Motobu (Okinawa Island Japan)

Motobu is a port town in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture (Kunigami District), with population around 14,000. Several nearby islands are easily accessed from Motobu, including Minna-jima (by ferry) and Sesoko (via bridge). Both are incorporated in Motobu Town. Ferry service runs to Ie-jima from Motobu Port. Motobu is served by 3 large supermarkets and 8 individual schools (elementary to high school levels).

Just like many Okinawa towns, Motobu is composed of several former villages, plus the districts Kamimotobu, Izumi, Sakimotobu Sesoko. Tourist attractions include Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and Nakijin Castle ruins.

On January 31, 2017, Motobu was selected as one of all 6 Japanese ports to receive private funding for structural upgrades of their cruise terminal facilities.

• The project aimed to attract more cruise ships and to increase the number of visiting international passengers. The other ports in that list were Yokohama, Shimizu, Sasebo, Yatsushiro-Kumamoto City and Miyakojima.
• At the above listed ports, cruise companies will build passenger terminals and other port facilities using their own funds. Other companies and lines / operators will be also allowed to use these facilities. However, the cruise shipping companies that will build the new port facilities will be given priority to use the wharfs.
• The companies involved in the port building project are NYK Cruises (subsidiary of the Japanese cargo shipping corporation Nippon Yusen Kaisha / NYK Line) and RCCL (Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd).
• In 2016, the number of cruise ship visitors to Japan reached 1,9 million. In comparison, 2013 season's statistics showed only 174,000 passengers.