- The village posts a live webcam of Gusuku-yama and both ports on its homepage.
1 route
Ride Ie-jima走る
Where to base
Towns and villages on Ie-jima町
FAQ
Quick answers about Ie-jimaよくある質問
How long is the ferry to Ie-jima?
The ferry from Motobu port to Ie-jima takes 30 minutes. It runs four times a day each way on a regular day and costs adults ¥730 one way.
Can you take a bike on the Ie-jima ferry?
Yes. The Ie village ferry carries bicycles for ¥600 one way or ¥1,200 return, on top of the passenger fare.
Can you rent a bicycle on Ie-jima?
Yes. TM Planning in Kawahira rents bicycles for ¥400 an hour or ¥1,000 a day.
Where did Ernie Pyle die?
Ernie Pyle died on Ie-jima on 18 April 1945, killed by Japanese machine-gun fire, and the 77th Infantry Division put up a monument at the spot.
How big is Ie-jima?
Ie-jima covers 22.77 km² and is home to about 3,763 people.
Can you cycle on Ie-jima?
Ie-jima is a flat island of fields and quiet farm roads around one rock peak, and you can loop it on a rented bike in a few hours with stops. The US airfield covers about 35% of the island in the north-west, so the roads route around it.
What is Ie-jima like in winter?
The south coast with Ie port and Ie Beach sits sheltered from the north wind. The north coast past Lily Field Park and Wajii takes it head-on. The ferry runs its regular four sailings; rough seas can cancel them.
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