Iki Island Guide: 8 Food Stops, 2 Hotels and 18 Places to Explore

This restaurant overlooks Yunomoto Bay from inside the Kokumin Shukusha public lodge.
You can grill Iki beef, raised on the island, while enjoying the sea view.
The lunch we had came with meat to grill ourselves, one piece at a time, and rice.
Dipping the grilled meat in sauce, placing it over rice and looking out at the sea made this a memorable meal.
It is in the same Yunomoto Onsen village as Hirayama Ryokan, making it a convenient lunch stop on a day exploring the hot spring village.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市勝本町立石西触101

This sea urchin restaurant is in a coastal fishing village in Ashibe, on the eastern side of Iki Island.
Its setting reflects a village food culture in which fishermen caught fish and squid, while women divers gathered sea urchins and turban shells.
The fresh sea urchin rice bowl we tried had a generous mound of orange sea urchin over the rice.
We poured on the sauce and lifted the sea urchin together with the rice, enjoying one of the island's specialties.
It is close to the seaside Harahoge Jizo statues, so a meal here pairs well with a coastal walk.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市芦辺町諸吉本村触1307

This seafood restaurant in the Katsumoto port town also has a space selling local specialties.
A seafood rice bowl piled with several kinds of sashimi brought the flavors of the island's sea together in one bowl.
The first floor has tables and a counter, a convenient arrangement for a meal with companions or on your own.
You can browse local souvenirs alongside the dining area, combining food and shopping in Katsumoto.
It is near the Tatsunoshima sightseeing boat departure point and Kissa Tono, making it a useful meal stop before or after a cruise.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市勝本町勝本浦201

This Taisho-style cafe occupies a renovated former Iki shochu distillery in Katsumoto.
The old wooden building's columns and interior atmosphere preserve a sense of the years when the space was used for distilling.
After a meal, we had coffee and tiramisu here, enjoying its layers of sweetness.
Tables, a counter and a separate room provide different places to take a break depending on your group.
It is in the same Katsumoto neighborhood as Watatsumi and Island Brewery, so it works well for a cafe break after lunch.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市勝本町勝本浦207

This craft brewery and taproom occupies a renovated old distillery in Katsumoto.
It uses the white koji used in Iki barley shochu to make beer designed to pair with fish dishes.
On this visit, we lined up several glasses and enjoyed comparing the different colors of the beers.
From the counter, you can see fermentation tanks through the glass and feel close to the space where the beer is made.
It fits naturally after a seafood meal and a walk around Katsumoto, with a glass of beer to finish.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市勝本町勝本浦249

This cafe is on the first floor of the four-story wooden Mokuyon Building in Gonoura.
Its open structure exposes the timber columns and beams, letting you explore the wooden architecture over coffee.
We stopped for coffee and cake during our trip around the island.
With accommodation and workspaces on the upper floors, this mixed-use building shows a new way of using wooden architecture.
It makes a convenient stop while exploring this part of Gonoura, together with Yukawa Onsen across the street.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市郷ノ浦町片原触407-1

This restaurant in central Gonoura serves sashimi, cooked fish and a variety of individual dishes.
For dinner on this visit, we had fried dishes and skewers alongside golden-brown gyoza.
Sashimi and simmered fish were also served, making a meal that let us try seafood prepared in several ways.
The selection suits an evening of sharing small portions of different dishes and enjoying the island's food.
It is a convenient dinner stop when staying in central Gonoura, including at Iki Marina Hotel.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市郷ノ浦町本村触519

Right beside Indoji Port, this direct-sales shop has local Iki Island foods and souvenirs to browse.
It introduces the island's traditional kasumaki sweets, processed seafood, Iki shochu and other specialties.
Kasumaki wraps sweet red bean filling in a castella-like cake. It is one to remember when choosing edible souvenirs from Iki.
We browsed the sweets and liquor on display, continuing our food discoveries through the end of the trip.
It is an easy addition to an itinerary around Indoji Port. Keep its location distinct from the departure terminals at the island's other ports.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市石田町印通寺浦471-2

At this hotel in Gonoura, we stayed overnight and enjoyed both a kaiseki dinner featuring island ingredients and breakfast.
At dinner, dishes arrived one after another, from small plates to a sashimi platter, offering a little of many different flavors.
The thick-cut Iki beef we had as a main dish was glossy and memorably tender, with a melting texture.
The next morning began with a Japanese breakfast of rice, soup and fish.
The hotel also has a cave-style communal bath inspired by Iki's Oni no Iwaya burial mound, providing somewhere to relax within the hotel.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市郷ノ浦町本村触760-1

