Iriomote Island: day trip from Ishigaki

Hoshizuna-no-hama (Star Sand Beach), Iriomote Island. Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.

Jungle, rivers and waterfalls, and the only home of the Iriomote cat. Most of it is reached on guided tours, so plan the day around one.

What to see and know

• Most of the island is subtropical rainforest inside a national park. It is the only known habitat of the protected Iriomote cat. (Taketomi Town, Iriomote Island (English))
• Iriomote is the second-largest island in Okinawa and was added to UNESCO's Natural World Heritage list in 2021. (Visit Okinawa Japan, Iriomote Island)
• West side: Pinaisara Falls (Okinawa's tallest) and the Urauchi River (its longest), with Mariyudu and Kanbire falls upriver. East side: Nakama River, mangroves and Yubu Island. (Taketomi Town, Iriomote Island (English))
• Yubu Island lies about 400 m offshore. A buffalo cart crosses the shallow strait, and the cart depot is roughly a 20-minute bus ride from Ohara Port. (JNTO, Water Buffalo Cart Rides (Yubu Island))
• The town says buses and rental cars are available. One main road links Uehara Port (north) and Ohara Port (south), and most sights are reached by guided tour. (Taketomi Town, Iriomote Island (English); Visit Okinawa Japan, Iriomote Island)
• Official rule: Pinaisara Falls is a designated limited-entry nature resource. A registered guide must accompany visitors, and entry is capped at 200 people a day. (Ministry of the Environment, Pinaisara canoe and trekking listing)
• Since March 2025, five Iriomote fields need the Taketomi mayor's approval before entry. With a guide the fee is 500 yen. Apply at least 8 days ahead. (Iriomote Island Ecotourism Council, entry application flow)
• Caution: drive slowly everywhere on Iriomote because wild cats can run onto the road, especially at night, dawn and dusk. Don't feed or disturb wildlife. (Okinawa Prefecture, To all prospective visitors (World Natural Heritage))
• Hoshizuna (star sand) beach is on Iriomote. A visitor reports low tide leaves hours of tide-pool exploring. (JNTO traveller blog, Iriomote's Hanami, traveller report)

The Iriomote cat

Iriomote is the only known habitat of the protected Iriomote cat (Taketomi Town). What matters for visitors: drive slowly everywhere, above all at night, dawn and dusk, because the cats can run onto the road, and never feed or disturb wildlife (Okinawa Prefecture).

Boats

Ohara Port

Highlighted: the next departure in Japan time. Tickets work only on the operator that sold them.

Uehara Port

Highlighted: the next departure in Japan time. Tickets work only on the operator that sold them.

Iriomote (Ohara Port) ferry timetable · Iriomote (Uehara Port) ferry timetable · Ohara or Uehara?

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