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Ishigaki Guide

Ishigaki Ferry Port

Surrounded on all sides by the baby-blue surf of the East China Sea, Ishigaki is the very definition of a paradise island. The second-largest of the volcanic Yaeyama islands in the southernmost reaches of Japan, Ishigaki is blessed with a rear-round warmth, rolling hills covered in lush swathes of tropical woodland, and broad stretches of gold-sand beaches that skirt along the coast. Despite its undeniable appeal, the island has managed to preserve its peaceful and laid-back atmosphere away from the bustle of tourism; it’s soothing soundtrack composed of nothing more than the hum of wildlife and the gentle lapping of waves upon the shore. The island’s rough-shaped coastline is pitted with bays perfect for watersports, with diving, snorkelling and surfing the most popular forms of recreational activity. With much of the surrounding sea protected by a national park, the stunning world beneath the waves thrives with rare marine life. Those who want to view the underwater scene without getting their feet wet can hop on a glass-bottomed boat in Kabira Bay instead. The region’s port is found in Ishigaki city on the south-western coast of the island. It is a lively facility of small jetties and piers neatly separated into small, square inlets that stretch across the seafront. The ferry terminal can be found on the edge of the city’s Misakicho district. It is a relatively large facility with plenty of passenger amenities including an indoor waiting hall; a pay-phone; vending machines selling food and drink; and a busy, on-site taxi-rank. Due to its central city location, travelling to and from the port is simple. Buses and coaches leave from stops directly outside the terminal and whisk passengers to the island’s main sightseeing spots, including the various beach-lined bays and the verdant slopes of Bannadake mountain. Though there are plenty of narrow, rural roads that weave across the heart of the island, the most accessible route for motorists unfamiliar with the local surroundings is the 390 highway. This long roadway passes by the island’s regional airport as it traces Ishigaki’s undulating southern coast. A host of ferry routes currently leave from the city port on a daily basis. Services hosted by Yaeyama Kanko Ferry and Ishigaki Dream Tours sail short journeys west to the ports of Ohara and Uehara on Iriomote Island, as well as to the islands of Taketomi, Kohama, Kuroshima and Hatoma.

Hatoma Guide

Hatoma Ferry Port

Found in the farthest southern reaches of Japan, the tiny island of Hatoma is barely a speck in the East China Sea. Though the isle has been inhabited for centuries, the region is sparsely populated and much of its dense jungle wildlife remains undisturbed. The island’s main draw is its collection of broad, gold-sand beaches that hem the crystalline shallows of the baby-blue sea. From here, visitors can wallow in the sultry heat of the midday sun while taking in the sweeping views of Iriomote Island just a short distance off the south-facing coast. The port is found within the only village in Hatoma. It is shaped by two landing piers that jut into a calm pocket of the East China Sea sheltered by a triangle of breakwaters. The ferry terminal is found on the larger pier, at the foot of an undercover walkway. Aside from the small check-in building, there are no passenger facilities here, though a post office, vending machines and a few shops selling food and drink can be found in the nearby village. Due to the island’s small size, it’s entire diameter barely a kilometre in length, it is without any system of public transport and is covered by just a few small roads that trace the rocky shoreline. As such, the island is best traversed on foot with no point further than a 20-minute walk away from anywhere else. Two ferry routes currently leave from the port. A weekly service hosted by Yaeyama Kanko Ferry lines hops south to the town of Uehara on Iriomote Island, while another daily route sails the longer distance east to the island of Ishigaki.