A Japanese blogger who loves all things resort-style, @owncolorstravel shares tips and stories about beach resort travel, focusing mainly on Okinawa.
This time, though, we’re shining the spotlight on one of the remote islands of Kagoshima Prefecture—Yoron Island!
Planning a summer trip to Japan? Why not get a head start and learn a bit about it now?
・How to get to Yoron Island
・About Yoron Island
Yoron Island is a tiny tropical paradise with about 5,000 residents, surrounded by emerald green waters and powdery white sand beaches.
Although it’s part of Kagoshima Prefecture, it sits just about 23 km (around 14 miles) from Cape Hedo at the northern tip of Okinawa’s main island—so it’s super close!
You can reach Yoron by ferry or plane from Okinawa.
With crystal-clear waters offering visibility up to 30 meters (98 feet), it’s a favorite among divers. The island’s coral reef-filled sea is also perfect for snorkeling and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP).
One must-see spot is Yurigahama, a stunning sandbar that only appears during low tide—often called a “miracle beach.”
Another highlight? The warm, down-to-earth locals.
Yoron offers a chance to escape the noise of the city, reset your mind and body, and soak up the healing vibes of island life.
・Fly from Okinawa using JAL Airlines
To get to Yoron Island from Okinawa’s main island (Naha Airport), you can take a direct flight operated by Ryukyu Air Commuter (RAC), a regional airline under the JAL (Japan Airlines) group.
The flight is super quick—just about 40 minutes (though my actual flight time was closer to 25 minutes)!
It’s best to book early if you’re traveling during peak season, and try to avoid major holidays. You might also want to keep an eye out for JAL’s domestic flight sales.
For this trip, I paid around ¥27,000 (round-trip) from Naha to Yoron, thanks to a JAL sale. The cheapest sale fares sold out in no time—no surprise, given how popular the route is.
Even though I flew right after Golden Week (a major holiday in Japan), the price was actually higher than flying to Okinawa’s other remote islands like Ishigaki or Miyako.
As you can see in the photo, it’s a propeller plane—and that’s actually one of the best parts of the flight! Because these planes fly at a lower altitude, you get awesome close-up views of the clouds and the scenery below as you fly over Okinawa.
The weather was a bit iffy on the way there, but even so, I could still see just how clear and beautiful the ocean was from above.
Compared to the flight over, the return flight was totally different—the weather cleared up partway through, and it turned into a beautiful sunny day!
The views of the Okinawan islands from above were absolutely stunning.
If you’re flying in from the mainland, ANA also offers direct flights to Yoron Island—departing from Kagoshima Airport.
The flight takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes, and since the route takes you over the Amami Islands, you’ll get a totally different set of views from the air compared to flying from Okinawa. It sounds like a beautiful ride!
ANA Kagoshima 11:10 → Yoron 12:40 arrival Yoron 13:15 → Kagoshima 14:40 arrival
・How to get from Okinawa main island to Yoron Island by ferry
If you’re looking to save on travel costs, have some extra time, or want to explore Okinawa’s main island before heading to Yoron, taking a ferry is a great option.
As someone living in Okinawa, I’ve actually taken the ferry myself! I boarded the Ferry Hamanoue, operated by A-Line Ferry (Maruei Ferry), from Motobu Port on the main island and arrived at Yoron Port about 2.5 hours later. If you’re departing from Naha Port, the trip takes about 4.5 hours.
There are regular ferry routes from Okinawa to Yoron Island, operated by Marix Line or A-Line Ferry, with departures from Naha or Motobu. These companies alternate daily on the Amami-Okinawa route, so be sure to check the current schedule and make reservations ahead of time—there’s typically one ferry per day, and the schedule can vary depending on the date.
One big plus of taking the ferry is that you can bring a car! As of May 2025, for example, loading a standard-sized kei car (light car) with A-Line costs about ¥10,880. So if you bring your own vehicle, you can enjoy driving around Yoron Island without needing to rent a car once you’re there. They also offer transport fares for motorcycles and bicycles.
Ferries have different cabin classes, from private rooms to traditional Japanese-style open sleeping areas, so you can enjoy a laid-back journey that’s quite different from flying. You can even head out to the deck and feel the sea breeze—kind of gives you Titanic vibes (in a fun way!).
If you’ve got the time, here’s my personal recommended plan:
Fly into Naha Airport, spend some time sightseeing around Okinawa’s main island, especially up north, then take the ferry from Motobu Port over to Yoron Island. It’s a flexible and relaxing way to enjoy the southern islands at your own pace!
・Recommended season
Since Yoron Island is so close to Okinawa, you can pretty much use the same timing guidelines as you would for planning a trip to Okinawa.
When I visited during Obon (mid-August), the weather was perfect—sunny and ideal for hanging out at the beach. That said, it’s also typhoon season, so just like with Okinawa, it’s something to be cautious about.
Also, keep in mind that the second half of Golden Week (early May) often brings unstable weather and is around the time rainy season tends to start in this region. Because Yoron is a small island, rainy days can be a real letdown if you were hoping for ocean fun.
So, if you’re looking for the best timing, I’d recommend going after typhoon season (mid-October onward) or right before Golden Week. That’s when the humidity drops, the weather is more stable, and you can really enjoy swimming and all the beauty the island has to offer.