Umanchu Market, the JA farmers market at Michi-no-Eki Itoman

Stations #01

Itoman,
the southernmost

Q: Can I get there without a car?

Yes. From Naha Airport, bus 189 stops at Michi-no-Eki Itoman, 1 minute on foot. From Naha Bus Terminal, take bus 89 to Nishizaki 2-chome, about 3 minutes on foot. Tokyo Bus TK01/TK02 also stop right at the station.

Japan's southernmost roadside station — and the cheapest great seafood lunch on the island, 20 minutes from the airport.

Itoman, Okinawa Opened 2009 9:00–18:00 Photographed June 2024

Raw oysters ¥500morning catch · co-op prices

See the fish counter

In short

three things worth knowing before you pull in

Okinawa's biggest

Japan's southernmost michi-no-eki and the prefecture's largest — a 30,000 m² campus about 20 minutes south of Naha Airport on Route 331.

Four places in one

A farmers market, a fish market run by the local fishing co-op, a 2,000-item souvenir hall, and an all-you-can-eat island pork BBQ.

Go in the morning

The freshest produce and the best of the catch sell out early. Parking is free (312 spaces) and airport buses stop right outside.

Most travelers race north from the airport toward the resorts and never look south. That's how they miss Okinawa's biggest roadside station — where Itoman's fishing families sell their catch, and a raw oyster costs ¥500, not aquarium-café prices.

The reason to come

Real prices,
straight from the co-op

The Itoman Fishing Cooperative runs these stalls, and the seafood on the ice was swimming off this coast the same morning. Point, pay, and eat on the spot. Prices photographed on our June 2024 visit.

Sashimi plates

3 for ¥1,200

Any three from the counter · ¥450 each singly

Sashimi counter with price signs: any three plates for 1200 yen — Pick any three sashimi plates for ¥1,200 — the signs don't lie.

Raw oysters

¥500Each, with lemon. The counter's most popular item.

Red shrimp sashimi

¥200Sweet, snappy, one skewer.

Grilled scallops

¥400Cheese or uni sauce, straight off the grill.

Sashimi, single plate

¥450Akamachi, soft cuttlefish, scallop-and-roe.

Raw oysters on ice at 500 yen each and red shrimp sashimi at 200 yen — Raw oysters ¥500, red shrimp ¥200 — the signs are the menu.

Grill counter with scallops, king crab legs and giant shrimp — The grill counter: scallops, king crab, sea tiger shrimp.

! Bring cash. Payment varies by facility — the market and several fish stalls are cash-friendly rather than card-friendly. Grab your haul and eat at the tables outside; this is the cheapest great seafood lunch in southern Okinawa.

Umanchu Market

Go at 9:00,
not 11:00

Umanchu means "everyone" in Okinawan, and this JA farmers market is where the neighborhood actually shops. Most produce arrives straight from Itoman farms the same morning — and the best of it is first-come, first-served.

Produce crates and ripe passion fruit signs inside Umanchu Market — Passion fruit season at Umanchu Market.

Locals shopping the produce aisles of Umanchu Market — Weekday morning: mostly locals, few tourists.

Island fruit in season

Island bananas, papaya, mango and passion fruit — plus Okinawan vegetables you won't see on the mainland: fuchiba mugwort, handama spinach, muchi mochi.

Come with a bag and coins

Bring a shopping bag and keep some coins handy — small stalls move faster with cash, and limited daily specials appear at opening.

Watch the STOP signs

Some fresh produce (purple sweet potatoes among them) can't legally leave Okinawa. Look for the airplane "STOP" signs on the crates before you buy.

Yukura — the souvenir hall locals use

The brown building marked "Itoman City Market" is Yukura: a food court serving Okinawa soba, goya champuru and taco rice, plus about 2,000 items from across the prefecture — crafts, sweets, and awamori brands you won't find at the airport, at better prices.

Souvenir aisles under big fishing flags inside Yukura — Souvenir aisles under the fishing-boat flags.

Yukura, the Itoman City Market building — Yukura — food court and 2,000 souvenirs.

Bannai — island pork, all you can eat

If you want a proper meal rather than market grazing, Bannai serves Okinawan-style yakiniku built around locally raised island pork — various cuts, grilled vegetables, kimchi, dessert. It's also the late option: open 11:00–22:00 when everything else closes by 18:00–19:00.

Getting there —
no car needed

By car

About 20 minutes from Naha Airport — Route 331 heading south through Tomigusuku into Itoman.

Parking is free and open 24 hours: 312 spaces including 12 bus/large and 14 accessible.

By bus — it really works

From Naha Airport: bus 189 (Itoman Airport Line) to the "Michi-no-Eki Itoman" stop — 1 minute on foot.

From Naha Bus Terminal: bus 89 to "Nishizaki 2-chome" — about 3 minutes on foot.

Tokyo Bus TK01 / TK02 stop directly at the station — 0 minutes.

