Kohama and Taketomi in one day

Both are sheltered routes with frequent boats. You return to Ishigaki in between; the planner's 30-minute connection is built in.

The plan

1. 07:30Ishigaki → Kohama YKF; there by 08:00.
2. on arrivalWalk about 50 m from the boat to the Kohama Island General Information Center, which rents cars, motorbikes and bicycles (Taketomi Town Tourism Association). Bikes can also be rented at many places to stay (Visit Okinawa). (source)
3. first stopClimb Ufudaki, the 99 m hill that the town calls the place to see nearly the whole archipelago (Taketomi Town). (source)
4. late morningRide Sugar Road through cane fields and pastures (Visit Okinawa). (source)
5. 10:55Kohama → Ishigaki YKF; back by 11:25. 2 h 55 min on Kohama.
6. 12:30Ishigaki → Taketomi Anei; there by 12:45.
7. on arrivalTake the free shuttle that the cart and bike operators run from the port to the village, or walk about 15 minutes (JNTO). Taketomi Kanko Center says its shuttle is for buffalo cart customers (Taketomi Kanko Center). (source)
8. first hourRide the buffalo cart through the village. The tour lasts about 30 minutes with a guide playing the sanshin (JNTO). If you also want a bike from the same shop, finish the cart ride before you register for the bike (Taketomi Kanko Center rental sheet). (source)
9. late morningCycle to Kondoi Beach on the west side, about 15 minutes on foot from the village or a short ride (JNTO). It has toilets, changing rooms, picnic tables and a shallow sandbar (Visit Okinawa). (source)
10. 15:50Taketomi → Ishigaki Anei; back by 16:05. 3 h 05 min on Taketomi.

Getting around Kohama

The Kohama Island General Information Center at the port rents cars, motorbikes and bicycles; price not published on that page on 3 Nov 2026. Kohama Kotsu runs a guided island bus tour four times a day. It takes about 1 hour 10 minutes, stops at Hosozaki and Ufudaki, and drops you at your hotel or minshuku at the end. Its price was not in the page text on 3 Nov 2026, and the site looks old, so confirm by phone. Visit Okinawa recommends a bike from the port or your accommodation (Visit Okinawa).

Where to eat

Food is limited outside the resorts, so bring something or plan around it. The town tourism association lists a food truck, MUSUHI, with irregular hours, closed on Wednesdays, about 15 minutes by bike from the port. Visit Okinawa names no restaurants on Kohama (Visit Okinawa).

Getting around Taketomi

The town and JNTO describe three ways to get around: on foot, by bike and by buffalo cart; neither mentions a bus or rental cars (Taketomi Town, JNTO). Bikes can be rented at the port and in the village (Visit Okinawa). At Taketomi Kanko Center, as published on 3 Nov 2026, a standard bike costs ¥2,500 from pickup to return, or ¥2,200 if you start from 13:00. A geared bike costs ¥3,700 (¥3,300 from 13:00) and an electric bike ¥4,900 (¥4,400 from 13:00). Buffalo cart customers pay less: ¥2,200, ¥3,300 and ¥4,400 for a full day. The shop rents by the day only, not by the hour, and takes cashless payment only. Its buffalo cart costs ¥3,900 for ages 12 and over, ¥2,900 for ages 6 to 11 and ¥1,900 for ages 3 to 5, as published on 3 Nov 2026. One child aged 0 to 2 rides free per adult. Payment is cashless only. Carts run in turn: you register, wait inside, and are called by name.

Where to eat

Food is in the village, not at the beaches. Kanifu at Taketomi Kanko Center opens 11:00 to 15:30 (last order 15:00), takes no reservations or takeaway, and is cashless only, as published on 3 Nov 2026. Its closing days are set month by month on its calendar. The town tourism association lists Soba-dokoro Takenoko, open 10:30 to 15:30 with irregular closing days; it says soba ends when sold out. Visit Okinawa mentions beach stalls at Kaiji Beach but does not say they sell food (Visit Okinawa). Carry water if you plan to cycle around the island.

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.

GetYourGuideIshigaki and Yaeyama toursAll Ishigaki and Yaeyama listings on GetYourGuide.See all on GetYourGuide →GetYourGuide−46%Phantom Island snorkeling and Taketomi sightseeing7 hours · Pickup · Ferry included★4.4 (42 reviews)Phantom Island snorkel, then a round-trip ferry to Taketomi; seven hours.✓ Free cancellation up to 24 h beforefrom US$127 US$69 per personCheck availability →GetYourGuide price and rating, 3 Nov 2026GetYourGuideTaketomi toursAll Taketomi listings: buffalo cart, village, beach combinations.See all on GetYourGuide →KlookIshigaki hotelsHotels on Ishigaki by date, area and price.See all on Klook →KlookTaketomi water buffalo cart ride with round-trip ferry ticketabout 3 hours · Ferry included★4.6 (25 reviews) · 1K+ bookedBuffalo cart ride on Taketomi with the round-trip ferry ticket included.from US$45.19 per personCheck availability →Klook price and rating, 3 Nov 2026

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

Photos via Wikimedia Commons: View over southeast Kohama from Ufudaki: Paipateroma, CC BY-SA 4.0; Kabira Bay from above with glass-bottom boats, Ishigaki: 663highland, CC BY 2.5; Hamajima sandbar island seen from the sea, Yaeyama: Paipateroma, CC BY-SA 4.0; Water buffalo cart in Taketomi village: Ken FUNAKOSHI from Yokohama, Japan, CC BY-SA 2.0; ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort, Ishigaki: Syced, CC0 1.0.