Special Sabani Experience with Master Boat Builder – Feel the Atmosphere of the Annual Ungami Festival in Shioya Bay

【OUTLINE】

Explore Ogimi Village in Okinawa, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.
This village, rich in ancient nature, has preserved traditional events for over 500 years. Join this special tour to meet the master boat builder who protects these traditions and experience the unique local history and culture with a special guide.

【HIGHLIGHTS】 

• Interact with the master boat builder supporting the 500-year-old traditional festival "Ungami (Sea God Festival)."
• Visit spots and hear stories related to the Ungami that are not covered in regular Sabani tours.
• Enjoy a special tour with the only master boat builder in Ogimi Village who crafts traditional wooden sail Sabani boats.

【DETAILS】

Are you familiar with Okinawa's traditional wooden boat, the "sail Sabani"? The "Sabani" is a wooden boat used in Okinawa and surrounding islands for fishing, transportation, and various other purposes. However, with the advent of engines, the use of these wooden boats has diminished, along with the number of people who inherit the boat-building techniques.

Among those who are preserving these ancient boat-building skills is Teppei Hentona, the tour guide, and representative of Hentona Sabani. Born and raised in Okinawa, Hentona aims to contribute to his hometown while sharing the charm of Sabani with the world. This tour not only includes a standard Sabani experience but also takes you on special routes not usually visited, providing insights into actual boat-building techniques and processes.

Another highlight of this tour is the setting, "Shioya-wan." Designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, Shioya-wan hosts the annual "Kaijinsai" festival, where locals gather with Sabani boats to pray for a bountiful harvest and good health. Learn about the Sabani used in this 500-year-old festival and its rich traditions and history through this ultimate local experience.

Get up close with the Sabani boats made from ancient trees nurtured by the great nature of the "Yanbaru area," also registered as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.

【SCHEDULE】

[10:00] Meet at Hentona Sabani, Sabani explanation and tour

[10:30] Sabani experience in Shioya-wan

[11:00] Shioya-wan explanation and visit to special spots not usually accessible

[11:30] Feel the atmosphere of the 500-year-old traditional event "Kaijinsai"

[12:00] End of tour at Hentona Sabani

【THINGS TO NOTE】

• Duration：2 hours
• Meeting point：Hentona Sabani　[MAP]
  365-3, Miyagi, Ogimi-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa 905-1319
• Access：About 1 hour 30 minutes via Route 58.
  ※Located off a side road from Route 58 in Miyagi, Ogimi Village.
• Language support：Japanese, English
• Included：
  ・Experience fee
  ・Guide fee
  ・Insurance fee
  ・Life jacket rental fee

• Excluded：
  ・Transportation to the meeting point
  ・Souvenirs purchased on site
• Items to bring：
  ・Footwear that can get wet (marine shoes recommended)
  ・Towel, change of clothes
• Clothes：Wear clothing that can get wet, as there is a possibility of getting wet.
• Participation requirements：13 years and older
• Free Wi-Fi：No
  
• Toilet：No
• Other things to note：
  ・Your feet will get wet when boarding and disembarking. Please wear clothing that can get wet up to the knees.
  (If you have marine shoes, please wear them.)
  ・Bring a towel and change of clothes as you may get splashed or encounter sudden rain.
  ・There are no toilets around the meeting point, so please use the restroom before arriving.
  ・The tour may be canceled at short notice due to weather, wind speed, wind direction, sea conditions, etc. The decision will prioritize participants' safety.
  ・For any other questions, please feel free to contact us.

【CANCELLATION POLICY】

Until 72 hours before the experience start time: 0%
From 72 hours before the experience start time to start time: 100%
Cancellation after the experience has started or cancellation without contact: 100%