About 600 m from Gonoura Port, this business hotel is conveniently placed for both boat connections and getting around town.
It has single, double and twin rooms, giving solo travelers and pairs a choice of room arrangements.
Rooms have private bathrooms and toilets, and wireless internet is available in every room.
After staying here, we began the day with the hotel's breakfast before checking out.
Shops and restaurants are close by, making it easy to explore Gonoura's restaurants in the evening and enjoy views of the port and bridge.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市郷ノ浦町郷ノ浦205-1

This sightseeing cruise leaves Katsumoto Port to explore the sea and unusual cliffs around Tatsunoshima.
Layered rock walls and openings in the rocks rise above turquoise water, bringing the contours of the island's coast into close view.
A sea cave carved by waves and wind over many years is known as the Palace of the Sea.
The main attraction is taking in both the curves of the cliffs and the colors of the water from the boat.
Operations can change with sea conditions, so check the departure point's information before visiting.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市勝本町勝本浦575-61

On the Kurosaki Peninsula on Iki Island's western coast, Saruiwa is a coastal rock formation resembling a monkey's profile.
This huge basalt rock is about 45 m high, a natural sculpture shaped by wind and waves over a long period.
The clear outlines of a forehead, nose and mouth seem to gaze out to sea, making this one of the island's signature views.
From the viewpoint, you can fit the monkey's profile, surrounding coast and horizon into the same photograph.
Include it on a trip along the west coast and stand back from the rock to appreciate its full outline.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市郷ノ浦町新田触870

Inside Makisaki Park, Oni no Ashiato is known for a striking, enormous opening in the coast.
The opening, about 110 m in circumference, connects to the sea. Grassy slopes contrast with the sheer rock.
Its name refers to a legend that a giant oni left this footprint while planting a foot to catch a whale.
As you walk through the park, you can see both the sea revealed inside the opening and the coastline beyond.
The park is at the western end of Iki Island, making it easy to combine a west-coast drive with a walk over its grassy slopes.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市郷ノ浦町渡良東触1769

Sakyobana is a scenic coastal spot at the tip of the Yahata Peninsula on the eastern side of Iki Island.
Its broad view takes in about 1 km of cliffs and unusual rocks rising above the waves.
A rock formation that looks like slender stone pillars bound together in the sea is called Kannon-bashira (観音柱).
From the viewpoint on the cape, looking across the rocks, cliffs and sea gives a sense of the scale of this coastal landscape.
It pairs well with the Harahoge Jizo statues on an itinerary along the east coast.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市芦辺町諸吉本村触1512

Tsutsukihama, a natural white-sand beach in the Ishida area, is one of Iki Island's best-known beaches.
Fine white sand stretches for about 600 m, with clear emerald water in front of it.
The contrast between the open sea and white sand is the beach's greatest appeal.
It is a lovely place to walk along the shore or take photographs with the sand where the waves meet the beach as a backdrop.
Include it in a coastal itinerary through Ishida, the area that also contains Indoji Port and Iki Airport.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市石田町筒城東触1916-1

Takenotsuji Observatory stands at the summit of Iki Island's highest mountain, 212.8 m above sea level.
Villages, farmland, ports and sea spread out together, revealing the island's varied terrain.
Beacon fires and lookouts were established here in the past to watch movement across the sea.
On clear days, this viewpoint offers views as far as Kyushu and Tsushima beyond the distant horizon.
Add it to a day exploring Gonoura to see the scenery you encountered along the coast again from above.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市郷ノ浦町若松触398-1

At Harahoge Jizo, six Jizo statues stand side by side on the Yahataura seashore.
Their name, Harahoge, comes from the round hollows carved into their torsos.
The hollows are said to hold offerings so they will not wash away when the seawater rises.
At high tide, the water reaches the statues' chests, creating a different scene from the one at low tide.
Check the tides before visiting and combine this stop with Sakyobana on an east-coast itinerary.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市芦辺町諸吉本村触1342

Kojima Shrine stands on a small island in Uchime Bay, with an approach that appears according to the tide.
Around low tide, the submerged path emerges, allowing visitors to walk to the island's torii gate.
The entire island is regarded as sacred, and a custom holds that even a twig should not be taken away.
The path through the sea, the torii and the small forest-covered island together form the main sight.
Plan your visit using the tide table. Before walking across, check the tide for your return as well.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市芦辺町諸吉二亦触1969

Ikikoku Museum is Iki City's history museum, on a hill overlooking the Harunotsuji archaeological site.
Artifacts that crossed the sea and the museum's displays explore Iki Island's role in exchanges across East Asia.
A large diorama recreating life in the Yayoi period contains 160 figures, each with a different expression and pose.
Looking closely at the small houses and people at work makes it easier to picture the islanders' daily lives in the past.
It is a useful indoor stop between coastal sights, bringing the island's history into a trip through its natural scenery.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市芦辺町深江鶴亀触515-1

