Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
there's Irabu Village (
伊良部
), which is only slightly smaller. It is on the southwest coast of the
island. Apart from these two villages, there is almost no part of Irabu that is not cultivated.
Irabu has a couple of beaches. The best is Toguchi Beach (
渡口の浜
; Toguchi-nohama),
famous for its perfect sand. You'll hear it said that the sand on this beach is so fine and white
that it is like walking on flour, and this is true. It's located at the southwest corner of the is-
land, right where Irabu bumps up against Shimoji Island. There's a parking lot, showers and
toilet facilities. There's also a beach shop with a café that serves cold Orion beer (
オリオンビ
ール
; Orion bīru) and the best bowl of Okinawa
soba
(
沖縄そば
) that you'll find anywhere.
On the northwest shore of the island, also where Irabu meets Shimoji, you'll find Sawada
Beach (
佐和田の浜
; Sawada-nohama). Its extra long slope and rocky bottom preclude it from
being a very good swimming or diving beach. It's really better known for its scenery and its
sunsets. It is covered by a collection of great rocks deposited by a tsunami several hundred
years ago. At low tide you can walk through this rock field if you wish. There are also showers
and toilets.
Irabu's big “sight,” which is visible all the way from the west coast of Miyako, is the
Makiyama Observatory (
牧山展望台
; Makiyama tenbō-dai). It's perched near the southeast-
ern end of the island just across the sea strait from Hirara, on the highest cliffs of Irabu. It's
a concrete lookout partially constructed in the shape of a giant bird of prey. It's a pretty drive
up to the top and, of course, there's a great view from there.
Cape Shiratori, the northernmost tip of Irabujima, is the site of three observatories.
