Elsewhere in the country: Level 3 (leave the country) — some regions: L3 (leave): within 30 km of Fukushima Daiichi NPP and government-designated evacuation zones / rest of Japan: no advisory
Visits to the listed regions should be cancelled or postponed (see Details for other areas).
checked 2026-10-05 · Details ↗ This is the Korean government’s advisory — also check your own government’s travel advice.
The main island of the Yaeyama Islands, about 410 km southwest of Naha on Okinawa Island (about an hour's flight from Naha Airport). It is known for coral seas, Kabira Bay, a national Place of Scenic Beauty, and star-filled night skies, and ferries to Taketomi and Iriomote leave from the island port terminal in town.
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Check prices →A subtropical island with an average yearly temperature of 24.3°C. Beaches open in March, the earliest in Japan, and the rainy season starts early and ends around early June. July-August has the most beautiful seas, but typhoons often approach from late June to October, peaking in September-October. In January-February the north wind makes it feel cooler, so bring a jacket.
| High °C | Low °C | Rain mm | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21.5° | 16.7° | 135.0 |
| Feb | 22.0° | 17.2° | 124.0 |
| Mar | 23.7° | 18.6° | 134.4 |
| Apr | 26.0° | 21.3° | 146.9 |
| May | 28.7° | 23.9° | 190.7 |
| Jun | 30.9° | 26.6° | 208.2 |
| Jul | 32.2° | 27.7° | 142.3 |
| Aug | 32.0° | 27.3° | 249.8 |
| Sep | 31.0° | 26.0° | 259.7 |
| Oct | 28.8° | 23.9° | 211.2 |
| Nov | 26.2° | 21.5° | 138.1 |
| Dec | 23.0° | 18.4° | 155.2 |
Monthly averages of daily highs and lows, and average monthly rainfall. Any given year can differ.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency · Ishigakijima station · 1991–2020 normals —View source
From the airport bus stop, take a bus toward the Ishigaki Port island terminal and the bus terminal in town. The direct bus runs roughly every 30 minutes during the day. Pay in cash or with a contactless credit card; transport IC cards are not accepted. Direct route 14, still listed on the airport site, is suspended from 1 October 2026.
The taxi stand is in front of the arrivals lobby. Times and fares below are the airport's estimates for a standard taxi and vary with route and traffic.
Rental company shuttle pick-up points are inside the airport's general car park. Check pick-up details with your rental company. Most of the island is within an hour's drive.
Only two buses a day go straight from the airport toward Kabira Park (leaving the airport at 12:15 and 15:00). At other times, change at the bus terminal in town.
The easiest way to explore Ishigaki. Japan drives on the left, and foreign licenses usually require an International Driving Permit; check official rules before you go. Crested serpent eagles, a protected special natural monument, keep getting hit by cars, so drive slowly.
Buses run from the bus terminal in town across the island. Pay in cash or by contactless credit card only; transport IC cards are not accepted. A 24-hour pass costs JPY 1,000 and a 3-day pass JPY 2,000. Buses stop running when a storm warning is issued for the Yaeyama area.
Handy for short trips in town. From the airport to Hirakubo-zaki at the northern tip is about 45 min and about JPY 7,100.
High-speed boats to Taketomi, Iriomote and other islands leave from the Ishigaki Port island terminal, run by two companies. The Ishigaki counters take cash, cards, e-money, transport IC cards and QR payments, but small ports such as Taketomi take cash only. Sailings are cancelled in rough seas, so keep your plans flexible.
Cycling is the main way to get around Taketomi, which has several bicycle rental shops. Buffalo-cart tour operators and bike rental shops run free shuttles between the port and the village.
Good for: First visit, island hopping, car-free trips
The island's hub, with hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops. Ferries to the outer islands and route buses all start here, so getting around is easy.
Good for: Sea views, snorkeling, families
Home to Kabira Bay and the Yonehara coast. Nearby Sukuji Beach has very shallow water and a sandy bottom, good for young children, with jellyfish nets in summer.
Good for: Drives, viewpoints, quiet beaches
A long, sparsely populated peninsula in the northeast with fine beaches and hiking trails, plus Tamatorizaki Observatory and Hirakubo-zaki.
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Ishigaki's signature view, a national Place of Scenic Beauty with three stars in the Michelin Green Guide. Swimming is not allowed because of black pearl farming. Instead, glass-bottom boats leave every 15 or 30 minutes without reservations, and the lookout at Kabira Park shows the whole bay. The car park gets busy, so check the city's YouTube live camera first.
10-15 min by high-speed boat from the port terminal. The village of red-tiled roofs, coral stone walls and white sand lanes is a national Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Try a 30-minute buffalo-cart tour, then Kondoi Beach, a 15-minute walk from the village, or sunset at the West Pier. The boat costs JPY 970 one way.
The largest of the Yaeyama Islands; over 90% of it is jungle and about 70% is a World Natural Heritage site. High-speed boats take 35-40 min to Ohara Port (JPY 2,520 one way) and 40-50 min to Uehara Port (JPY 3,290). Allow 1-2 hours for a river cruise and a full day for trekking or kayaking tours. Beaches have no lifeguards or jellyfish nets.
A lookout over the Hirakubo Peninsula and the sea, with Ibaruma Bay on the left, Mt. Hanna ahead and coral reefs on the right. Hibiscus blooms year-round along the path up. About 20 min by car from the airport.
The cape at the northern tip of the Hirakubo Peninsula. From the lighthouse, the Pacific Ocean spreads out on the right and the East China Sea on the left. About 45 min by taxi from the airport.
The city museum collecting and showing Yaeyama history, folklore, art and crafts. Open 9:00-17:00 (last entry 16:30); closed Mondays, national holidays and December 29-January 3. Adults JPY 200, students JPY 100, 12 and under free; free parking.
A coast inside Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park and a good snorkeling spot. However, there are no lifeguards or jellyfish nets, and the currents are strong. Don't step on or take coral, and don't feed the fish.
Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park was the first place in Japan recognized by DarkSky International as a Dark Sky Place (starry sky reserve). You can see 84 of the 88 constellations, including the Southern Cross.
The Yaeyama style of Okinawa soba, made with wheat flour rather than buckwheat. Slightly thin round noodles come with toppings cut into strips in a gently sweet broth. It goes well with pipatsu, a pepper-like local spice.
Ishigaki Island's brand of Kuroge Wagyu beef, raised in a nature-rich, low-stress environment. Known for clean, high-quality fat and rich flavor.
The waters around Ishigaki are full of fish, usually eaten as sashimi, maasu-ni (simmered in salt) or tempura. Locally caught bluefin tuna and skipjack are especially good.
Very sweet pineapple and mango are Ishigaki's signature southern fruits.
Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.
Pick up your rental car, ride a glass-bottom boat at Kabira Bay, look around the Yonehara coast, then Tamatorizaki Observatory and Hirakubo-zaki in the afternoon. Stargazing at night.
Morning boat to Taketomi Island (bicycle, buffalo cart, Kondoi Beach), back to Ishigaki in the afternoon for the Yaeyama Museum (closed Mondays, last entry 16:30), then dinner in town.
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