At Kisaragi Workshop in the Ishida area, you can try making jewelry from Iki cattle horn.
The hands-on process involves filing a prepared horn piece to shape its outline, then smoothing its surface.
On this visit, we polished the horn and attached a cord to finish a necklace pendant.
Each horn has its own colors and grain, making the finished piece a souvenir made from an island material.
The activity takes place indoors. Check with the workshop or official information in advance for availability and how to apply.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市石田町南触290-5

Ondako Workshop Hirao makes and introduces Iki Island's traditional demon-faced kites.
Ondako are traditional island kites long treasured for their meaning of warding off misfortune.
In the painting activity, you fill in the face and patterns with a brush, section by section, to finish a kite of your own.
There is pleasure in taking home a handmade souvenir while browsing the colors and expressions of the many kites on display.
Because it takes place indoors, the activity can fit a rainy-day itinerary. Check the workshop's latest information for how to participate.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市芦辺町箱崎本村触536

Genkai Shuzo makes Iki Island's traditional barley shochu in the Gonoura area.
The distillery began making shochu in 1900, offering a look at the island's continuing distilling history.
A defining feature of Iki shochu is its use of barley and rice koji, bringing out barley aromas and the sweetness of koji.
With various shochu bottles and tasting glasses laid out, it is a good place to browse the products and learn about the island's local spirit.
If you plan to tour the distillery, check the official information in advance for available days and how to apply.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市郷ノ浦町志原西触550-1

Hirayama Ryokan offers day-use hot spring bathing in Yunomoto Onsen village.
Its hot spring is known locally as Furuyu, meaning the old bath, reflecting the village's long-established bathing culture.
The iron-bearing water oxidizes on contact with the air, giving it a reddish-brown color.
The stone-lined outdoor bath and surrounding green garden offer a place to rest after exploring the island.
For a day-bathing visit, check the official information or ask the property about available hours and whether day visitors can be accommodated that day.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市勝本町立石西触77

Ondake Shrine stands in the forest near the summit of Mount Ondake.
It enshrines Sarutahiko no Mikoto, regarded as a deity of guidance. The entire mountain was once considered sacred.
More than 200 stone monkey statues, dedicated in connection with the enshrined deity, line the grounds.
Looking at the statues one by one—their different sizes, expressions and signs of weathering—is a main attraction here.
The shrine involves a forest approach and steps, so comfortable walking shoes suit a leisurely look around the grounds.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市芦辺町箱崎本村触1678-1

Sai Shrine is in central Gonoura, among its shops and lanes.
It enshrines Sarume no Mikoto, associated with the myth of the union of Ame no Uzume and Sarutahiko.
The shrine is known as a place where people pray for good relationships, safe childbirth and harmony in marriage.
Climb the stone steps from the lane to explore the small grounds, where the torii and main shrine building come together.
Add it to a walk around Gonoura Port and town to encounter a place of worship close to island residents' everyday lives.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市郷ノ浦町片原触113

Oni no Iwaya is a round burial mound built around the late sixth to early seventh century.
It belongs to the Iki Kofun Group, a nationally designated historic site that reflects the island's long history and overseas exchanges.
Its linked front, middle and inner stone chambers have a total length of 16.5 m, the longest on Iki Island.
At the stone entrance, surrounded by trees and grass, you can see the size and form of a tomb assembled from large stones.
Visiting alongside the history displays at Ikikoku Museum helps connect the island's excavated artifacts with an actual archaeological site.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市芦辺町国分本村触1206

Gonoura Ohashi is a white arched bridge spanning Gonoura Port.
At 179 m long, it is a prominent Gonoura landmark in the port landscape.
It also serves as a bypass for the town, showing how the port and daily routes through town connect.
Around sunset, the outline of the arch, the colors of the sky and the water make an appealing view.
While exploring the port area, look for a spot where you can take in both the whole bridge and the sea.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市郷ノ浦町郷ノ浦

Iki Yukawa Onsen is a day-use hot spring facility in Gonoura, close to the Mokuyon Building.
A red noren curtain bearing the characters 湯川 hangs below the tiled roof, making the entrance easy to recognize.
Local residents also visit this hot spring. Official tourism information describes its water as pale yellow.
On this visit, we looked around the entrance and exterior, recording the neighborhood hot spring scenery in Gonoura.
If you plan to bathe, check with the facility beforehand about availability and visitor information.

Address: 長崎県壱岐市郷ノ浦町片原触416