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About the Yaeyama Islands
The Yaeyama Islands are a group of islands located in the southwest of Okinawa Prefecture. It comprises 12 islands, including Ishigaki Island, Taketomi Island, Iriomote Island, and Kohama Island. It's warm at 25 degrees Celsius throughout the year and has a tropical atmosphere, rich nature, and beautiful beaches. In addition, Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park is the first "International Dark Sky Place" in Japan, so stargazing is also a must-do activity in the Yaeyama Islands.
Moreover, you have the opportunity to explore the surrounding islands from Ishigaki Island. Therefore, I encourage you to consider visiting a variety of islands during your stay to discover your favourite.
Ishigaki Island
Kabira Bay on Ishigaki Island
Ishigaki Island is the second largest island in the Yaeyama Islands. You can enjoy the old-fashioned scenery of Okinawa, while there are many resort hotels and shopping facilities. In addition, the downtown area is also thriving at night, so you can enjoy bars and nightclubs. And, above all, the beautiful sea is attractive, and you can enjoy diving and snorkeling at the world's largest coral reef.
Taketomi Island
© Taketomi Town Tourism Association.
You can visit Taketomi Island by ferry from Ishigaki Island in about 15 minutes. The beautiful white sand beach and the townscape of old red roof-tiled houses, which have been designated as important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings, are impressive. I recommend taking a tour of the island in a water buffalo cart.
Kohama Island
Kohama Island is an island located in the geographical center of the Yaeyama Islands. you can enjoy a relaxing time on the island surrounded by emerald blue waters and massive sugarcane fields. The "phantom islands" that appear only at low tide, and resort hotels are also popular.
Kayama Island
© Taketomi Town Tourism Association.
Kayama Island is an uninhabited island, and you can reach in about 10 minutes from Kohama Island. It's a small island with a circumference of 2.5 km, and primarily accessible through guided tours, offering day trips and camping courses. On the island, you can relax along the beautiful beach, play with about 1,000 rabbits, and even have a barbecue.
Kuro Island
© Taketomi Town Tourism Association.
Kuroshima is an island located about 30 minutes by ferry from Ishigaki Island and is in the shape of a heart. The circumference of the island is about 12.5 km, and you can go around it in 4~5 hours by bicycle. It's famous for its grazing and is also known as "Cow Island", and there are 10 times as many cows as there are about 200 people on the island.
Iriomote Island
© Taketomi Town Tourism Association.
Iriomote Island is the largest island in the Yaeyama Islands. They call it the last unexplored area of Japan, with about 90% of the island covered in subtropical virgin forests. The island harbours a diverse range of flora and fauna and earned registration as a World Natural Heritage Site in 2021. I also recommend visiting Yubu Island.
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Yubu Island: Ride a Water Buffalo Cart to a Subtropical Paradise
Hatoma Island
© Taketomi Town Tourism Association.
Hatoma Island is a small island with a population of about 40 people and has served as a filming location for a TV show. The lapis lazuli colour sea called "Hatoma Blue" boasts the most transparent in the Yaeyama Islands. A lot of untouched nature remains, and you can even see wild goats.
Hateruma Island
© Taketomi Town Tourism Association.
Hateruma Island is the southernmost inhabited island in Japan. The colour of the unique blue sea is called Hateruma Blue. At night, artificial light is extremely scarce, so you can see stars that are difficult to see in other places. In addition, due to its low latitude, it's famous as the only place in Japan where you can observe the Southern Cross.
Aragusuku Island
© Taketomi Town Tourism Association.
Shinshirojima consists of two islands: Kamiji Island and Shimoji Island. There are about 10 residents on the islands, and hundreds of cattle graze on Shimoji Island. There are no regular boats to Aragusuku Island, so it's mandatory to sign up for a sightseeing tour. The untouched sea is said to be the No. 1 in the Yaeyama Islands and is a popular spot for diving and snorkelling for those who are in the know.
Yonaguni Island
Mystery underwater ruins
Yonaguni Island is the westernmost island in Japan and is often referred to as the border island. It has mystery underwater ruins and is a popular diving spot. On top of that, you can experience riding the Yonaguni horse, one of Japan's eight native horses.