Kuroshima - Funaura Mitake -
Early reservations are recommended as they fill up quickly.
◆Tuk-tuks and electric trikes are also popular!
What is Funo-ra-wan?
Funoura Utaki (Funorawan) is a sacred site located on Miyazato Beach in the southwestern part of Kurojima, where the boat-rowing ceremony for the harvest festival takes place.
It is believed that shipbuilding on Kuroshima was carried out using timber sourced from Iriomote Island, which is rich in timber resources.
The first shipyard on Kuroshima was located in Makidomari, Minami-Futa Village; it later relocated to Funaura in Miyazato Village, where it continued to grow.
For this reason, Funaua Mitake was founded here.
Funaura Mitake is located about a 25-minute walk or a 5-minute drive from Kuroshima Port.
Leave Kuroshima Port and head straight south.
Turn left at the end of the street, then turn right at the next intersection, and you'll find it on your right.
How to Enjoy Funaura Mitake
Since Funaura Mitake is not only a sacred site for shipbuilding safety but also a place to pray for safe voyages, it’s a great spot to visit to pray for safety during ferry cruises and other marine activities.
There is also Miyazato Beach nearby, which is home to many corals and tropical fish.
We don't rent out snorkel sets, but if you bring your own, you can enjoy observing marine life to your heart's content.
Details on Funaura Mitake
Funaura Utaki is a sacred site located near Miyazato Beach, where the boat-rowing ceremony of the Harvest Festival takes place. It is the site of prayers for shipbuilding and safe voyages, as well as rituals such as ship launching ceremonies.
During the ritual, the ceremony was conducted with the participation of the priest, as well as many shipbuilders and islanders.
Kuroshima’s first shipyard was located at Maki-tomi in Pifuta Village, and the reason the shipyard was relocated to Komi Village in 1678 was because it was more convenient for procuring shipbuilding materials.
The Komi Shipyard later relocated to the coast of Ishigaki Village on Ishigaki Island, where it continues to be known as Komi Funaura.
After the relocation, shipbuilding became a thriving industry.
Worship at Funaura Utaki on Kuroshima has continued uninterrupted even after the shipyard relocated to Komi.
This sacred site was established to pray for the prosperity of the shipbuilding industry in this area.
Recommended Sightseeing Spots Near Funaura Mitake
Ox-Head Rock
Ushizuka Rock is a rock shaped like a bull’s head that towers over Miyazato Beach, located right next to Funaura Mitake. There is a small sign along the road leading from the village toward the beach, so be sure to follow the directions to find it.
The Yaeyama Islands, including Kuroshima, are home to many uniquely shaped rocks, but a rock shaped like a cow is the perfect tourist attraction for Kuroshima, where there are more cows than people.
Directions: About a 5-minute drive or a 20-minute walk from the port
Puzumari (Hibanomori, Sakishima Islands)
Puzumari (Hibanomori of the Sakishima Islands) is a historic site located near Funaura Utaki, close to the Miyazato Coast settlement.
This is one of the watchtowers built to monitor merchant ships and foreign vessels; in the past, when there were no telephones, smoke signals were used to alert others when a foreign ship was spotted.
The surrounding islands are sending up smoke signals in a relay to the Ryukyu Prefectural Government office on Ishigaki Island.
There are several Hibamori sites in the Yaeyama Islands and the Miyako Islands, among other places, and these are collectively referred to as the Sakishima Islands Hibamori.
Location: Kuroshima, Taketomi Town, Yaeyama County, Okinawa Prefecture
Access: 5 minutes by bicycle from Kuroshima Port
Parking: None
Meals (nearby): None
Toilet: None
Site of a Former Checkpoint
The site of the guard post is located right next to Puzumari.
In the past, the Yaeyama Islands—including Kuroshima—were under the rule of the Satsuma Domain, and this site is the ruins of a village police station, which served as a local branch of the Kuramoto—the central authority overseeing the Yaeyama region.
At that time, officials dispatched by the Ryukyu Kingdom carried out duties at this checkpoint, such as collecting the poll tax and managing and regulating the loading and unloading of cargo on ships entering and leaving the island.
It is no longer in use and has been preserved as a historic site; there is also an information sign about the former checkpoint, allowing visitors to gain a deeper understanding of Kuroshima’s history and culture.
Address: 1 Kuroshima, Taketomi Town, Yaeyama District, Okinawa Prefecture
Directions: About a 23-minute walk or a 4-minute drive from Kuroshima Port
Parking: None
Meals (nearby): None
Toilet: None
Details on Funo-ra-wan
| Location | Kuroshima, Taketomi Town, Yaeyama County, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Access | About a 23-minute walk or a 4-minute drive from Kuroshima Port |
| parking lot | nashi (Pyrus pyrifolia, esp. var. culta) |
| toilet | nashi (Pyrus pyrifolia, esp. var. culta) |
| Business Hours | - |