4-19-1 Nishizakicho,
Itoman, Okinawa 901-0305

20 min from Naha Airport · bus stop "Michi-no-Eki Itoman" · open 9:00–18:00

Open in Google Maps →

Need a taxi? Here's how it works in Okinawa

Rural Okinawa has no street-hail taxis, and calling a Japanese number from a foreign SIM often fails. Three ways that actually work:

Use an app. GO — Japan's main taxi app — works in Okinawa with an English interface. DiDi and Uber cover parts of the island. Install before your trip.

Dial with +81. From a foreign phone, replace the leading 0: 098-XXX-XXXX → +81 98-XXX-XXXX. Wi-Fi calling works too.

Ask the staff — show them this:

タクシーを呼んでください

Takushī o yonde kudasai

Nearest stations from here

Itoman anchors the south. From here the island runs north in a single line, and every station on it belongs to a different town with different produce.

See the whole series →

5.4 km · ~10 minMichi-no-Eki Toyosaki, Tomigusuku — Fifteen minutes from the airport, with the departure board inside.

5.9 km · ~10 minMinami-no-Eki Yaese, Yaese — A farm station in the southern hills, strong in mango season.

26 km · ~45 minHappy More Ichiba, Ginowan — Tropical fruit and smoothies, in the middle of the city.

37 km · ~65 minMichi-no-Eki Kadena, Kadena — A free deck over the air base, and an award-winning exhibit.

Make it a southern half-day

Peace Memorial Park

The memorial to the Battle of Okinawa — sobering, beautifully kept, and worth your time.

Himeyuri Monument

The story of the student nurses of 1945, told in their own words.

Ryukyu Glass Village

Watch craftsmen work, or blow your own Ryukyu glass. Great with kids.

Odohama (John Man) Beach

Clear water, sea-turtle nesting in summer, good snorkeling.

Bibi Beach Itoman

The BBQ-and-beach-volleyball beach, family-friendly and easy.

Masahiro Awamori Gallery

A distillery founded in 1883, with tastings of award-winning aged awamori.

Practical information

Address4-19-1 Nishizakicho, Itoman, Okinawa 901-0305

Phone098-987-1277 (from abroad: +81 98-987-1277)

HoursUmanchu Market 9:00–18:00 / Fish Center weekdays 9:00–18:00, weekends & holidays 9:00–19:00 / Yukura 9:30–18:00 (varies by tenant) / Bannai BBQ 11:00–22:00

ClosedOpen year-round (individual shops may vary; typhoon closures possible)

ParkingFree, 312 spaces (incl. 12 bus/large, 14 accessible), open 24 hours

PaymentVaries by facility — bring cash to be safe

Wi-FiFree (Be.Okinawa Free Wi-Fi)

AccessibilityAccessible toilets, nursing room, diaper-changing space, wheelchair rental

Questions, answered

Is Michi-no-Eki Itoman worth visiting?+

Yes. It's Japan's southernmost roadside station and Okinawa's largest, only 20 minutes from Naha Airport. Locals shop here for morning-catch fish and farm-direct produce, and it pairs naturally with the Peace Memorial Park and Ryukyu Glass Village.

Can I get there without a car?+

Yes. From Naha Airport, bus 189 stops at "Michi-no-Eki Itoman" (1 min walk). From Naha Bus Terminal, bus 89 to Nishizaki 2-chome (3 min walk). Tokyo Bus TK01/TK02 stop right at the station.

Can I pay by credit card?+

It varies by facility. Some shops take cards and QR payments, but bring cash to be safe, especially for the market and the fish center stalls.

What time should I visit?+

Go in the morning. Umanchu Market opens at 9:00 and the freshest produce sells out early. Morning is also when the fish center's catch is at its best.

Sources

Visited in person; photos and photographed prices from our June 2024 visit · 道の駅いとまん（おきなわLovers 日本語版） · Facility hours and parking figures as published by Michi-no-Eki Itoman.

Every station

nearest first, from where you are now

Michi-no-Eki ToyosakiTomigusuku · 5.4 km Minami-no-Eki YaeseYaese · 5.9 km Happy More IchibaGinowan · 26 km Michi-no-Eki KadenaKadena · 37 km Michi-no-Eki Kina BanjoYomitan · 42 km Uru MarcheUruma · 44 km Umi-no-Eki AyahashikanUruma · 50 km Onna-no-Eki NakayukuiOnna · 50 km Michi-no-Eki KyodaNago · 72 km Michi-no-Eki GinozaGinoza · 73 km Wansaka Oura ParkNago · 81 km Haneji-no-EkiNago · 85 km Nakijin no Eki So-reNakijin · 91 km Michi-no-Eki Sunrise HigashiHigashi · 93 km Rikarika WarumiNakijin · 94 km Kouri SorahashiKouri · 98 km Michi-no-Eki OgimiOgimi · 104 km Michi-no-Eki Yui-Yui KunigamiKunigami · 115 km Yanbaru Pineapple HillKunigami · 118 km

Itoman,the southernmost