Around Ishigaki Island, there are many islands that can only be reached by boats and ferries.
Among them, there is Taketomi Island which is only 6.5 km away from Ishigaki Island.
To reach Taketomi Island take a ferry from Ishigaki Port Terminal.
We purchased the boarding ticket at the counter, using Yaeyama Kanko Ferry
which costs: 880 yen one way, 1,700 yen round trip
*From April 1, 2021, due to the increase in fuel costs,
the “Fuel Supplement” is included in the price of the ferry ticket.
Buy your ticket in advance on Klook
There is another company, Anei Kanko Ferry, which offers cheaper fares!
If I had known this before, I would have chosen this solution.
It’s only 1,160 yen for a round trip, book in advance on Klook!
* Passengers will be required to pay the fuel surcharge directly at the counter.
How to reach Taketomi Island
After purchasing the tickets, check the ferry’s terminal on the display.
The ferry trip was very pleasant and short considering that the island of Taketomi
is only 10-15 minutes from Ishigaki Island.
Buffalo Carts Tour
Nitta Kankou and Taketomi Tourist Center are the two companies that operate buffalo cart tours.
Once you arrive at Taketomi port, take a shuttle bus (from one of
these two companies) that will take you to their information center.
From there, you’ll have easy access to rental bikes and buffalo tours.
The price for the tour was around 2,000 yen
This is a unique experience where you can admire the island’s sights
while listening to the guide play the traditional Sanshin instrument.
The tour lasts about 30 minutes: the buffalo is not fast, it moves slower than a walking person
In fact, the duration of the tour may vary depending on the mood and physical condition of
the buffalo that day. This makes each experience special and unpredictable,
adding a special touch to your trip.
Along the way, you will notice half-lion, half-dog guardians, called shiisa,
often present in pairs on the walls and roofs of Okinawa houses.
Those with open mouths have the task of driving away bad spirits,
while those with closed mouths hold back the good spirits.
Taketomi Island Village has been declared a national conservation area for important
traditional buildings. For this reason, the construction of houses with more than one floor
is not permitted, thus preserving the authentic charm of the island.
After the ride on the buffalo cart, they gave us some star-shaped sand and a souvenir photo!
A small but precious souvenir to remember this unique experience.
Nishi-Sanbashi Pier
From the village, it is about 15 minutes on foot to get to Nishi-Sanbashi Pier
This west pier was used as a landing point for ships until 1972.
After that, head to Kondoi Beach, which is about a 15-minute walk from the pier.
Kondoi Beach
Kondoi Beach, located on the west side of the island, enchants with its pristine white sand
and clear and calm waters.
As we went in June, during the rainy season, we were lucky enough to find the beach
relatively quiet, without many people.
Parking near the port of Ishigaki
In front of Ishigaki Port, there is a car park, however it is not very large and tends to fill up quickly
In conclusion
It took us less than four hours to visit Taketomi Island.
Although there are places to eat, we didn’t notice any convenience stores,
so I would recommend bringing some food with you.
Unfortunately, we were unable to visit the famous Kaiji Beach, known for its star-shaped sand.
This gives us a great reason to plan a return and have the chance to further explore this lovely island!
Immerse yourself in Taketomi’s authentic beauty with a stay that captures the essence of the island.
