On the morning of last year's race, the owner of my guesthouse asked what time I planned to leave. I honestly said "around seven," and she laughed at me. "Too soft, leave by six thirty," she said, even though the venue was less than a ten minute drive away. The reason is simple: on race day, part of the island's main roads go under traffic control, and on an island this small, that kind of restriction spreads further than you would expect.
This is a practical guide for anyone traveling to Irabu Island from outside the area to run, or to cheer someone on, in the 17END Half Marathon (the 5th edition, held on November 8, 2026). For an overview of the race itself and the course, see the 2026 17END Half Marathon race guide. Here, I have gathered only the details that matter to people actually traveling in for the event: when to book lodging, whether to fly into Shimojishima or Miyako Airport, and how to actually move on the day before and the morning of the race.
Let me give away the conclusion up front: for this race trip, the hardest part is not the run itself but securing a place to stay. This is an island with a population of only a few thousand, and once a year around 2,000 runners and supporters descend on it at once. Even someone as bad at math as me can work out what that does to supply and demand.
- Book your lodging the moment you register, and no later than the end of August
- If your schedule allows flying into Shimojishima Airport, take advantage of being only about a 10-minute drive from the venue
- Details on pre-race check-in are still pending on the official race website (shown as "under preparation" as of July 2026)
- Which area you stay in makes a real difference to how smoothly your race morning goes
- Lodging Around Race Weekend and When to Book: "I'll Compare Later" Doesn't Work
- Choosing Lodging by Area: Sarahama, Irabu, and Shimoji Island
- Flights and Access: Shimojishima Airport or Miyako Airport
- Pre-Race Check-In and Race Morning: Pitfalls That Come With a Small Island
- Where to Go Before and After the Race: Making the Most of Your Non-Running Days
- Frequently Asked Questions
- In Closing: Book in This Order — Lodging, Then Flights, Then a Rental Car
Lodging Around Race Weekend and When to Book: "I'll Compare Later" Doesn't Work
Irabu Island has almost no large resort hotels. Lodging here centers on minshuku guesthouses, villas, and small guesthouses. As I wrote in the article on accommodation on Irabu Island, the island simply does not have that many rooms to begin with. Add in roughly 2,000 race officials, runners, and supporters all arriving at once, and rooms for the night before the race become very much first come, first served.
A guesthouse that would normally still have vacancies a week out fills up completely during race week. What makes it trickier is that the more affordable minshuku tend to book out before the pricier villas. While you are telling yourself you'll compare options later, the rooms in the roughly 8,000 to 12,000 yen per night range are the first to disappear. I learned this the hard way last year: when I called my first-choice guesthouse two weeks before the race, I was simply told, "we're already full for race week."
So the takeaway here is simple: book your lodging the same day you complete your race entry. Ideally, put a provisional hold on a room as soon as entries open on July 1. If you wait until the entry deadline on August 31, assume your lodging options will already be quite limited.
Here are the points worth keeping in mind when choosing where to stay.
- Check the cancellation policy first: in case your entry does not go through due to capacity limits, prioritize places with a free cancellation window
- Whether breakfast is included: since the race starts around 8am, a place that serves breakfast early makes race morning much easier
- Parking availability and capacity: since this island runs on rental cars, whether your lodging has secured parking matters more than it sounds
- Many minshuku are room-only: dinner is often not included, so it helps to check the opening hours of eateries in Sarahama or Toguchi ahead of time
Choosing Lodging by Area: Sarahama, Irabu, and Shimoji Island
Irabu Island is not especially large, but which area your lodging sits in still makes a real difference to how easily race morning goes. Let's look at three areas relative to the venue, Irabu Heisei no Mori Park.
Sarahama Area: A Fishing Town Where Food Is One Less Worry
Sarahama is where most of Irabu Island's restaurants and shops are concentrated. As I mentioned in the article on Sarahama Port, this skipjack tuna fishing town has more dining options than other parts of the island. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to drive to the venue from here, but the upside is you will have no trouble finding food or supplies the day before. This is also the easiest area from which to plan a post-race stop for a plate of skipjack sashimi.
