This browser cannot show the 3D map, so here is the flat route map. Every place on the map is listed below.
Base map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), tiles by Protomaps; also Natural Earth (public domain). Terrain: Mapzen Terrain Tiles on AWS Open Data. Global GMTED2010 and SRTM terrain data courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey; global ETOPO1 terrain data U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Heights below sea level are set to zero on this map. Ferry lines, ports and places: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and this site's ferry and place data. Labels: Noto Sans (SIL Open Font License); map icons: Tangram icons (MIT).
How to use the map
Drag to move. On a phone, use two fingers to move, pinch to zoom and twist to turn; one finger scrolls the page as usual. With a mouse, right-drag to tilt and turn, and hold Ctrl or Cmd while you scroll to zoom. Tap a port, sight or peak for details and a link to its guide. Pick a crossing and press Fly the crossing to follow the ferry line from Ishigaki port, with the distance and the nearest island shown as you go. Any touch stops the flight.
The land is drawn 1.8 times higher than it is, so the islands' low hills show. The highest point on the map is Mt. Omoto on Ishigaki at 526 m; Taketomi, Kuroshima and Hateruma are almost flat.
The ferry lines
All lines start at the island terminal in Ishigaki port. The shortest is Taketomi at about 6.4 km; the longest is Hateruma at about 54.0 km. The Iriomote (Uehara) crossing runs past Taketomi and Kohama to the north coast of Iriomote. Line lengths are measured along the OpenStreetMap ferry lines; boats do not always follow them exactly.
| Crossing | Line length | Published crossing | Boats a day | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ishigaki → Taketomi | 6.4 km | 10–15 min | 18 | Timetable |
| Ishigaki → Kohama | 21.5 km | 25–30 min | 10 | Timetable |
| Ishigaki → Kuroshima | 19.8 km | 25–30 min | 6 | Timetable |
| Ishigaki → Iriomote (Ohara) | 31.9 km | 40–45 min | 9 | Timetable |
| Ishigaki → Iriomote (Uehara) | 39.7 km | 45–55 min | 8 | Timetable |
| Ishigaki → Hatoma | 38.2 km | 45–75 min | 4 | Timetable |
| Ishigaki → Hateruma | 54.0 km | 60–90 min | 2 | Timetable |
All timetables and today's sailing status → · Plan two islands in one day →
Places on the map
Ishigaki
- Ishigaki Port island terminal Every island ferry leaves from here: 57 scheduled boats a day across Anei Kanko and YKF.
- Kabira Bay See it from a glass-bottom boat: boats every 15 to 30 minutes, no booking. Swimming is banned because of the pearl farms.
- Sukuji Beach Swim here instead of Kabira: a shallow, calm beach of about 1 km behind a casuarina grove.
- Yonehara Beach Reef snorkelling inside the national park, on calm days only: rip currents form easily. The palm grove is across the road.
- Tamatorizaki Viewpoint over the Hirakubo Peninsula and the reef, up a short hibiscus path. About 40 minutes by car from the port.
- Hirakubo-zaki The northern tip and its lighthouse, the Pacific on one side and the East China Sea on the other. About 60 minutes by car from the port.
- Shiraho reef Glass-bottom boats over the largest blue coral community in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Fusaki Beach Netted swimming beach on the Kabira bus route: free entry and parking, lifeguards, swimming 09:00 to 17:00 by season.
- Mikamisaki The westernmost cape, with cliffs and a lighthouse. The place to end the day at sunset.
- Banna Park Viewpoints over the city and Taketomi, open 09:00 to 21:00, free parking. Also a stargazing spot.
- Manta Scramble Boat dive off Cape Kabira Ishizaki: 25 m max, little current, beginner level. Mantas all year, best July to mid-October.
- Mt. Omoto · 526 m Highest point on Ishigaki.
- Mt. Nosoko · 282 m The pointed peak on Ishigaki's narrow north-east.
- Ishigaki Airport Bus to the ferry terminal: 550 yen, 32 minutes on Azuma route 4. Taxi about 25 minutes and 3,500 yen. Ferries do not wait for late flights.
Taketomi
- Taketomi Port 10–15 min from Ishigaki, 18 boats a day (Anei Kanko and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry (YKF)).
- Taketomi village Red-tile roofs, coral-stone walls and white-sand streets. Nagomi Tower in the centre looks over the whole island.
- Kondoi Beach Wide soft sand, a shallow sandbar for children, toilets and changing rooms.
- Kaiji Beach The star-sand beach. Taking the sand is prohibited, and strong currents mean no swimming.
- Buffalo carts About 30 minutes through the village with a guide playing the sanshin. Free shuttles from the port.
Iriomote
- Ohara Port, Iriomote 40–45 min from Ishigaki, 9 boats a day (Anei Kanko and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry (YKF)).
- Uehara Port, Iriomote 45–55 min from Ishigaki, 8 boats a day (Anei Kanko and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry (YKF)).
- Pinaisara Falls Okinawa's tallest waterfall. Entry only with a registered guide, capped at 200 people a day.
- Urauchi River Okinawa's longest river, with Mariyudu and Kanbire falls upriver. Boats leave from near Uehara.
- Yubu Island A buffalo cart crosses the 400 m shallow strait. The depot is about 20 minutes by bus from Ohara Port.
- Nakama River Mangrove river on the east side, a short walk from Ohara Port.
- Hoshizuna Beach Star-sand beach near Uehara. Low tide leaves hours of tide pools.
- Iriomote cat About 100 left, found only here. Sightings happen beside the coast road: drive at 40 km/h, above all after dark.
- Mt. Goza · 420 m In Iriomote's roadless interior.
Kohama
- Kohama Port 25–30 min from Ishigaki, 10 boats a day (Anei Kanko and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry (YKF)).
- Yonara Channel Drift dive of about 25 m between Kohama and Iriomote, for advanced divers. Mantas pass through.
- Mt. Komi · 470 m Highest point on Iriomote, above the east-side rainforest.
- Ufudaki · 99 m Kohama's hill: the best place to see nearly all the archipelago.
Kuroshima
- Kuroshima Port 25–30 min from Ishigaki, 6 boats a day (Anei Kanko and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry (YKF)).
- Sea turtles Loggerhead, green and hawksbill turtles nest on Kuroshima. The research centre shows them up close, with English signs.
Hatoma
- Hatoma Port 45–75 min from Ishigaki, 4 boats a day (Anei Kanko and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry (YKF)).
- Hatoma lighthouse Forest trails lead to the white lighthouse on the highest point, with views of Iriomote. Bring lunch: restaurants are scarce.
- Blue coral Blue coral communities off Hatoma's north coast; the beaches are unspoiled.
Hateruma
- Hateruma Port 60–90 min from Ishigaki, 2 boats a day (Anei Kanko).
- Nishihama Beach White sand and clear water, ranked among the best beaches in the Yaeyama Islands.
- Southernmost monument Stone marker on Cape Takanazaki for the southernmost point of inhabited Japan, above cliffs hit by heavy surf.
Want the flat map with today's sailing status on each line? It is on the home page and on every island guide.