Summer Solo Trip to Okinawa’s Remote Islands: Yaeyama Edition
This time, I revisited Taketomi Island after almost eight years, making it the star of this article. Though I’d love to stay overnight on the island someday, I opted for a day trip again, catching a ferry from Ishigaki Port and renting a bicycle to explore the village.
I’ll share where you can rent a bike and showcase some photos of the traditional Ryukyu houses with their iconic red-tiled roofs.
・From Iriomote Island to Ishigaki Port
Moving Day from Iriomote Island
On the day I had to leave Iriomote Island, I enjoyed breakfast at the inn, feeling a bit sad to say goodbye. Afterward, the inn’s owner kindly gave me a ride to Uehara Terminal, where the port is located.
I caught the 9:30 AM ferry with An’ei Kankō, heading back to Ishigaki Port via Hatoma Island. The ferry on the way back is open, so there’s no set schedule, but since the next one was at 2:30 PM, I decided to move in the morning.
At the terminal, you can buy souvenirs and relax in the waiting area while waiting for the ferry to depart. It was raining when I arrived on Iriomote, but today the weather was perfect, so I had some time to take photos.
The water is so clear that you can see small fish swimming when you look into the sea.
A boat carrying supplies and other goods has arrived.
Departure time. Thank you, Iriomote Island.
It was so bright inside the boat that the reflections were intense, but the sea was calm with hardly any waves, making for a comfortable ride.
Since I was concerned about the weather, I decided to visit Taketomi Island on the day of travel and planned to purchase the ticket after arriving at Ishigaki Port.
Please refer to the article below for directions on how to get from Ishigaki Island to Iriomote Island.
・How to get from Ishigaki Port to Taketomi Island
I’ve arrived at the Euglena Ishigaki Port Remote Island Terminal.
From here, I’ll purchase a ticket on-site to go to Taketomi Island.
There are coin lockers inside the terminal, but the Ishigaki Island Travel Center, located at the bottom left of the photo, is helpful as they offer ticket purchases and free luggage storage for items like suitcases
The 11:30 AM ferry to Taketomi Island. The round-trip ticket was 1,700 yen.
The boat ride was comfortable. Since it takes only about 15 minutes to reach Taketomi Island, it’s convenient for a day trip, giving you plenty of time to enjoy sightseeing.
As I gazed at the sea, I arrived on the island in no time.
The sun is shining so brightly that even a short walk feels like it might give you a sunburn.
・Where to rent bicycles on Taketomi Island
It takes over 15 minutes to walk from the Taketomi Island Ferry Terminal to the Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, where rows of red-tiled Ryukyu houses stand. In the intense heat, this can be quite challenging, so first, I’ll head to a place where I can rent a bicycle.
Minemoto Rental Cycle Taketomi Town, Yaeyama District, Okinawa Prefecture 907-1101
Minemoto Rental Cycle is the most accessible from the port, making it highly recommended. They offer regular bicycles, electric bicycles, and children’s bicycles, and I managed to rent the last electric-assisted bicycle available. The village paths are sandy and can be a bit slippery, so be careful—I found myself wobbling several times.
While I was there, some international visitors also arrived, showing that Taketomi Island is popular with travelers from abroad too.
The rental system charges by the hour, and if you exceed the time limit, additional charges will apply.
Taketomi Island is a small island with a circumference of about 9 km, so there are no rental cars or motorcycles available. Cycling around the island is a great option.
For those who want to tour the village by water buffalo cart, Taketomi Tourism Center is a good choice. They also offer bicycle rentals.
・Cycling Around the Red-Tiled Roof Village
Taketomi Island is one of the Yaeyama Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. It’s a small island with beautiful beaches, including Kondoi Beach, and a village of traditional Ryukyu houses with red-tiled roofs, offering a glimpse of Okinawa’s historic scenery.
Under the bright, shining sun, I cycled toward the village.
As the path turned into a white sandy road, it became difficult to pedal, and I found myself wobbling several times. So, I took it slow and steady as I made my way around.
I was delighted to see so many of my favorite bougainvillea flowers in bloom.
Last time was also just a day trip, but there are some intriguing accommodations on Taketomi Island, like Hoshinoya, that I’d love to stay at someday.
You can get a panoramic view of the village from “Nagomi Tower.”
I got sunburned in no time while cycling around the village.
・Lunch break with Okinawa soba in the village
The rental bicycle staff advised me that it gets crowded around lunchtime, so I decided to have lunch as soon as I arrived in the village.
I went to a popular restaurant where you can enjoy Okinawa soba.
Kani-fu
494 Taketomi, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa 907-1101, Japan
The bicycle parking is right next to the store.
In addition to Okinawa soba, the menu here includes options like hamburg steak , pork sautéed with Ishigaki Island pork, and tofu champuru, so you can enjoy a variety of dishes.
I had the soft bone soki soba.
The restaurant has a spacious interior with counter and table seating, and they offer an English menu.
There are other places for lunch in the village, but it seemed that everywhere was crowded around lunchtime.
After lunch, I strolled around the village, taking photos and enjoying the scenery. I’d like to come back when it’s a bit cooler and stay overnight.
Even though many tourists visit for the day, staying overnight would let you enjoy the quiet morning atmosphere and the beaches at a more leisurely pace.