Central Irabu Island (Kuninaka and Surroundings): The Shortest Ride to the Venue
Central Irabu Island, near Heisei no Mori Park, offers the biggest advantage of a short trip to the venue, giving you a comfortable margin even if you get a slow start on race morning. On the other hand, there are fewer restaurants here than in Sarahama, so it is worth researching where to eat the night before.
Shimoji Island Area: Simple Logistics Near the Airport
Booking a room near Shimojishima Airport lets you drop off your bags almost as soon as you land. As mentioned in the article on Shimojishima Airport, it is only about a 10-minute drive from the airport to the venue. That said, Shimoji Island has very few rooms overall, so booking early matters even more here.
Here is a quick-reference table for choosing an area.
| Area | Approx. Time to Venue | Number of Restaurants | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarahama | About 15-20 min by car | Plentiful (eateries and shops) | Travelers who want to enjoy meals before and after the race |
| Central Irabu Island | About 5-10 min by car | Moderate | Those who want the shortest possible commute on race day |
| Shimoji Island (near the airport) | About 10 min by car | Limited | Those who want a simple connection from their flight |
| Miyako Island proper | About 40 min by car (via Irabu Bridge) | Abundant | A backup plan if every room on Irabu Island is booked |
If every room on the island is booked, staying on Miyako Island proper and driving in on race day is another option. From Miyako Airport, it takes about 40 minutes by car via Irabu Bridge. It is a realistic fallback, but personally I would still recommend staying on the island itself. As I will touch on in the next section, the few minutes of sunrise over the sea on the drive from your lodging to the venue are, I think, this race's hidden reward.
Flights and Access: Shimojishima Airport or Miyako Airport
The race carries Skymark Airlines as its title sponsor. The airline flies direct routes from Haneda, Kobe, and other cities to Shimojishima Airport, which makes getting from the mainland to the venue simpler than it might look. Flight periods and schedules do change with the season, though, so always check the airline's official site for the latest timetable.
Which airport to use really just comes down to which one has a flight that works for you. Here is a quick comparison.
| Category | Shimojishima Airport | Miyako Airport |
|---|---|---|
| Time to Venue | About 10 min by car | About 40 min by car (via Irabu Bridge) |
| Routes | Skymark (Haneda, Kobe, and others, seasonal) | Multiple routes including ANA and JAL group carriers |
| Flight Frequency | Fewer flights (some seasonal only) | More frequent |
| Best For | Anyone who can book a direct flight | Travelers whose schedule does not fit, or who want more options |
Whichever airport you use, a rental car is more or less essential for getting around the island. Bus routes exist, but they run infrequently and are not well suited to the rushed logistics around race weekend. Rental car availability is limited too, so it is safest to book one at the same time as your flight and lodging. The complete guide to getting to Irabu and Shimoji Islands covers flights, driving, and buses in detail, so it is worth a read as well.
As a side note, I strongly recommend carrying your gear on board rather than checking it. Even if your checked luggage is delayed, you can still race as long as you have your shoes and running clothes with you. Stories of runners giving up on the race because their checked bag never showed up are a common one around this event, so this is one thing worth being strict about.
Pre-Race Check-In and Race Morning: Pitfalls That Come With a Small Island
As of when this article was written, the official race website still showed the page for pre-race check-in details, including the exact time, venue, and what to bring for bib pickup, as "under preparation." Be sure to check the official site for the latest information as the race date approaches. What follows here is only what the island's own geography tells us to watch out for.
