Phone: 0980-45-2435 / Fax: 0980-45-2360
What is Educational Tour Accommodation?
For educational overnight trips to Izena Island,
Students stay with local families,
By getting in touch with island life and work,
Experience "live learning
Special School Trip Plan.
Connections with people you can't get in the city,
Experience living in harmony with nature and the "real thing",
It greatly fosters children's sensibilities and values.
Attractions of Izena Island
An island that preserves its history and culture
Izena Island, the birthplace of King Shoen of the Ryukyu Kingdom, is home to nationally designated cultural assets such as the Izena Tamagoden and the Meikari Family Residence, where history and culture live on in daily life. You can encounter "living history and culture" on an island that has not been transformed into a tourist destination.
Unspoiled nature still extends
Izena Island, located in the northern part of Okinawa's main island, is a remote island visited by ferry. With its clear waters, coral reefs, starry skies, and deep green mountains, the tranquility and grandeur of nature nurtures children's sensibilities.
Warm human connections
The greatest charm of Izena Island is the warmth of the islanders. Students are welcomed as "members of the family" at educational stays, and as they work in the fields and cook dinner together, they naturally interact and converse with each other, which leads to the growth of their spirit.
Features of the Residential Education Program
One island, one school acceptance system
Conduct training for overnight stay hosts
A place for students to become aware and involved on their own
Depth of experience that builds on the relationship
Safe collaboration system with medical institutions
The residential education program on Izena Island is carefully designed to accommodate students through a one-school-per-island system. Through deep relationships with the people of the island, students develop the ability to think and act on their own. Pre-trained hosts and collaboration with local medical facilities provide a safe and educational experience.
Experience Programs
Ancient play experience - Participants will try their hand at making a traditional bamboo-copter using the leaves of the "adan" tree that grows wild along the seashore. Flying the completed bamboo-copter is an experience that brings smiles to the faces of all generations.
Livestock Experience - Visitors can experience raising cattle on the island and learn the importance of life through feeding and cleaning. Even children who are confused at first will smile after the experience.
Sugarcane production experience - Experience harvesting sugarcane, a specialty of Izena Island, by hand. Through the hard work and the sense of accomplishment after harvesting, you can experience the island's industry and the bounty of nature (seasonal only).
Sugarcane production experience - Try your hand at making Okinawan local dishes with your host family. The time spent making sata andagi and goya chanpuru together brings the hearts closer together.
Program Flow
prior learning
Learn about the history, culture and lifestyle of Izena Island to deepen your understanding of the visit.
Stay on the island
Overnight stay experience: Stay with a local family and share their daily life.
Experiential activities: Participate in practical activities such as agriculture, fishing, traditional crafts, etc.
Exchange events: Deepen exchanges with local children and residents.
post-graduation
Reflect on the experience, summarize what you have learned, and apply it to your future life and learning.
Acceptance
| fiscal year (usu. April 1 to March 31) | number of schools | the number of people |
|---|---|---|
| Fiscal Year 2007 | 2 schools | 231 people |
| Fiscal Year 2008 | 8 schools | 1,559 (2,687 total) |
| Fiscal Year 2009 | 4 schools | 671 (total 1,017) |
| Fiscal Year 2010 | 10 schools | 1,416 (2,312 total) |
| Fiscal Year 2011 | 22 schools | 3,903 (6,175 total) |
| Fiscal Year 2012 | 32 schools | 5,901 (8,374 total) |
| Fiscal Year 2013 | 28 schools | 4,987 (7,934 total) |
| Fiscal Year 2014 | 32 schools | 5,312 (8,017 total) |
| Fiscal Year 2015 | 26 schools | 5,241 (total: 9,029) |
| Fiscal Year 2008 | 30 schools | 6,126 (9,838 in total) |
| Fiscal Year 2009 | 25 schools | 5,399 (9,240 total) |
| Fiscal Year 2008 | 35 schools | 7,571 (total: 12,759) |
| 2022 | 30 schools | 6,699 (total 11,546) |
| 2020 | long vowel mark (usually only used in katakana) | All cancelled due to the spread of new coronavirus infection |
| 2021 | long vowel mark (usually only used in katakana) | All cancelled due to the spread of new coronavirus infection |
| 2022 | 4 schools | 224 (304 total) |
| 2023 | 10 schools | 857 (total 1,325) |
| 2024 | 8 schools | 413 (720 in total) |
*Fiscal years 2007 through 2011 were the actual results at the time of the Promotion Council.
