Let's enjoy camping in Iriomote Island! Introducing facilities where you can enjoy camping!
Table of Contents
- 1 What is Iriomotejima Island Camp?
- 2 Features and Reasons for Recommending Iriomotejima Camping
- 3 Thorough comparison of 4 campgrounds in Iriomote Island!
- 3.1 What is Star Sand Campground?
- 3.2 Star Sand Campground Facilities
- 3.3 Sights around Star Sand Campground
- 3.4 What is Hoshizuna-tei Campsite?
- 3.5 Hoshizunatei Campground Facilities
- 3.6 Sights around Hoshizunatei Campground
- 3.7 What is Mitreya Campground?
- 3.8 Mitreya Campground Facilities
- 3.9 Tourist attractions near Mitreya Campground
- 3.10 What is Minamikaze Mita (Haemida) Campground?
- 3.11 Facilities at the Haemida Campground
- 3.12 Tourist attractions at the Haemida Campground
- 4 Recommendations for each campsite
- 5 summary
What is Iriomotejima Island Camp?
You would love to experience camping at a campground on an island like Iriomote Island, where nature abounds. Recently, camping has become popular due to celebrities, anime, and TV dramas.
Then, how is the camping situation in Iriomote Island? I will introduce the camping in Iriomote Island.
Click here for ferry reservations to Iriomote Island.
Features and Reasons for Recommending Iriomotejima Camping
Most of the campgrounds on Iriomote Island are located surrounded by ocean, rivers, and jungle, and are characterized by the many tourist spots nearby. Especially, two campgrounds stand in a row near Hoshisuna Beach, and the campgrounds are also convenient for play with many resort hotels and other facilities around.
In addition, campgrounds in Iriomote Island are located near the seashore. The sea in front of you is crystal clear, and snorkeling is a great way to appreciate colorful tropical fish such as red snapper and snappers, and coral reefs such as table corals and branch corals, and you can take a walk along the beach and watch the sunset in a relaxed atmosphere. This is a perfect location for enjoying camping in a quiet place, and is also recommended for a wide range of camping from one-person camping to family camping. Many campgrounds have toilets, showers, and other facilities, and some even offer rental equipment, allowing you to enjoy the island at an unbeatable rate for an island campground.
From the campsite, you can enjoy not only the view of the sea but also the starry sky at night. The entire Iriomote Island is said to be one of the best spots for star gazing in Japan, having been certified as the first starry sky protected area in Japan in April 2018. It is also said to be the second most beautiful starry sky in Asia, since it was the second in Asia to be certified as a starry sky protected area. The campsite is also recommended to fully enjoy this night sky because there are not many light sources.
Thorough comparison of 4 campgrounds in Iriomote Island!
What is Star Sand Campground?
As the name suggests, Hoshinosuna Campground is located right in front of Hoshinosuna Beach. The campground also has a pension attached to it, and boasts a vast area of 7,000 tsubo. It is spacious, and you can pitch your tent anywhere you like within the campground. Tents are not available for rent, so you must bring your own.
Star Sand Campground Facilities
There is a rest house with a souvenir shop and restaurant. This rest house also has a terrace and a grassy area where you may have a picnic, so you may relax after playing at the Star Sand Beach.
Other facilities are equipped with hot showers, and hot showers are available for a fee of 300 yen. It is convenient because you can easily wash off sweat and sand after swimming at the beach.
Designated garbage bags are sold at the rest house in accordance with the garbage fee, so please buy one at the reception desk. Garbage is collected separately, so please separate and dispose of garbage as specified.
Sights around Star Sand Campground
Star Sand Beach
This beach stretches in front of the Star Sand Campground. It is so named because there are many star-shaped sands on the beach. It is also the west side of Iriomote Island, so you can watch the whole scene until the sun hides its face in the horizon as far as the eye can see, and enjoy star gazing as it is. Enjoy swimming and snorkeling and then go straight to camping.
