Sarahama Port | A Lively Bonito Fishing Town and Seafood Hub on Irabu Island (Miyako)

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2026年06月19日

Sarahama Port (Sarahama Fishing Port) is an Okinawa-Prefecture-managed Class 2 fishing port in the east of Irabu Island. Known as a major base of bonito fishing continuing since the Meiji era, it is still the lively centre of a fishing town where pole-and-line boats come and go. A ferry once ran between here and Hirara Port on Miyakojima, but the route was abolished with the opening of the Irabu Ohashi Bridge in 2015. Within the port is Insha (Uminchu) no Eki Sarahama, opened in 2018, where at the Irabu Fisheries Cooperative-run Obanmai Shokudo you can taste seafood bowls and bonito dishes using fish just landed. Direct-sales shops and processing plants line up too, and you can experience the vitality unique to a fishing port. It also serves as a meeting point for snorkelling and diving tours, convenient as a base for sea play. You can enjoy it together with a stroll through the Sarahama village, where houses cluster densely on the slope.

Full article about this spot

Sarahama Port: The Bonito Town of Irabu Island — Fresh Seafood and Fishing Culture (Miyako)

Sarahama Port on Irabu Island near Miyakojima is a bonito fishing town. Fresh seafood bowls, the Insha-no-Eki, colourful hillside streets, the Sarahama Harii and access.

Map & Access

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Basic Information

Location (Island)Irabu Island
AddressAza Ikemazoe 50, Irabu, Miyakojima City, Okinawa
Hours / Opening time24 hours (always open). The adjoining Obanmai Shokudo is roughly from around 10:00 until sold out.
ClosedNone (the port is always open). The diner and direct-sales shop have irregular closing days, and may close on rough-sea days.
FeeFree
ParkingAvailable, free (open-air parking within the fishing port)
ContactIrabu Fisheries Cooperative 0980-78-3120 (Obanmai Shokudo / Insha no Eki Sarahama)

Visiting tips & what to bring

As it is a working fishing port, take care not to obstruct fishing boats, forklifts or fishing work. The quay has few railings and a risk of falling, so families with small children especially should hold hands. There is almost no shade, so a hat or parasol gives peace of mind. There are usable toilets at Insha no Eki and the Sun Marine Terminal. On rough-sea days the boats do not go out and the diner may close, so if your aim is a meal, checking in advance is recommended. Easy-to-walk footwear is safest.

For families with small children

The port is free and always open, and Insha no Eki has toilets, a diner and a direct-sales shop, so it is an easy place to drop by even with children aged 0 to 6. They can see fresh fish and fishing boats up close, which can be an experience for children. However, the quay has few railings and a risk of falling, so always hold hands and do not take your eyes off them. Note the lack of shade too.

FAQ

Q.How do you get to Sarahama Port?

A.Cross the Irabu Ohashi Bridge, take the fork to the right, and you arrive in about 5 minutes. It is about 20 minutes by car from Miyako Airport. Public transport is limited, so a hire car is convenient.

Q.Is there parking?

A.Yes. There is free open-air parking within the fishing port, and users of Insha no Eki and Obanmai Shokudo can park there. There is no charge.

Q.From what time is Obanmai Shokudo open?

A.It is open from roughly 10:00 and closes once sold out. Its fresh seafood bowls are popular, and it may close on rough-sea days, so checking in advance is recommended.

Q.How long does a visit take?

A.About 20 to 30 minutes just for viewing the port and browsing the direct-sales shops. Including a meal and a stroll through the Sarahama village, you can enjoy about 1 to 2 hours.

Q.Is it a meeting point for snorkelling and diving?

A.Yes. Sarahama Port is often used as a meeting and departure point for marine activities. When booking a tour, it is reassuring to confirm whether the meeting point is within the port.