Reservation Flow
Note: The number of students per school has been limited to 140 or less since the acceptance in 2025.
Together with the neighboring island of Iheya, it can accommodate 300 school students.
*The constant number of acceptance scale may be subject to change due to changes in circumstances.
Please check back in a timely manner.
Reservation System for Educational Accommodation on Izena Island will be Changed from 2026
We would like to express our sincere appreciation for your continued efforts in promoting tourism and sending visitors to our Association.
The Izena Island Tourism Association and Iheya Island Tourism Association have established a common contact point for educational tours on Izena Island and Iheya Island in order to cooperate more than ever in educational tours, since the maximum number of students that can be accepted has decreased due to the decrease in the number of private homes accepting educational tours at the Corona Disaster. In order to cooperate more than ever in educational tours, we have decided to establish a common contact point for educational tours on Izena and Iheya islands.
We would like to thank all schools and travel agencies for their continued patronage.
1，Reception desk
Izena/Iheya Educational Residence Reception Center
2、Contact information
Phone: 070-3170-0180 FAX: 050-3116-0561
Email: ino@iheyazima-kankou.jp
Attn: INO Kenjiro 090-4936-9660
3，Maximum number of students to be accepted
Izena Island: 140 Iheya Island: 160 Total: 300 (from R7)
4、Information
The Center will serve as the contact point for inquiries, tentative reservations, and decisions. Once a decision has been made, we ask that you continue to hold meetings with the respective tourist associations as in the past.
Please strictly adhere to the 3-week rule in Okinawa Prefecture.
Please refer to the attached fee schedule for fees.
*Fees will be revised from FY2025 onward in light of the recent price hikes.
*Setting up a shipping service associated with the acceptance of the main body
Priority for setting up shipments will be given to schools with confirmed reservations first. For example, if the first confirmed school is
If you leave the village at 9:00 a.m. from Nakada Port, the school's boat service that enters the village on the same day will be the 15:30 boat service from Untien Port.
The following is a summary of the results of the survey.
Preliminary inspection of Izena Island educational tour home stay
Please coordinate with us to set up a date for the site visit.
After adjustment, please make a final application by FAX (0980-45-2360).
*If you plan to stay for 2 days and 1 night, 2 flights in and 1 flight out will be sufficient.
*In many cases, we will ask you to come on a day trip.
Setting of Unacceptable Dates
There are times when we are unable to accept visitors due to events such as triathlon competitions or village events. Please feel free to contact us for more information.
Request for advance instruction for participating students regarding acceptance
Preliminary guidance on measures to prevent new coronary infections.
Please make sure to bring your own medicine.
Please take care of your valuables during your stay.
We know that the sea on the island is very beautiful and most of the students would like to swim, but swimming is not allowed during the stay.
This is prohibited due to safety management issues.
It is possible to play on the beach when the water is knee-deep in the sea, but even at that depth, jumps can cause full body wetting and injuries.
There are rare students who do this. We ask for your guidance to prevent this from happening again. We also ask that teachers share this information with us.
We will
Please be as respectful as possible when using cell phones during meals and socializing.
Please do not go out at night without permission. We will do our best to stay up as late as possible, but we ask for your understanding.
Please.
● Izena Island is a farming community rich in nature. Regardless of the time of year, small insects can be found at night and enter the houses,
Ants sometimes enter houses to look for food. We do our best to prevent this from happening in our homes.