Location: Aza-Uehara, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa
Access: 10 minutes by car from Uehara Port
Parking: Available
Meals (nearby): Available
Toilet: Yes
Unarizaki Park
Unarizaki Park is located 5 minutes by car from Hoshinosuna Campground. The park is very spacious, with a playground and an observatory overlooking the ocean, making it one of the most popular spots for families and couples! Unarizaki Park is also a famous sunset spot, so you can visit early to enjoy the sunset and stargazing.
Address: Uehara, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa
Access: 10 minutes by car from Uehara Port
Parking: Available
Meals (nearby): Available
Toilet: Yes
beach on which the moon shines
Tsuki ga hama, officially called Tudumari beach, is also known as Tsuki ga hama because of its crescent moon shape. The coral reefs are not well developed, so it is more of a beach for swimming than snorkeling. Its location on the west side of the island allows visitors to watch the sunset on the horizon, and after sunset, they can gaze at the stars spreading across the sky.
Location: Aza-Uehara, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa
Access: 5 minutes by car from Uehara Port
Parking: Available
Meals (nearby): Available
Toilet: Yes
What is Hoshizuna-tei Campsite?
Hoshizunatei Campground, located quite secluded, is adjacent to the "Hoshinosuna Campground" introduced above. Since the campground is run by a family, you can feel a homey atmosphere, which is different from other campgrounds. Toilets and showers are provided, and showers are available for a fee.
There is a "Hoshizuna-tei" right next to the campground and a supermarket nearby, so you will have no trouble finding food. Hoshizuna-tei is open only from noon, and you will need to prepare your own breakfast, so we recommend that you buy your meals on the first day.
You will need to bring your own tent and equipment for camping, as no rentals are available.
Hoshizunatei Campground Facilities
Hoshizuna-tei Campground is also equipped with hot showers and toilets. You can easily wash away sweat and sand after swimming at Hoshizuna Beach.
Sights around Hoshizunatei Campground
Maruma Beach
Maruma Beach is located in the direction of Uehara Port from Hoshizuna-tei. It is the location of the Iriomotejima Island episode of "Wednesday Show".
Urauchi River
The Urauchi River is the longest river not only in Iriomote Island but also in Okinawa Prefecture. Upstream, there exist Kanpire Falls, which has the meaning of the seat of God, and Mariyudu Falls, which is selected as one of the 100 best waterfalls in Japan.
There is an observatory by the mouth of the Urauchi River from which you can enjoy both sunset and night views. It is a spot that is easily accessible by car with a parking lot, so you may visit after dinner to gaze at the starry sky.
Location: Aza Iriomote, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa
Access: About 10 minutes by car from Uehara Port
Parking: Available
Meals (nearby): None
Toilet: Yes
Uehara Port
It is a port in the western part of Iriomote Island and the most prosperous place in Iriomote Island. There are inns, supermarkets, general stores, and restaurants concentrated around the port, so you should procure foodstuffs here before heading to the campsite.
Click here for ferry reservations to Iriomote Island.
What is Mitreya Campground?
Mitreya Campground is the most convenient campground in Iriomote Island, and there is even a free sightseeing bus service. The price is a little expensive, 1000 yen per night. However, this campground is equipped with tents, cassette stoves, sleeping bags, and sleeping bags, so you can visit with nothing, and there are many facilities such as BBQ sets, hammocks, and a star gazing platform.
Mitreya Campground Facilities
The facilities at Mitreya Campground are quite extensive, with toilets and showers, as well as BBQ sets, hammocks, cooking facilities, and tables. There is also a communal refrigerator, so you can save food that you haven't finished eating.
Tourist attractions near Mitreya Campground
Pinaisara Falls
Pinaisara Falls is the largest waterfall in Okinawa, with a drop of 55 meters, and is located up the Hinai River near Mitreya Campground. Many tours are available to visit Pinaisara Falls, including SUP and canoe trips up the river, trekking, and other fun activities.
