Ishigaki Airport (ISG) is the only airport in the Yaeyama Islands with jet service, and every trip to Taketomi, Iriomote, Kohama, Kuroshima or Hateruma starts here. This guide lists which cities fly direct, how long it takes, how to reach downtown and the ferry terminal, and why your arrival time matters. Figures are from the airport's November 2026 timetable (the winter schedule that started on October 25).
Direct flights to Ishigaki
| From | Flights per day | Arrival in Ishigaki | Flight time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Haneda | 4 (JAL, ANA) | Arrive 9:55, 11:30, 15:00, 18:05 | About 3 h 20–30 min |
| Tokyo Narita | 1 (Peach) | Arrive 12:10 | About 3 h 50 min |
| Osaka Kansai | 3 (Peach, JTA) | Arrive 9:55, 12:45, 18:55 | About 2 h 45–50 min |
| Nagoya Chubu | 1 (ANA) | Arrive 14:00 | About 3 h |
| Fukuoka | 1 (Peach) | Arrive 14:30 | About 2 h 25 min |
| Naha (Okinawa) | 14 (JTA, ANA, Solaseed Air) | Arrive 8:20–20:25 | About 60–70 min |
| Osaka Itami, Kobe, Sapporo, Sendai, Hiroshima, Kumamoto, Kagoshima | No direct flights | Connect in Naha, or use Kansai |
Naha is the trunk line: 14 flights a day from early morning to evening. From any Japanese city without a direct flight, fly to Naha and connect; even from Sapporo or Hiroshima you can reach Ishigaki by evening. Leave a generous connection time, because if an inbound flight is late the next Ishigaki flight may be one or two hours later.
Routes with one to three flights a day have no same-day alternative when a flight is cancelled. In typhoon season (July to October, peaking in August and September) keep a spare day at the end of the trip.
International flights
The airport lists four international routes: Hong Kong (HK Express), Taipei Taoyuan and Kaohsiung (Tigerair Taiwan) and Seoul Incheon (Jin Air). In the November 2026 timetable, Seoul flies daily, Taipei on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and Kaohsiung on Wednesday and Sunday. Check-in counters are on the first floor of the international terminal, and the cutoffs are earlier than domestic: 60 minutes before departure for HK Express, 50 for Jin Air and 45 for Tigerair Taiwan.
Why your arrival time matters
The two morning arrivals from Haneda (9:55 and 11:30) put you at the ferry terminal around noon, early enough for a same-day trip to Taketomi or Kohama. If you land at 15:00 or later, plan on dinner and a walk downtown and start the islands the next morning. From the airport to the ferry terminal, allow close to an hour including the wait for the bus.
Airport to downtown and the ferry terminal
| Option | Fare | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Karry Kanko direct bus to the ferry terminal | ¥550 (child ¥280) | Leaves the airport 9:35–19:05, about every 30 min; about 30 min. Cash or contactless credit card on board; no transit IC cards or QR payment |
| Azuma Bus route 4 (airport line) | ¥550 | Every 30 min during the day, about 35 min to the bus terminal and ferry terminal. A round-trip ticket is ¥1,000 and a 24-hour pass ¥1,000 |
| Azuma Bus route 10 (via Art Hotel and ANA InterContinental) | ¥550 | 5 a day, stops at the hotels |
| Taxi | About ¥3,500 | About 25 min to the ferry terminal; about ¥2,900 to ANA InterContinental; about ¥5,600 to Kabira Park |
| Rental car | Varies | Pick up at the airport. Book early for Golden Week, summer and holiday weekends |
Buses take cash or contactless credit cards only. The airport buses are not reservable, and when a bus is full you wait for the next one, so on departure day take one bus earlier than you need.
Things to know about the airport
- The domestic terminal is open 6:30–22:00. You cannot stay overnight in either terminal, and there is no airline or credit-card lounge.
- Peach check-in counters open 90 minutes before departure and close 30 minutes before. JAL, JTA, RAC, ANA and Solaseed Air close check-in and security 20 minutes before departure (JAL group checked baggage 30 minutes before).
- Restaurants and souvenir shops are on the first floor; the gelato shop and coffee shop open at 7:30, the meal restaurants at 9:00.
- Free observation deck on the roof (7:30–20:30).
Once you are in town, read Ishigaki Port Ferry Terminal for the boats and Where to stay on Ishigaki to choose your base.
Sources
- Ishigaki Airport: routes, timetable by route (November 2026), airline list, bus and taxi
- Karry Kanko: airport–ferry terminal direct bus
- Azuma Bus: timetables and fares
Figures are transcribed from official sites via our Japanese articles and were checked between August and October 2026. Schedules and fares change; confirm with the operators before you travel.