- There are not many roads: Irabu and Shimoji Islands have a limited number of main roads, so once traffic control kicks in, detours tend to take a while
- There are hardly any traffic lights, but traffic tends to funnel onto the same roads: stretches that are normally quiet can suddenly get congested on race day
- Parking guidance can change from year to year: do not rely on last year's information, and check the current year's latest announcement
That advice from the guesthouse owner at the start of this article, "leave by six thirty," was, I think, the kind of instinct only a local who understands the island's quirks would have. Honestly, erring on the side of too much time to spare is exactly the right call.
Where to Go Before and After the Race: Making the Most of Your Non-Running Days
Since you have made the trip out here, I hope you enjoy your time beyond just the race. Here are a few places worth visiting before or after the race, including some off the course itself.
17END, the landmark that gives the race its name, is the stunning sandbar spot at the north end of Shimojishima Airport's runway. As I wrote in the article on what 17END is really like, the sand disappears underwater whenever the timing does not line up with low tide. If you plan to visit, checking the low tide time the day before or on your post-race day is essential before you go. On the opposite side of the runway, at the south end, 35END (Coral End) is a lesser-known spot many people visit as well, where planes feel even closer overhead.
- 17END: A sandbar that only appears at low tide. Part of the race route, but also worth scouting the day before or revisiting after the race
- 35END: On the opposite side from 17END. A hidden spot where planes appear even closer
- Toriike Pond: A national natural monument. Since it sits along the course, scouting it the day before is efficient
- Sawada-no-Hama: The evening mirror-like water is stunning. Watching the sunset here on tired legs after the race is something special
- Shiratori Point: The turnaround point on Course A. You only pass through it on race day, so it is worth a slower, dedicated visit afterward
If you have the energy left, stretching your legs a little further the day after the race is worth it. One friend who finished the race told me something that stuck with me: "my muscles are too sore to walk properly, but somehow I can still walk to the beach." I think the sea probably looks a little different through the eyes of a body that just ran a half marathon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I still find lodging for the race at the last minute?
A. Assume that will be very difficult. Around 2,000 people converge on a small-population island on race day, so last-minute vacancies are essentially not to be expected. Booking lodging the moment you register is the safe approach.
Q. What should I do if I cannot book a flight into Shimojishima Airport?
A. You can reach the venue in about 40 minutes by car from Miyako Airport via Irabu Bridge. Miyako Airport also has more flights overall, so there is no need to insist on Shimojishima Airport if the schedule does not line up.
Q. Should I still book lodging early if I am only coming to cheer?
A. Yes. The crowding on race weekend includes supporters as well as runners, so the same booking timeline applies even if you are not racing yourself.
Q. Can I make this trip without a rental car?
A. Honestly, I would not recommend it. Bus routes exist, but they run infrequently and are not well suited to the rushed logistics around race weekend. Booking a car early alongside your lodging and flight is the safer choice.
Q. Where can I check the exact time for pre-race check-in?
A. As of when this article was written, the official race website's check-in guidance page was still under preparation. As the race approaches, be sure to check the latest information on the official race course page or the Sports Entry race page. For a last-minute weather check, the Japan Meteorological Agency forecast for the Miyako Island region is handy.
In Closing: Book in This Order — Lodging, Then Flights, Then a Rental Car
One more time, here are the key points for planning this trip.
- Book lodging the moment you register, and no later than the end of August (minshuku fill up first)
- Travel time and dining options differ across Sarahama, central Irabu Island, and Shimoji Island
- Shimojishima Airport puts you about 10 minutes from the venue; Miyako Airport plus Irabu Bridge takes about 40 minutes if that doesn't work out
- A rental car is essential for getting around the island; book it alongside your lodging and flight
- Check the official race website for pre-race check-in details as the event approaches
To close the loop on the guesthouse owner who laughed at me: leaving at six thirty that morning, I arrived at the venue just as the still-dim sky was beginning to brighten. Runners' faces caught somewhere between nerves and sleepiness, islanders setting up their food stalls, all sharing the same morning air. Even if you are not running, that atmosphere alone is worth experiencing. Once your lodging, flight, and rental car are locked in early, all that is left is to enjoy Irabu Island in November.
