Sonai
祖納24°28′ N 123°00′ EVillageYonaguni-jima
Sonai is Yonaguni's main village, on the north coast about ten minutes by car east of the airport, where the town office, the post office and most of the island's evening restaurants sit below the cliff of Tindabana.
Sonai fills the low ground between Nanta beach and the cliff of Tindabana. The town office, the Yonaguni post office, the schools and Japan's westernmost shrine are here, and Wikipedia notes that the town hopes to run a fast boat from Sonai port to Hualien in Taiwan, its sister city.
Tindabana rises 85 m behind the houses, and the spring at its foot supplies the first water drawn in the island's Aramidi rite each eighth lunar month. Dinner in Sonai means booking: Duguiwari only takes same-day requests, and Beer Garden Border serves marlin landed at Kubura. The island's only bakery is a few streets away at Paness.
Sakimoto Shuzo, which still distils in an old-style direct-fired pot still with a small team, works on the southern edge of the village.
Restaurants and cafés
Eat in Sonai食べる
Bars, awamori and coffee
Drink in Sonai飲む
See and do
Things to do in Sonai遊ぶ
FAQ
Quick answers about Sonaiよくある質問
Is Sonai the main town on Yonaguni?
Yes. Sonai on the north coast holds Yonaguni's town office and schools, and most of the island's evening restaurants.
Do you need to book restaurants in Sonai?
Usually. The tourism association advises booking Izakaya Onna Shucho at weekends, and Duguiwari currently takes same-day requests only.
Is Sonai a good place to stay?
Stay in Sonai to walk to dinner and to the distilleries, with the airport ten minutes away.
How do you get to Sonai?
The town bus loops Sonai, the airport, Kubura and Higawa.
Within 12 km
Stay nearby宿
Within 12 km
Beaches and swims nearby浜
Book it
Line up the trip around Sonai
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