Sangala Falls
It is a rare waterfall with a river width of over 30 meters, and it is home to flora and fauna unique to the subtropical zone, such as tenaga shrimps and thongmee. Compared to Pinaisara Falls, which is a tourist attraction, there are fewer people here.sense of seclusionIt is the only place in Iriomote Island where you can enter the back of the waterfall! It is the only place in Iriomote Island where you can enter behind the waterfall.
Name: Sangala Falls
Location:Uehara, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa
Access: 8 minutes by car from Uehara Port
Parking: None
Meals (nearby): None
Toilet: None
Click here for recommended related tours ↓↓.
Barras Island
Barras Island, also known as the "Phantom Island" because it does not appear on any maps, is an island only a few dozen meters in diameter formed by the accumulation of white coral reef fragments. When the tide rises, the island becomes narrower, giving visitors the feeling of walking on the sea. The island is also famous as a snorkeling and sunset spot, where you can take pictures that are sure to be Instagram-worthy.
What is Minamikaze Mita (Haemida) Campground?
Minamikazumida Campground is located further behind Toyohara, the southernmost bus stop of Iriomote Island. With Minamikazumida Beach spread out in front of you and Nakama River, the largest mangrove jungle in Japan, on the mountain side, you can say that the campground is truly surrounded by the great nature. The campground is far from the village and there are no street lights, so you can enjoy the beautiful starlit sky.
Facilities at the Haemida Campground
Minamikazumida Campground has rental equipment, and you can rent a tent and a sleeping bag. However, there are no other items such as lamps, so you will need to bring everything you need. There are toilets, but please note that you will need to bring your own toilet paper. The showers are water only, and you will need to use firewood to boil the water as you will be bathing in drum baths.
Tourist attractions at the Haemida Campground
Minamikaze Mita Beach
Minamikazumida beach is the longest beach in Iriomote Island, stretching to the southern tip of the island. The sand is white and shallow, so you can enjoy playing on the beach and picking up seashells. In addition, a jungle unique to Iriomote Island spreads out on the west side of the beach, and you can enjoy completely different scenery from the sea at the same time.
pale chub (Zacco platypus)
The Nakama River has the largest mangrove jungle in Japan and is a popular activity spot. Why not visit Nakama River to enjoy not only canoeing and SUP, but also fishing and night tours?
Address: Taketomi Town, Yaeyama County, Okinawa Prefecture
Access: 15 minutes on foot from Nakama Port
Parking: No
Meals (nearby): None
Toilet: No
stone of forget-me-not (esp. the water forget-me-not, Myosotis scorpioides)
This Minamikazumida was the site of forced evacuation of Hateruma Islanders during World War II, and many precious lives were lost due to malaria. A memorial stone has been erected to remember this sad event.
Address: Minamikazumida beach, Taketomi Town, Okinawa, Japan
Access: 30 minutes by car from Ohara Port
Parking: Available
Dining (vicinity)
Toilet: -
Recommendations for each campsite
Star Sand Campground
It is close to Hoshisuna Beach and offers outstanding convenience for marine activities. The facilities are adequate, and there are restaurants and other eating places in the vicinity, so you can enjoy meals as well.
Hoshizuna-tei Campground
This is another campground to use when playing at Hoshisuna Beach. The fee is 200 yen cheaper than the Hoshisuna Campsite, making it an ideal campsite for those who want to save on lodging costs.
Mitreya Campground
It is the most well-equipped campground in Iriomote Island. It is so that you can enjoy camping even if you visit almost empty-handed. There are many famous sightseeing spots nearby, so you would like to visit nearby spots by taking a tour when you visit.
Haemida Campground
This is the campground to visit when you want to get away from civilization for a while surrounded by the great outdoors. Tents and sleeping bags can be rented, so visit after buying other accessories.
summary
How was it? Each campground in Iriomote Island has its own characteristics, and you can enjoy the kind of camping you want to enjoy. In addition, there are many sightseeing spots and activity spots in the vicinity, so please find your favorite campsites and activities and visit them.
