Sabani - Okinawan Fishermen Boat
Explore Okinawa on a Traditional Sail & Paddle Boat
What is Fukaki Sabani?
Native to Itoman, the southernmost city of Okinawa’s main island, Fukaki Sabani is the name given to paddle-and-sail traditional wooden boats used by the local fishermen.
Originally designed for fishing on both reef flats and open seas, Sabani boats evolved from dugout pirogues more than 6 centuries ago, and evolved along generations to almost disappear during the second half of the 20th century, replaced by modern materials fishing vessels.
But today, these Okinawan iconic boats attract attention again not only as cultural assets, but also as a fun, active and eco-friendly way to explore the local marine nature and rediscover the world with the eyes of the Island's ancestors.
A Cultural Legacy
Documents about the arts and crafts of shipbuilding in the Ryukyu are scarce, partly because of Okinawan strong oral tradition and partly because of the destruction of precious archives during the WWII Battle of Okinawa.
Sabani boats, (registered in 2026 as Japan Folk Tangible Property,) combine ancient Pacific islands dugout pirogues and contemporary plank boats techniques. These ancestral skills have been perfected and transmitted through generations.
Today, only a handful of shipwrights keep passing on this precious knowledge, and there is no better place than Itoman's Sabani workshop to take a dive into this fascinating world.
Our Tours
We offer several private programs to allow visitors choosing the experience that best suits them.
[SABANI SAIL & PADDLE TOUR -1.5 hr]
Our base program and the most demanded. It is a short yet complete experience.
[SABANI SAILING CLASS - 4 hrs]
Designed for guests with some experience in sailing or nautic sports. The goal is to learn the basics of sabani navigation and steer by yourself in few hours.
Half day [REEF DISCOVERY TOUR]
Full day [SABANI SAILOR ADVENTURE]
Night time [SUNSET TOUR]
Family oriented complete programs in collaboration with the Tourism Association of the city of Itoman.
Include tracking boat, island visit, corals observation.
Not exactly the experience you are looking for?
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