Izena Island — Private 2-Day Escape.
A private two-day escape to one of Okinawa's best-kept secrets — a remote island where foreign visitors are a rarity, the ocean is extraordinary, and the locals will feed you like family. Just the two of you.
Two days is all it takes to reach Izena — a small, remote island where foreign visitors are rare, the reef is untouched, and a local islander will sit you down for a multi-course feast that doesn't exist anywhere else. We handle the ferries, transfers, and the logistics. You just show up ready.
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Itinerary.
- Day 1
Izena Island — off-grid
Transfer to the ferry port and cross the open sea to Izena. Quiet roads, clear lagoons, and locals who are genuinely glad you made the trip. The day is spent on the water with a local captain — fishing rods, fresh bait, sashimi on board, snorkelling on untouched reef with a great chance of spotting sea turtles. Back on shore, a multi-course feast prepared by a local islander — fresh fish, island produce, flavours that don't exist anywhere else.
Traditional Okinawan houseTatami floors, wooden beams, island stars.Bento lunch on the way (included)Community-hosted island feast — multi-course local specialties (included) - Day 2
Izena to mainland — life of a local
Begin with a hike up to an ancient hilltop — a 360° panorama of the island and the surrounding sea, worth every step. Then into the fields to harvest sugarcane and press it on the spot. A guided walk through the umi budō (sea grape) farm — through the warehouse, learning the process, tasting as you go. Lunch is at a local soba house before the afternoon ferry carries the group back to the mainland. On the way south, a stop for fresh acerola — the Okinawan cherry — and one final lookout before saying goodbye.
Locally bought breakfastSugarcane juice & umi budō tastings (included)Soba lunch (included)Acerola refreshment in Motobu (included)1 optional extra
- Second half-day reef charter before the ferryWeather and availability dependent
Most travellers never get to Izena. The ferry takes about an hour, the island is small, and there isn't a single resort. That's exactly the point. The water is cleaner because no one is over-using it. The food is fresher because the islanders eat it themselves. The welcome is warmer because they're genuinely glad to see new faces.
Day one is a half-day boat charter with a local captain — fishing, snorkelling on untouched reef, sashimi on board while the island sits on the horizon. Then a loal who owns an izakaya hosts a feast for you, other locals show up and mingle, its the type of night that stays with you. Day two is a sunrise hike to a 360° hilltop, sugarcane pressed straight from the field, umi budō tasting at the farm where it's grown. A short trip that lands deep.
“From fishing with a local fisherman, to eating our fresh catch right there on the boat and then experiencing the hospitality of a dinner in their own home — I can't thank Aya enough for helping me not feel like a tourist but an actual part of their community.”
The practical bits.
- 1 night accommodation in a traditional Okinawan house on Izena
- All ground transport throughout the tour
- Izena ferry crossing (return)
- Bilingual local guide throughout
- Included meals — bento lunch en route, island feast dinner (Day 1), locally bought breakfast delivered, soba lunch and acerola stop (Day 2)
- All gear for fishing and snorkelling on the boat charter
- Flights to and from Okinawa
- Optional activities and add-ons (chosen and paid on the day)
- Drinks & snacks
- Personal travel insurance
- Transport outside the tour
- Meals not inc in above plan
- Swimwear and a quick-dry towel
- Reef-safe sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
- Light layers for the boat
- Cash for drinks, snacks, and souvenirs
- Izena is a small community — being a respectful guest goes a long way. Your guide will brief you on local etiquette before arrival.
- The boat charter is weather-dependent. Calm-water alternatives are arranged if conditions don't permit.
- Private pickup is available from accommodations in Okinawa City, Onnason, Yomitan, and Uruma City. Please mention your location at the time of booking.
20% deposit at booking secures your spot. Remaining 80% due 30 days before the tour, when vendors and accommodation are fully locked in.
Full refund if you cancel 60+ days out. Deposit non-refundable for 30–59 day cancellations. No refund inside 29 days. Travel insurance recommended.
Izena doesn't get many visitors from outside Japan. The locals know that, and they show it — in how they welcome you, how they feed you, and how the night tends to go longer than planned. It's our favourite overnight on the programme..
— Aya & David
Price per person.
- 2 people
- ¥155,050
- 3 people
- ¥136,800
- 4 people
- ¥118,925
- 5 people
- ¥105,200
- 6 people
- ¥95,050
Discounts available for children
Have a question about this tour?
Send a note — dates, group size, dietary needs, anything. We usually reply the same day.
What guests said.
Read all reviews
I travelled with my fiancé to Okinawa in summer this year and booked through Things To Do – and I’m so glad we did. As a vegetarian, I thought meals in Japan would be difficult, but David and Aya made it so easy and every dish was delicious. If we hadn’t booked through them, we wouldn’t have had the same authentic and stress-free experience. Truly five stars! We will be back :)
Had an amazing experience! We did the Northern tour and it was the highlight of our trip to Japan. Dave was friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. My friend from Scotland I was travelling with was special needs and Dave couldn’t have made him feel more comfortable kayaking. Recommend when visiting Okinawa
I had an amazing experience with Evertrail Tours, and Aya made it unforgettable. She showed me around Kokusai Dori Market and gave me a real local experience that I wouldn’t have found on my own. We stopped at a pickling stand where I met the owner’s kids who were working at the time. I actually connected with the son because of my tattoos 😂 They started telling me about their dad, who wasn’t there that day, and said his nickname was “Elvis.” I was like, why Elvis?! Then they showed me a picture and I couldn’t stop laughing the hair really looked just like Elvis 😂 They were super welcoming and generous, letting me try a bunch of their pickles, and every single one was honestly amazing. It felt like such a genuine, local experience. After that, we picked out fresh fish from the market and had it cooked upstairs butter garlic style, which is an Okinawan signature dish. It was rich, flavorful, and seriously one of the best meals I had on my trip. Then we went to an izakaya for yakitori, and I can confidently say I had the best chicken skin of my life perfectly crispy on the outside, juicy and flavorful on the inside. That first bite really hit, you could probably tell from my reaction lol. One funny moment I won’t forget Aya had a skewer with quail eggs in one hand and another with meat in the other. She’d take a bite of the quail egg, then immediately chase it with the meat because she wasn’t really a fan of the eggs but still ate them anyway 😂 I don’t know why but that moment stuck with me, it was just real and funny. We kept it going and hit another izakaya where I tried something I never thought I would raw goat sashimi. Aya even gave me an out if I didn’t want to try it, but I figured I’m here, why not… and honestly, it was amazing. I finished the whole dish 😂 By the end of it, I completely forgot I was even on a tour it just felt like exploring with a friend. Aya is an incredible person, super knowledgeable, and made the whole experience feel natural and fun. Didn’t take many pictures because I was too busy enjoying the moment and honestly, that says everything about how good this experience was. This was easily one of the highlights of my Okinawa trip. Highly recommend