Tucked into the end of a well-protected bay near the southeastern tip of Kyushu is the fishing port of Uchinoura, best known for being the location of one of Japan’s two main rocket-launching stations.
Guided tours (in Japanese only) are available at the launch station.
Approaching Uchinoura, be sure to avoid the extensive aquaculture areas. Also, note that major construction changed the size and location of the breakwaters at the entrance a few years ago, so what you see may be different from what is indicated on your charts if they are not up-to-date.
Moorage can be found at the northern end of the fishing port. There is room along the wall for about three visiting boats. (31°16.7368’N, 131°4.7516’E)
There is a onsen hot-spring bath, a 15-minute walk to the north, a convenience store a few minutes beyond that. About 10 minutes to the west is a commercial district, with a good supermarket and a few local eateries.
