basic information

How to get to the Yaeyama Islands

The Yaeyama Islands can be accessed by air or ferry. The major transportation hub is Ishigaki.

By Airplane

There are frequent flights between Ishigaki Airport and Naha Airport by ANA and JTA (Japan Transocean Air), a subsidiary airline of JAL. The regular one way fare is 19,300 Yen, but if you book in advance or make use of other discount offers, the one way fare should be around 10,000 Yen.

ANA and JTA also offer daily direct flights from Ishigaki to Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Osaka's Itami and Kansai Airports. The regular one way fare to Tokyo is more than 50,000 Yen, and even if you book far in advance, fares will rarely be cheaper than 30,000 Yen. A Japan Air Pass can be of great value on these flights.

Miyako Island is connected with Ishigaki by several daily flights. The one way journey takes about half an hour and costs around 10,000 Yen (regular fare). With a discount ticket, it should be possible to do the trip for around 6000 Yen.

By Ferry

There are about four ferries per week from Naha to Ishigaki, requiring 13-16 hours and costing 5860 Yen for the one way trip in the cheapest class. Most of these ferries make a stop over on Miyako, and some of them arrive from or continue to Nagoya, Osaka and Taiwan.

Visit our ferry page for more information about Japanese ferries.

 
Orientation and how to get around the Yaeyama Islands

Ferries and airplanes connect Ishigaki Island with the other Yaeyama Islands. Please visit our Ishigaki, Iriomote and Taketomi Island pages for information on how to get to and around the respective islands.

Below are access details for some other islands in the Yaeyama island group. Prices are approximate and refer to one way journeys. In case of airplanes, prices refer to regular one way fares.

To Kohama Island:
25 minutes, 1000 Yen by high speed boat from Ishigaki

To Kuro Island:
25 minutes, 1000 Yen by high speed boat from Ishigaki

To Yonaguni Island:
30 minutes, 9500 Yen by airplane from Ishigaki Airport (JTA)
95 minutes, 27500 Yen by airplane from Naha Airport (JTA)
4.5 hours, 3500 Yen by ferry from Ishigaki

To Hateruma Island:
25 minutes, 6500 Yen by airplane from Ishigaki Airport (JTA)
2 hours, 2000 Yen by ferry from Ishigaki
1 hour, 3000 Yen by high speed boat from Ishigaki

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