Irabu
伊良部Irau24°50′ N 125°10′ ETownIrabu
Irabu is the farming side of Irabu island, from Nagahama and Kuninaka to Sawada, and it makes a quiet base for 17END and the Shimoji dive sites.
Photo Rsa · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
The former town of Irabu covered the island and Shimoji until it merged into Miyakojima City on 1 October 2005, when it had 6,236 people. Its western half is cane fields and small villages: Irabu, Nakachi, Kuninaka, Nagahama and Sawada. Six short bridges cross the channel to Shimoji, so 17END and Toriike are a few minutes away.
Kuninaka Shoten opens for breakfast at eight. For lunch, choose between the soki soup at Irikunyaa Soki Tei, which stops at 30 bowls, and the bonito-heavy soba at Irabu Soba Kame; Ryugu in the Irabu settlement handles the special-occasion dinner. In winter the dive boats work the sheltered Shimoji coast, which makes this side of the island a good divers' base from September to April.
Restaurants and cafés
Eat in Irabu食べる
See and do
Things to do in Irabu遊ぶ
FAQ
Quick answers about Irabuよくある質問
Is Irabu a good base for diving?
Yes. In winter the Shimoji and Irabu west-coast cave sites are Miyako's main diving area, and they are minutes from Irabu by boat.
When did Irabu join Miyakojima City?
Irabu town merged into Miyakojima City on 1 October 2005, together with Hirara, Gusukube, Shimoji and Ueno.
How do you get to Irabu?
Over the Irabu Ohashi from Miyako-jima, or fly into Shimojishima Airport next door.
Within 12 km
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Within 12 km
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