Iriomote and Yubu Island in one day

Use Ohara Port: it is the sheltered crossing and the Yubu Island cart depot is a short bus ride away. Book the guided part before you go; most of Iriomote is reached only with a guide.

The plan

1. 07:30Ishigaki → Ohara YKF; there by 08:15.
2. the day beforePick one side. From Ohara Port the plan is Yubu Island plus the Nakama River mangrove cruise. From Uehara the plan is a guided Pinaisara tour or the Urauchi River cruise. The route bus runs only four times a day each way and is not timed to the ferries (Iriomote Kotsu timetable), so mixing both sides in one day trip needs a rental car or a tour with transfers. (source)
3. on arrival at Ohara PortTake the route bus to the Yubu Suigyusha stop. The fare from Ohara Port is ¥450, as published on 3 Nov 2026, and the timetable shows 20 to 40 minutes (Iriomote Kotsu fare table). Buy tickets for the cart at the Tabibito-no-eki counter at least 10 minutes before departure (Yubu Island). (source)
4. late morningCross to Yubu Island by buffalo cart. The cart round trip with admission costs ¥2,000 for adults and ¥1,000 for primary school children; walking over with admission costs ¥700 and ¥350; under primary age is free, as published on 3 Nov 2026 (Yubu Island). The island opens 9:15 to 16:30, last entry 15:45, and can open later at high tide. (source)
5. middayHave lunch on Yubu Island, which has a restaurant, a tea house and a shop (Yubu Island). Then take the bus back towards Ohara Port. (source)
6. afternoonJoin the guided Nakama River mangrove cruise from Ohara Port; the ticket office is about 30 seconds from the terminal. The mangrove course takes 50 to 60 minutes and costs ¥3,500 for adults and ¥1,750 for children, as published on 3 Nov 2026 (Iriomote Kotsu cruise). Departures change day by day, booking is online only, and low tide can cut the route short. (source)
7. alternative day from UeharaPinaisara Falls needs a registered guide, and entry is capped at 200 people a day (Ministry of the Environment). One operator, Pisces, charges ¥15,300 per adult for a day of about 7 hours, with the ¥500 entry fee, lunch and transfers included, for ages 10 to 65, as published on 3 Nov 2026 (Pisces). Without a booking, the Urauchi River cruise plus falls trek costs ¥3,500 per adult and needs no reservation (Urauchigawa Kanko). (source)
8. before the boat backLeave time for the bus or car back to your port. If you drive, go slowly everywhere, because Iriomote cats can run onto the road, especially at night, dawn and dusk (Okinawa Prefecture). (source)
9. 16:30Ohara → Ishigaki YKF; back by 17:15. 8 h 15 min on Iriomote.

Getting around Iriomote

One main road links Uehara and Ohara (Visit Okinawa). The route bus by Iriomote Kotsu runs between Toyohara and Shirahama, four times a day each way on the winter timetable from 1 Oct 2026. As published on 3 Nov 2026, Ohara Port to Yubu costs ¥450, Ohara Port to Uehara ¥1,070 and a one-day pass ¥1,500 for adults (¥750 for children), sold on the bus. Children pay half fare. The bus does not enter Uehara Port; use the Uehara stop. It takes contactless cards and does not change ¥5,000 or ¥10,000 notes. Yamaneko Rent-a-car has offices at Ohara and Uehara with free port transfers. As published on 3 Nov 2026, a K-class car starts at ¥5,500 for 3 hours and ¥7,500 for 24 hours, fuel included, with a ¥1,500 fee to return it at the other office. For the Urauchi River, Urauchigawa Kanko runs a free shuttle from Uehara Port once each morning and back once after midday, which may not run on some days; the route bus between Uehara Port and the river costs ¥310 (Urauchigawa Kanko). In rough weather the Uehara route can be cancelled; Anei's timetable then adds Ohara sailings with a connecting bus to Uehara (Anei timetable).

Where to eat

Food is spread out and easy to miss, so plan lunch around your activity. Yubu Island has a restaurant and a tea house (Yubu Island). Guided Pinaisara days with Pisces include a homemade lunch and drinks (Pisces). On the Urauchi River no food stop was confirmed; bring something and enough water for the trek.

Boat times are the operators' published timetables in force (Anei to 2027-03-31, YKF to 2027-02-28), checked 3 Nov 2026, using the longest printed crossing time and a 30-minute connection at Ishigaki. Tickets work only on the company that sold them.

Tours for this plan

Some include the ferry; check each listing.

GetYourGuide−50%Barasu Island snorkeling and Yubu Island day trip from Ishigaki6 hours · Pickup · English★4.3 (6 reviews)Barasu Island snorkel and Yubu Island in one day; starts on Iriomote, ferry not included.✓ Free cancellation up to 24 h beforefrom US$165 US$82 per personCheck availability →GetYourGuide price and rating, 3 Nov 2026GetYourGuide−50%Iriomote mangrove SUP or canoe plus Yubu Island6 hours · Pickup · English★4.7 (29 reviews)Mangrove paddle plus the Yubu Island buffalo cart, timed to fit the ferries.✓ Free cancellation up to 24 h beforefrom US$165 US$83 per personCheck availability →GetYourGuide price and rating, 3 Nov 2026

Change the islands or the stay in the planner → · All itineraries →

Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Hoshizuna-no-hama (Star Sand Beach), Iriomote Island: 663highland, CC BY 2.5; Water buffalo cart crossing the shallows to Yubu Island: 663highland, CC BY 2.5.