Okinawa · Japan

Yaeyama Islands

The islands at the far south of Japan, near Taiwan: Kabira Bay on Ishigaki, the red-tiled village and sandy streets of Taketomi, and the forests and mangroves of Iriomote.

Okinawa

In the photo: Beach and boats in Kabira Bay, in the Yaeyama Islands.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The Yaeyama Islands form the southernmost and westernmost group of the Okinawa archipelago, about 400 km from Okinawa Island and a little over 200 km from Taiwan. There are more than ten inhabited islands, with coral reefs, white-sand beaches, subtropical forests and a distinct culture, with a dialect, music and festivals different from Okinawa.

Ishigaki is the main island and the gateway, with an airport and the port where boats depart for the other islands. The town has a market, restaurants serving local beef and nightlife, and the northern coast holds Kabira Bay, with light-green water over white sand, and Cape Hirakubo, with the lighthouse at the northern tip.

A 15-minute boat ride away, Taketomi preserves a village of low houses with red tiles, coral-stone walls and white-sand streets, explored on foot, by bicycle or in water-buffalo-drawn carts. Iriomote, the largest island in the group after Ishigaki, is almost entirely covered by forest and mangrove, with navigable rivers, waterfalls and the Iriomote cat, a feline found only there. The island was inscribed as a natural UNESCO World Heritage site in 2021.

The climate is subtropical, with long hot summers and mild winters. The rainy season usually covers May and early June, and typhoons are more frequent from August to October, when boats and flights can be suspended.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Ishigaki, Taketomi.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Yaeyama Islands is

Dados cartográficos: © OpenStreetMap contributors, via Wambacher / geoBoundaries (ODbL 1.0). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Yaeyama Islands

✈ Aeroporto de Ishigaki (ISG) · 15 km to Ishigaki

Ishigaki Airport (ISG) receives flights from Naha in about 1 hour, and direct flights from Tokyo, Osaka and other Japanese cities. From the airport, the bus takes about 30 to 40 minutes to the port. Boats depart from Ishigaki Port terminal to Taketomi in about 10 to 15 minutes, and to Iriomote in about 40 to 50 minutes.

Suggested arrival point: Ishigaki

Okinawa · Yaeyama Islands Suggested arrival point

Ishigaki

Ishigaki is the main town of the Yaeyama Islands, with the airport and the port where boats depart for Taketomi, Iriomote and the smaller islands. The island has coral reefs, Kabira Bay with light-green water over white sand, and Cape Hirakubo with the lighthouse at the northern tip. Ishigaki beef and Yaeyama music are part of town life.

Okinawa · Yaeyama Islands

Taketomi

Taketomi is the small, flat island a 15-minute boat ride from Ishigaki, the municipal seat that also includes Iriomote and other Yaeyama islands. The central village preserves red-tiled houses, coral-stone walls and white-sand streets, explored on foot, by bicycle or in water-buffalo-drawn carts. From Ishigaki, Iriomote—with its mangroves, rivers and forest—is the most popular day trip in the area.

The local experience

Things to do in Yaeyama Islands

Ishigaki · Okinawa · Natural attraction

Kabira Bay

Bay on the northwest coast of Ishigaki, with light-green water over white sand, small forested islets and black-pearl farms. Glass-bottom boat tours show the corals; swimming is prohibited.

Taketomi · Okinawa · Historic village

Taketomi Village

The central village of Taketomi Island, with low red-tiled houses, shisa guardian lions on the roofs, coral-stone walls and white-sand streets. It is a designated preservation area for traditional Japanese buildings.

Ishigaki · Okinawa · Lookout

Cape Hirakubo

Northern tip of Ishigaki island, with a white lighthouse on a cliff and views over blue seas, reefs and Taka Island. It sits at the end of the north coast road, about 40 km from town.

Taketomi · Okinawa · Island

Iriomote Island

The second-largest island of Okinawa, almost entirely covered by subtropical forest and mangroves, a natural World Heritage site. It has navigable rivers, such as the Urauchi and the Nakama, waterfalls and the Iriomote cat, which exists only there.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From April to June and from September to November the heat is milder and the sea is still good for swimming; May typically has rain. July and August are the height of summer, with warmer sea and possible typhoons, which are more frequent from August to October. In winter, from December to February, days are mild, with northerly winds and cooler sea.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Four days allow for one day in Ishigaki, half a day in Taketomi and one or two days in Iriomote. With three days, do Ishigaki’s north coast, Taketomi and a day trip to Iriomote. Divers often stay a week.

Which city to stay in

The town of Ishigaki, near the port terminal, is the most practical base for boat day trips to the other islands, with restaurants and shops. Kabira coast and northern Ishigaki have beachfront hotels for those with a car. In Taketomi and Iriomote there are family-run guesthouses, popular with travelers who want to see the islands without day-trip crowds.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Yaeyama Islands

How to get to the Yaeyama Islands?

Via Ishigaki Airport, with flights from Naha in about 1 hour and direct flights from some Japanese cities. The other islands are reached by boat from Ishigaki Port.

Can you visit Taketomi and Iriomote in the same day?

Yes, with combined packages from boat operators that include both islands, but the day is rushed and Iriomote yields little time. The most common plan is half a day in Taketomi and a full day in Iriomote.

Are the boats between islands often canceled?

With strong wind and typhoons, yes, especially to Uehara Port in Iriomote, and in winter. Leave slack in your itinerary and check operations that day with the operators.

Do I need a car on the Yaeyama Islands?

In Ishigaki it helps for the north coast, but there are buses and tours. In Taketomi you walk or cycle. In Iriomote there is a bus on the single road, rental cars and guided tours with transfers.

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Beyond the guide

Yaeyama Islands

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.