Last checked: October 9, 2026
After dark, boats leave Hamakawa Fishing Port in Chatan, a few minutes from American Village, to jig for large hairtail in water about 200 m deep. In Okinawa, the biggest ones are called “Mega Hairtail” or “Okinawa Dragon.”
This guide is based on the KKday listing for the trip, which doesn’t name the boat company. We note where the listing is unclear or contradicts itself.
OKINAWA REGION
Hamakawa Fishing Port, Chatan, Okinawa
From American Village: About 5 minutes by car
From Naha: About 45 minutes by car
At a Glance
- Shared boat: ¥17,500 per person, with a minimum of 3 people (as of October 2026)
- Private charter: ¥70,000 per boat, up to 4 rods
- Times: meet at 19:00, back around 24:00
- Level: intermediate to expert on the shared boat. Beginners and children should book the charter
- Gear: electric reel set for ¥12,000, or bring your own
- Free cancellation: up to 7 days before
Prices in yen come from the listing’s description. Check the price and currency on KKday for your date.
Is This Trip Right for You?
✅ Great if you…
- have fished before and want to try deep jigging
- want something to do in the evening in Okinawa
- are staying near American Village
- want a private boat for your family or friends, with the captain helping beginners
⚠️ Think twice if you…
- get seasick easily. The listing says first-time anglers are very prone to it
- need a toilet on board. Some of the boats don’t have one
- need to get back to Naha after midnight
- are booking the shared boat for one or two people. You pay for the missing places
📅 When the trip runs
Open △ Check dates Closed
The listing says hairtail can be caught all year, with the best season from October to December. Fishing seasons shift a little from year to year, so check dates on the booking page.
Source: KKday listing, checked October 2026.
Your Night, Hour by Hour
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 19:00 | Meet at Hamakawa Fishing Port, under the ice tower |
| 19:30 | Leave port |
| On the water | About 4 hours of jigging, with the lights of American Village on shore |
| About 24:00 | Back in port |
Source: KKday listing, checked October 2026. The best season is October to December, though hairtail can be caught all year, according to the listing.
Shared Boat or Private Charter?
Prices below are what KKday showed in October 2026 and change with the date and availability.
| Shared boat | Private charter | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ¥17,500 per person | ¥70,000 per boat |
| Who it’s for | Intermediate to expert anglers | Anyone, including beginners and children |
| Group size | Minimum 3 people | Up to 10 people, but only 4 rods |
Source: KKday listing, checked October 2026. If your group wants to use 5 or more rods, the operator arranges two boats for ¥140,000.
⚠️ Booking the shared boat for one or two people? The listing says the shared boat needs at least 3 people. If you book for 1 or 2, you’re charged on the day for the places that aren’t filled.
How Hairtail Jigging Works
Deep water
The fish hold at about 200 m. You drop a metal jig to the depth and work it to draw a bite.
Electric reels
At that depth, the listing recommends an electric reel that holds 200 m of line or more.
Big fish
Hairtail have sharp teeth and silver bodies. A “Dragon-class” fish is five fingers wide or more.
I’ve never fished before. Can I still go?
Book the private charter, not the shared boat. The listing says the captain helps beginners with the rod, the electric reel and the jig.
Gear
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Electric tackle set: rod, electric reel and rig | ¥12,000 per set |
| Rain gear (to buy, not rent) | ¥300 |
Source: KKday listing, checked October 2026. You’re welcome to bring your own tackle. The lecture, the experience and the boat fee are included.
Rules on Board and Okinawa’s Catch Limits
⚠️ Read these before you book. The listing applies them strictly.
- Anyone who is pregnant can’t join
- Anyone who has been drinking is refused, and a hangover can also stop you joining
- If you miss the departure, even because of traffic, bus delays or a late flight, you pay the full cancellation fee
- The boat is chosen on the day from four contracted boats. Some have no toilet and little or no shade, so use the restroom before you board
- Seasickness medicine is required, and there’s no refund if you get seasick
Under Okinawa’s fishing rights and laws, you can’t take home octopus, spiny lobsters, slipper lobsters, shellfish, coral, or groupers and white-spotted wrasse below the legal size, according to the listing. If you catch one, give it to the captain.
Eating Your Catch
The captain can introduce local izakayas and restaurants that will cook fish you bring in. The listing says this is only an introduction: the restaurant may be closed or full, may not serve your fish raw, or may cook only part of it. There’s no refund if that happens.
A note on raw fish
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare warns that Anisakis larvae live in seafood such as mackerel, horse mackerel, sardines and squid. Eating them raw can cause severe stomach pain within hours. Freezing at −20°C for at least 24 hours, or cooking at 70°C or higher (or 60°C for 1 minute), kills them. Vinegar, salt, soy sauce and wasabi do not. Let the restaurant decide how to serve your catch.
Getting to Hamakawa Fishing Port
From Naha by car
about 45 min
Free parking near the boats in the harbor
From American Village
about 5 min by car
The listing also says it’s within walking distance
Source: KKday listing, checked October 2026. Okinawa has no train to Chatan. For buses, the listing names Hamakawa Gyoko as the nearest stop from American Village and Ihei as the nearest stop for buses from Naha. We couldn’t confirm bus times. The meeting point is the ice tower at Hamakawa Fishing Port, 4 Minato, Chatan. The listing says car navigation may send you to the wrong place, so use Google Maps.
Stay near American Village
The trip ends around midnight, so a hotel near American Village is the simplest plan. Klook lists many hotels there.
Hotels near American Village on Klook →How do I get back after the trip?
The listing doesn’t cover transport after 24:00, and we couldn’t confirm late buses. Stay near American Village, or plan for a taxi.
Booking, Cancellation and Weather
KKday confirms your booking one day after you order. When you book, you give the ages of everyone in your group and agree to the listing’s conditions.
KKday’s cancellation policy (as of October 2026):
The trip may be canceled in bad weather, and travel costs aren’t covered. If the trip runs in rain or clouds, you can’t change the date for your own reasons.
What to Bring
🎒 Your packing list
- ☐ Seasickness medicine. The listing requires it
- ☐ Something to drink
- ☐ A flashlight
- ☐ Clothes and non-slip shoes that can get wet
- ☐ A warm layer for the night on the water
- ☐ Rain gear, or ¥300 to buy it there
Do You Need a Fishing License?
No. We found no license system for rod fishing in the sea in official sources. Japan’s Fisheries Agency allows foreign visitors to rod-fish from fishing charters run by Japanese fishers, and it asks everyone to follow local rules. Okinawa’s catch limits above still apply. For more, see do you need a fishing license in Japan?
FAQ
QIs it suitable for beginners?
Only on the private charter. The shared boat is for intermediate to expert anglers.
QCan children join?
Yes, from age 3, on the private charter.
QDoes the crew speak English?
The listing lists English among its languages, but we couldn’t confirm how much English the captain speaks.
QIs there a toilet on board?
Not always. Some of the four boats don’t have one.
QCan I bring my own tackle?
Yes. An electric reel that holds 200 m of line or more is recommended.
QWhat if we catch nothing?
There’s no refund, according to the listing.
Ready to Book?
If you’ve fished before and want a night on the water in Okinawa, this is a rare chance to fight big hairtail from deep water. Stay near American Village, bring seasickness medicine and book at least 7 days ahead to keep free cancellation.
