The first thing that refuses to settle in a Yaeyama itinerary is the number of nights. The number of islands is tempting, but what actually decides your schedule is how many boats each island has and the time of the last boat back to Ishigaki. Some routes have only two sailings a day; miss one and you are not coming back that evening. This guide works from the winter timetable (October to March) to show what fits in two, three, four and five days.
Ishigaki is the hub, and the last boat sets the limit
Almost all boats run between Ishigaki Port and one island, so even for two islands in a day you normally return to Ishigaki between them. Your usable day runs from the first boat out to the last boat back.
| Island | One way | First boat from Ishigaki | Last boat back | Boats a day (winter) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taketomi | 10–15 min | 7:30 | 17:50 | 18 combined |
| Kuroshima | 25–30 min | 8:00 | 16:40 | 6 combined |
| Kohama | 25–30 min | 9:00–9:40 | 17:00–17:40 | 10 combined |
| Iriomote, Ohara | 40–45 min | 8:30 | 17:00–17:10 | 9 combined |
| Iriomote, Uehara | 45–55 min | 7:30 | 16:00–17:15 | 8 combined |
| Hatoma | 45–75 min | 8:30 | 16:55 | 2 |
| Hateruma | 60–90 min | 8:00 | 16:20 | 2 |
Anei Kanko asks for at least 30 minutes between connecting boats. Also, whether you can reach an island on arrival day depends on your flight: the airport is about 25 minutes by taxi (around ¥3,500) or 30 minutes by bus from the ferry terminal, and you should allow close to an hour before boarding. A morning arrival gets you one island on day one; an afternoon arrival means day one is Ishigaki only.
What fits in each trip length
2 days, 1 night: one island
Day one is mostly travel, so choose one island for day two. Taketomi is the realistic pick: many boats, 10–15 minutes, and the village and Nishi-sanbashi pier fit before an afternoon flight. The island charges a ¥300 entry fee, paid at the ticket machines at the terminal.
3 days, 2 nights: up to two islands
The middle day is fully yours, so two islands are the realistic maximum. Pair islands with similar sailing times: Taketomi and Kohama are both within 30 minutes of Ishigaki and can be split between morning and afternoon. If you want Iriomote, give it the whole day.
4 days, 3 nights: an overnight on Iriomote changes the trip
With three nights you can spend one on Iriomote. As a day trip you are chased by the last boats (Uehara 17:15, Ohara 17:00); stay over and you get the evening and the early morning. Decide the port by what you want to see: Urauchi River and the falls from Uehara, the Nakama River and Yubu from Ohara.
5 days or more: Hateruma comes within reach
Hateruma is 60–90 minutes each way (90–100 minutes on days the large vessel "Paijima 2" runs), with only two boats a day in winter, which leaves about seven hours on the island for a day trip. Anei Kanko states that the route crosses open sea and that all boats can be cancelled for several days when the swell stays high. If you stay on Hateruma, plan so that a lost day does not break the trip, which means four nights or more.
A worked 5-day plan (winter timetable, 2026–27)
| Day | Where | Transport | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Downtown Ishigaki | Airport bus, walk | Check the ferry berths and ticket machines for the next two mornings |
| Day 2 | Iriomote (Yubu Island, Nakama River) | Ferry, island bus | The farthest island first |
| Day 3 | Kohama, then Taketomi | Ferry | Two near islands in one day |
| Day 4 | Ishigaki (Tamatorizaki, Hirakubozaki, Kabira Bay) | Rental car | Doubles as the spare day if a boat was cancelled |
| Day 5 | Shopping downtown, then the airport | Bus or taxi | Morning only |
Day 2, Iriomote. Take the 9:00 YKF boat to Ohara Port (about 40–45 min). The 10:00 island bus bound for Shirahama reaches the Yubu cart stop at 10:26 (¥450). Cross by water-buffalo cart (¥2,000 round trip with entry, carts every 15–30 min from 9:15, last at 15:45), come back on the 13:30 cart, and catch the 14:04 bus to Ohara Port (arrives 14:24). Take the 15:00 Nakama River mangrove cruise (¥3,500 from October 2026, 50–60 min; the 15:00 sailing runs even on days with only one cruise), then a boat to Ishigaki between 16:30 and 17:10. The bus does not connect with the ferries, and the last bus from Yubu (16:39) arrives after the last boat has left, which is why Yubu comes first and the cruise is the 15:00 one.
Day 3, Kohama and Taketomi. Out on the 9:00 boat to Kohama (25–30 min), rent an electric bicycle, and back on the 14:40 boat. Then the 15:30 boat to Taketomi (10–15 min) and the last boat back at 17:50. The connection at Ishigaki is only about 20 minutes, so if the Kohama boat is late take the 16:00 Taketomi boat instead.
Day 4, Ishigaki by car. Tamatorizaki lookout is 20 minutes from the airport by car, Hirakubozaki 40 minutes; both have parking. In the afternoon, Kabira Bay and its glass-bottom boat (adults ¥2,300, children ¥1,200, every 15 minutes 9:00–17:00, about 30 min). Keeping Ishigaki for day four means that if a boat was cancelled on day two or three, you can swap the days.
| Boats, buses, cruise and fees | Amount |
|---|---|
| Ishigaki–Ohara round trip | ¥4,880 |
| Ohara Port–Yubu cart stop bus, both ways | ¥900 |
| Yubu Island cart and entry | ¥2,000 |
| Nakama River mangrove cruise | ¥3,500 |
| Ishigaki–Kohama round trip | ¥3,340 |
| Ishigaki–Taketomi round trip | ¥1,880 |
| Taketomi entry fee | ¥300 |
| Total (per adult) | ¥16,800 |
Three things that break itineraries
- Timetables switch twice a year (Anei Kanko: October 1 to March 31 and April 1 to September 30; YKF: October to February and March to September). Do not plan on a timetable you saw six months ago.
- The Uehara and Hatoma routes are cancelled by winter north winds. When Uehara is suspended, go to Ohara and take the ferry company's connecting bus north.
- Half-day boat tours (the sandbar "Phantom Island", snorkeling) are a full block. Do not add an island on the afternoon of a tour day. And Ishigaki itself needs a day: the ferry terminal to Hirakubozaki is about 60 minutes by car.
Boats are covered in Ishigaki Port Ferry Terminal, and seasons in Best time to visit.
Sources
- Anei Kanko: timetable (October 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), FAQ, Island Hopping Pass
- Yaeyama Kanko Ferry: timetable (October 2026 to February 2027)
- Iriomote Island Kotsu: bus timetable (revised October 1, 2026), Nakama River cruise
- Yubu Island: hours and fares
- Ishigaki Airport: bus and taxi
- Taketomi Town Tourism Association: access, entry fee
- Kabira Marine Service: glass-bottom boat
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.
