Hello everyone!

 

When asked what you look forward to most when traveling, what comes to mind?

Many people are most excited about the strange scenery of a travel destination.

Some may want to fully enjoy the experience of different histories and cultures, while others may expect to interact with locals and other fellow travelers.

However, among all the various hobbies and preferences, one thing that many people have in common is the expectation of a good meal on the road.

Unless you are on a day trip, you will always have several meals on your trip.

Of course, it is one thing to settle for the familiar, stable tastes of chain restaurants and convenience stores, but it is also good to eat local food to broaden one's knowledge.

 

Now, I would like to talk about meals on a trip to Iriomote Island, including dinner, which is the event that concludes the day.

Iriomote Island, which is very rich in nature, is especially blessed with water resources such as beautiful sea and clear rivers running through the island.

And as an ironclad rule of travel, where the water is clean, the food is also delicious, and a delicious food culture is firmly rooted in Iriomote Island!

In this article, we would like to introduce some dinner spots that you should definitely visit, which are suitable for the end of an enjoyable day of travel to Iriomote Island.

 

*Opening hours listed on this page are current as of 2020/10.

 

About Dinner in Iriomote Island

Well, first of all, I must tell you that there are not so many restaurants where you can eat in Iriomote Island.

As introduced earlier, Iriomote Island can be said to be an island where nature, not humans, plays the leading role.

The population is about 2,400 as of 2020, and it is divided into 14 settlements, so there are no large urban communities.

But don't worry.

Although there are not many, each restaurant in Iriomote Island is unique and high-level grained.

The restaurants offer high quality food.

We have selected five of the most recommended stores to introduce in this issue.

 

Dinner in Iriomote Island

(1) Hatsue

 

<Photo of the first branch

 

Hatsueda, which I will introduce first, is a must if you want to eat seafood in Iriomote Island.

This sushi restaurant is located at the southernmost tip of Iriomote Island.

Surrounded by the sea, Iriomote Island may seem to have many restaurants where you can eat seafood, but surprisingly, there are no other restaurants where you can eat authentic sushi.

In the showcase at the counter, fish that are hard to find in the mainland seas are displayed in an intriguing array! The showcases at the counter are filled with fish that are not easily seen in the waters of the mainland.

Even sushi gourmets will be surprised at the variety of fish available, from standard fish such as tuna and yellowtail to tropical and colorful fish such as ylabucha.

If you are not sure what to order, you should order the island nigiri set, which is made with a selection of fish from the surrounding waters.

The set menu for the day is posted inside the restaurant, and if the name of an unfamiliar fish does not give you an idea, it may be fun to ask over the counter.

In addition to fish, here you can also enjoy Ishigaki beef sushi, wild vegetables unique to the Yaeyama Islands, and more elaborate a la carte dishes.

Of course, the menu varies depending on the season, but examples of tropical dishes include kimchi with papaya, deep-fried jjimami tofu, assorted tempura with island ingredients, and more.

The restaurant has a high level of both deliciousness and rarity, and is highly recommended.

The restaurant is very popular, so if you visit without a reservation during the summer tourist season, there are many cases where the restaurant is full and you cannot get in.

If you want to visit, it is definitely advisable to make reservations as much as possible.

 

Basic Information

Name : Hatsue

Access: 195 Aza-Uehara, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa, Japan

Phone number: 0980-85-6023

Hours of operation: 17:00-22:30

Closed: Tuesday

 

(2) Ryukyu Sake Cuisine Kukurukumi

 

<Photographs of Kukurukumi

 

Kukurukumi is a restaurant attached to a lodging facility called Tinnukara in the northern part of the island.

Dishes using fresh island fish purchased directly from fishermen are served, and a wide range of tastes can be enjoyed, from familiar local dishes such as sashimi, boiled fish, and fried fish to creative dishes.

The restaurant also puts a great deal of effort into its alcoholic beverages, and has a wide selection of Awamori brands from all the sake breweries in Yaeyama, making it the perfect place to enjoy the marriage of local cuisine and local sake.

In addition to original cocktails made with Awamori, the restaurant also offers exquisite tropical fruit juices made with fresh island fruit.

By using this facility in combination with the attached accommodation, you can enjoy it according to the time of day. During the daytime, you can look out over the glistening sea from the wooden deck of Kukurukumi-no-Mori.

 

And at night, you can enjoy the starry sky from the Jacuzzi at the accommodation Tinnukara. If you are a drinker, you can stay here and enjoy your time as an adult without having to worry about transportation after dinner.

