Naha / Ginowan (Okinawa Island) - Docking
Konpira Consulting provides cruisers - from single-handers on small sailboats to fully-crewed superyachts - with comprehensive support to enjoy the wonders of Japan's oceans. That includes handling all clear-in/out paperwork, preparing passage plans, recommending moorage options, making marina reservations, arranging repairs and haul-outs, and providing emergency support.
In 2025, we will be organizing two rallies.
- The Japan Yacht Rally, from mid-March to late May, to support cruisers going from Okinawa to Hokkaido on their way to Alaska and beyond.
- The Setouchi Yacht Rally, in May, to help foreign and Japanese cruisers explore the beautiful Seto Inland Sea.
Konpira Consulting is also the exclusive Japan agent for Hydrovane wind vanes. In addition, we act as a yacht broker, support boat owners (e.g., surveys, insurance, offshore preparations, equipment/parts searches), and advise marinas.
For more information, contact Konpira Consulting at:
- Website: www.konpira-consulting.com
- Email: kirk@konpira-consulting.com
- WhatsApp: +81 80-8852-3870 (messages only)
After completion of the clearance formalities cruising yachts must make for one of the three marinas. Yachts are not permitted to moor or anchor in Naha port once clearances have been granted.
Approach:
Call the Coast Guard on VHF channel 16 to advise them of the marina you are entering or leaving.
Marinas:
Ginowan Marina: The marina at Ginowan lies about 6nm north along the coast and is regarded as a safe typhoon berth. Ginowan is a closed port, so permission to enter must be secured first from the Ministry of Land office in Naha city.
Follow, initially, the large red then green buoys and then pass between the two small, easy to miss, red and green buoys, which have shallow water either side of them. Once past the entrance of the marina bear right towards the travel lift.
This marina is almost always full and therefore generally they don’t accept reservations.
Itoman: Behind the marina is the Itoman fishing harbor. There is usually room to tie up alongside the wall for a daily fee of Y1,000.
Kadena: The marina at Kadena (about 12nm north of Naha) is part of a US Air Base and is only available to US military personnel. There are no guest berths.
Yonabaru Marina: This is a new (3-years old) marina on the SE coast of Okinawa Island with finger pontoons that can accommodate boats up to 75ft and long docks that can accommodate even larger boats. The marina has a 60-ton travelift and good facilities.
Last updated: June 2019
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Naha / Ginowan (Okinawa Island) was last updated 5 years ago.
Related to following destinations: Japan, Naha / Ginowan (Okinawa Island), Okinawa
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Damien JOB says:
Mar 13, 2019 06:10 AM
Upon arrival in Okinawa from Tahiti (French Polynesia), we were instructed by the Japan Coast Guard (+81(0)98-951-0120) to clear in at Naha harbor. Best to communicate via email (they reply quickly – using on-line translator): jcgbnahakq3-8f5m@mlit.go.jp
You can easily get the “pre-arrival procedure form” (to mail to JCG prior to landing) with a simple web engine search. The pre-arrival procedure form is rather long, detailed, and clearly designed for large vessels, thus no worries if you can’t fill in all boxes.
In your mail to JCG, ask them to arrange landing location with the Naha port authority (+81(0)98-862-2328) as they don’t speak English either.
Our landing position at Naha commercial harbor:
Quay 5 – N26°12’34 E127°40’22
Fee: approx. 300 Yen/night (based on tonnage – 5 tons)
Customs office at Naha Port: oki-9a-k-sokatsu@customs.go.jp / +81(0)98-862-8529
All Customs procedures are explained and relevant forms available at:
http://www.customs.go.jp/english/law/customsform/form_C_e.htm
For tax-free fuel, you need Customs form C2160 – “Declaration of loading of [your] ship’s stores of domestic goods [i.e. Japanese gas!]”
Sailing boats can’t stay in Naha commercial port. Shortly after completing all entry formalities, you will be asked to move to Ginowan marina (West coast) or Yonabaru marina (East coast).
We moved to Itoman fishing port “Fisherina”, where we stayed 1 week at a floating pontoon. The Fisherina office is closed on Wednesday. No English spoken but friendly and helpful staff with whom we could ‘easily’ communicate through real-time voice translation app.
Mooring coordinates: N26°07’43 E127°39’04
Tariffs: 1500 Yen/night (based on boat length – our boat is 35′ feet long)
Gasoil/Diesel: delivery by truck at the pontoon upon request (provider called by Fisherina office)
Fresh water at the pontoon: 50 Yen/hour (long hose available upon request at the office)
Facilities: WC, showers (hot water – 200 Yen/shower), beverages (vending machines)
No Internet / WIFI but if needed, possibility to get connected at the Fisherina office
Free public WIFI networks widely available in Okinawa (e.g. BeOkinawa, NahaCity, etc.)
If you plan to come to Ginowan or any other marina in Okinawa, you have to clear CIQ at Naha port. Coast guard will inform you exact GPS location (it is located across the Naha customs house). All gov’t officials will come and ask and approve documents.
In addition, you have to visit Ministry of Land office in Naha city to receive permission to enter closed ports (like Ginowan). It takes 10 – 15 minutes by taxi. It takes time (at least half day)to get permission so I visited the office twice.
For refueling tax-free diesel, you have to visit the custom house at Okinawa city (located the main gate of US Kadena base). It is a long distance and costs 3,000 Yen each way.
In April 2015, we were permitted to clear in at Ginowan with no problem even though it is a closed port. In early June, an Australian yacht was informed that they must clear in at Naha upon calling the JCG on arrival.
They moored at 26. 12. 331’N. 127. 40. 218′ E in Naha Port and were quite happy with the arrangement. All this to say that the authorities have now apparently decided that they will not deviate from the procedure as it affects clearance in Okinawa.
The Australian yacht was required to obtain closed port permission from the Ministry of Transport etc before they were allowed to move to Ginowan.
Japan Coast Guard request you to go to Ginowan Marina to do clearance as Naha have few docking areas. Many paperwork to do but the officials are very helpful. Very important to fax the boat security report at least 24 hours ahead of arrival.
Naha Port on the north side of the island is the only designated open port on Okinawa and clearance must be obtained here before visiting other areas. Once checked in, Ginowan Marina, 26*16’41.1″N, 127*43’32.8″E.
Tel. 098-897-7017, 6NM NE of Naha Port, is a popular place for visiting yachts. Visitor slips are available and the marina office can arrange duty-free fuel, free wifi in the marina office.
We found that the facilities at Kadena, including the anchorage, can only be used by US military personnel. We were greeted politely when we arrived in May 2013 but advised we would have to leave immediately. Entrance is quite shallow; we had 1.2 meters at low tide.