Taketomi Island, a short ferry ride from Ishigaki Island, is a living example of traditional Okinawan life and culture. Surrounded by coral reefs and pristine white beaches, this island offers both culture and relaxation. Taketomi is a very popular day trip from Ishigaki Island.
Taketomi is home to, and best known for, a strikingly beautiful, traditional Ryukyu village filled with traditional wooden houses with red tile roofs, mythical shisa-lions on nearly every roof, limestone walls and roads made of washed up coral. The streets are lined with hibiscus flowers and you find local crafts, arts and eateries scattered throughout the town. It is easy to get a sense of the traditional Ryukyu life and culture which was here before the Ryukyu Kingdom was integrated into Japan in the late 1800’s. To get the full experience of the cultural heritage, it is suggested to take the Taketomi Island Natural Education Walking Path. The start of this 6km path is at the Visitor Center. The path goes through the village and passes the Taketomi Folk Craft Museum and the beaches on the western side of the island.
The island itself is surrounded by coral reefs and stunning white-sand beaches, perfect for relaxing, swimming, snorkeling and having a relaxed day in a pristinely beautiful environment. The island is not very large, and you can get around by foot, but during the summer the heat may be intense, making transport by bicycle preferable. Bicycles can be rented from locations at the port or the village. For a more traditional mode of transportation you may board a wagon pulled by water buffalo. This is a traditional means of transport in the Yaeyama Island.
The Beaches
Two popular beaches are found on the western side of the island; Kondoi beach and Kaiji Beach (star sand beach).
Kondoi beach with it’s clear water and white sand is very popular for swimming, and offers basic facilities like toilets and changing rooms. The water is shallow making it family friendly, but also makes swimming difficult during low tide.
Kaiji Beach (star sand beach) is known for it’s star-shaped sand. The stars are not actually sand, but husks of tiny shelled organisms. Looking for stars in the sand is a fun activity which both adults and children can enjoy. Please note that you are not allowed to remove the star sand from the island.
Getting There
From Ishigaki: Ferry from Ishigaki Port – 10min travel time. Ferries are operated by Anei Kanko and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry Co.
From the port to the village: 15min walk