We are not sure if this is the case, but we would appreciate it if you could help us be prepared for such a possibility.
Please inform them that people on Izena Island do not have the custom of taking a bath in the bathtub, and most of the houses have only showers.
Please also instruct them to shorten their bathing time as much as possible.
Please be aware that there may be other passengers on board who are not in good health or who may be in the general public, so we ask that you keep the noise down as much as possible.
Please also instruct them to carry their belongings with them when moving from one place to another.
Note that if you forget your cell phone when you leave the village, your delivery will be handled by sea, and it will take more than a week to arrive.
Please remind us.
Downloading Materials
You can view the brochure for educational tours and overnight stays.
*Please note that the price is subject to change without prior notice.
Q&A
How many students can you accept?
From the 2025 academic year, up to 140 students per school can be accepted. Together with the neighboring Iheya Island, a maximum of 300 students can be accepted.
How many households are in total acceptance?
As of March 2024, there were 38 houses in the area.
How many people per household are accepted?
Average 4-6 students (maximum 8 students for larger schools)
Number of days to stay
There will be two types: 1 night/2 days and 2 nights/3 days.
Please note that we may ask you to adjust your shipping schedule if there is a change in the number of people entering or leaving a village on the same day.
Do you know the status of pets in the accepted private accommodations?
We are aware of dogs, cats, etc.
Does the Environmental Cooperation Tax apply to students on school trips?
This does not apply to students, but it does apply to teachers, etc. who are leading the students.
What is the means of patrolling for travelers and teachers on the island?
Patrols will be conducted by the Association's vehicles, rental cars (mini-cars), or rental bicycles.
The rental address is Izena Rent-a-Car (0980-45-2394).
How long does it take to drive around the perimeter road of the island?
The distance of the island's perimeter road is approximately 13.4 km, and if one were to go around the island without stopping, it would take approximately 40 minutes to go around.
If you wish to visit tourist facilities, it will take approximately 2 hours.
How long does it take to drive from one end of the island to the other?
It takes less than 10 minutes to get there. The maximum distance is 4 km from north to south.
Is there a place where I can hold a social gathering for a large group?
The event is held in the main hall of the Izena Village Industrial Support Center (fully equipped with stage sound system). It can accommodate up to 300 people. Transportation for the students will be provided by the private accommodation.
In the event that the event overlaps with a village (government) event, the event may be moved to the Rinkai Fureai Park Gymnasium.
What is the capacity of the ferry?
350 (500 temporary).
Are there any last minute changes in the households that will be accepted?
The host family may be changed to another place due to various reasons such as unforeseen accidents, legal matters of relatives, or poor health.
How do I apply for the program?
The Izena/Iheya Educational Residency Reception Center is your point of contact. Please contact us by phone or e-mail.
What should I be aware of during my stay?
Please instruct students in advance, taking into consideration the lifestyle and natural environment of the island. For example, bathing only in the shower and going out at night without permission are prohibited.
Can I choose the content of the hands-on activities?
Yes, you can choose from a wide variety of programs, including agriculture, fishery, traditional crafts, etc. Please contact us in advance for details.
What to do in case of emergency?
We will respond promptly in cooperation with the tourist association and local medical facilities. We ask that you bring your own regular medication and provide advance instructions on health care.
Accepting Educational Trips to Izena Island
Izena Island Tourism Association is an organization established in April 2012 with the support of Izena Village.
Since its establishment, our main activity has been to provide educational tours and overnight stays in private homes, so that our guests can enjoy a different lifestyle and different culture from the city life.
Izena Island's residential education program is a one-island, one-school acceptance program that provides students with a special learning experience using the entire island. The experience of living on a remote Okinawan island, which cannot be experienced in our digital society, will be a valuable learning experience for life.
Contact Us
About Requesting Information Materials
If you need a tourist guidebook, please fax it to us.
FAX: 0980-45-2360 (Please make sure that the font size of the fax is at least 12p.)
