Ishigaki Sabani Experience – Build, Sail & Taste a Sustainable Cultural Journey！＜5hrs／Lunch＞

Highlights

• Handmade Souvenir Included ◎ Experience Traditional Ryukyu-Era Boatbuilding in a Rare Workshop
• A Rare Experience to Learn Traditional Skills Directly from Ishigaki’s Only Sabani Boatbuilder
• Discover Sustainable Wisdom – Living in Harmony with Nature Without Fossil Fuels
• Enjoy a gourmet island lunch with pesticide-free vegetables and free-range local chicken
• With toilets and showers available, it’s a safe and comfortable experience for women and children♪

What to expect

Experience the traditional Sabani boat, passed down since the Ryukyu Kingdom. Learn from Ishigaki’s only boat craftsman, sail with wind and waves, and enjoy a local gourmet lunch in a sustainable cultural journey.

What's included

• Lunch
• Tour Fee

Schedule

1. —
   Meet & Check-in at Yoshida Sabani Zosen (Boatworks)
2. —
   ■ Meet Your Guide ■

   Tomohiro Yoshida / Yoshida Sabani Zosen – Sabani Boatbuilder
   
   Tomohiro Yoshida, Ishigaki’s only Sabani boatbuilder, preserves Ryukyu’s heritage through his workshop, eco-tours powered by wind, and the annual Yaeyama Fukaki Sabani Race.

   
3. —
   Discover the history of the Sabani

   The Sabani, a traditional wooden sailing boat, once crossed the seas of Yaeyama and was used for fishing and carrying crops. With modernization, its role declined. In a video presentation, Mr. Yoshida shares the wisdom of ancestors, cultural traditions, and the deep connection with nature.

   
4. —
   Transfer to Kuura Beach
5. 10:15
   Ride and Sail a Sabani

   After a sea blessing, sail a Sabani across Japan’s largest coral reef, rivaling the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy snorkeling in summer, or use a glass scope and try fishing in cooler seasons, as the Sabani glides with the wind.

   
6. 11:15
   Rest & Shower
7. —
   Transfer to the boatyard
8. 11:30
   Building a Sabani – Part 1

   In this workshop, you can experience traditional Sabani boatbuilding techniques, including “Honhagi,” a method developed in the 1800s that joins wood without using iron nails. Using leftover Sabani wood, enjoy creating your own original ornament, which you can take home as a souvenir.

   
9. 12:30
   Island Terroir Lunch – Taste

   The island is like a dream kitchen, filled with rich ingredients. Enjoy menus featuring pesticide-free vegetables and free-range chicken, while learning the stories and food culture behind each dish—a unique cultural exchange through cuisine.

   
10. 13:15
    Building a Sabani – Part 2

    Relax with island herbal tea while continuing your ornament-making in the second half! If time is short, you can finish it at home.

    
11. 14:30
    After finishing… you’re free to leave♪

    Stroll around the Hirakubo Peninsula, chat with island residents, or simply relax on a quiet hill with stunning views… Spend your time as you wish, experiencing community-based tourism that embraces rich nature and the traditional culture of Yaeyama.

    
12. —
    End of tour at the site

Location and Directions

• Check-in / Check-out

  Yoshida Sabani Zosen

  234-243 Aza-Hirakubo, Ishigaki-shi, Okinawa, Japan

  

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Cancellation policy