We hope you will have a great time at Kukurukumi.

 

Basic Information

Name : Ryukyu Shusai Kukurukumi

Access: 10-647 Aza-Uehara, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa, Japan

Phone:0980-85-6017

Hours: 18:00-22:00 (until 20:30 on Wednesdays and Thursdays)

Closed: December through February

 

Kitchen Inaba

 

<Photographs of Kitchen Inaba

 

Kitchen Inaba is a restaurant located near Uehara Port, the northern gateway to the island.

The owner of Kitchen Inaba comes from a place called "Inaba," which is already an abandoned village, hence the name of the restaurant.

Kitchen Inaba, run by the owner who loves his hometown with all his heart, offers a wide variety of dishes, from original French courses to local Okinawan cuisine, using many of the island's specialties.

In particular, look out for sawtooth turban shells from the mangrove forests of Iriomote Island and kamakamai, Okinawa's specialty wild boar.

The unique cooking methods and flavors are sure to please your taste buds. Please enjoy the cuisine that can only be found on Iriomote Island.

With many types of seating, including table seating for large groups, a bar counter that welcomes solo diners, seating, and an open terrace, it is a valuable restaurant that can be enjoyed no matter what the situation.

 

Basic Information

Name : KITCHEN inaba

Access: 742-6 Uehara, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa

Phone number: 0980-84-8164

Hours: 11:30 - 14:30, 18:00 - 22:30

Closed: Monday

 

(4) Tomari's Gohan-ya

 

<Photographs of the Bari Gohanya

 

When you are traveling, don't you sometimes have a sudden craving for Western food instead of the local cuisine?

Tomari Gohan-ya is the place to meet such unexpected cravings.

It is a Western-style restaurant that has been loved by the islanders.

The chef of the resort hotel "Nirakanai Iriomotejima" on Iriomote Island independently created this very popular restaurant, which has received high praise for the perfection of each dish.

Located in Nakano village, the store is a bit secluded, but it is easily recognizable because of the large painting of the store on the entire wall of the building.

In addition to the excellent taste, the cosmetics are also excellent, so please visit us!

 

■Basic Information

Name : Tomari Gohan-ya

Access: 331 Uehara, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa, Japan

Phone number: 0980-85-6137

Business hours: 11:00-14:00, 18:00-22:30

Closed : Tuesdays and Wednesdays

 

 

⑤Garu Dining Irumu Teiya

 

<Photo of Garu Dining Irumuteiya

 

Irumuteiya is a tavern run under a dive store and is located near the star sand beach in the Uehara district.

The sandy beach is within easy walking distance, so we recommend taking a walk on the beach to sober up.

For those sightseeing with the purpose of diving, it is good to enjoy a meal directly after diving here.

 

Note that because of its convenient location, it is not possible to reserve a seat without an advance reservation!

After 7:00 p.m., the area is filled with divers, tourists, and locals.

Irumuteiya serves Okinawan island cuisine using Okinawan specialties such as mimigauro, pig's feet, gurukun, bitter gourd, mozuku seaweed, sea grapes, and sea cucumber, all of which go well with alcohol.

At night, there are no street lights outside of Irumuteiya and it is pitch black, and the sky is full of stars.

The food, the environment and the location are all the best!

 

■Basic Information

Name : Garu Dining Irumu Teiya

Access: 10-625 Uehara, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa, Japan 

Phone number: 0980-85-6878 

Hours of operation: 12:00 - 14:00, 18:00 - 21:00

Closed : Wednesday

 

in the end

We hope you enjoyed our introduction to dinner on Iriomote Island.

Iriomote Island, rich in nature, is blessed with good ingredients anyway.

Fish are delivered directly from the harbor, vegetables are freshly picked from the fields, and all the restaurants use fresh ingredients, which may surprise you with their freshness compared to mainland cities.

As a reminder, the main means of transportation in Iriomote Island for sightseeing is a rental car.

Public transportation is available, but it does not work when it is late enough to drink and go home.

We have introduced some restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages, but if you visit a restaurant far from your lodgings by rental car and have consumed alcoholic beverages, you will probably have trouble finding transportation home.

Of course, drinking and driving is strictly prohibited.

Some of the lodges you will be using may offer a shuttle service in consideration of the loss of legs, so be sure to check with them before using the service to ensure efficiency.

Please enjoy a pleasant meal, taking into account the distance to the inn and transportation to avoid any trouble on your pleasant trip.

When you visit Iriomote Island for sightseeing, please pay attention to the food!