Yaeyama Islands Ferry Guide: Routes, Fares & Tips (2026)

Anei Kanko and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry: The Two Main Operators

Two companies dominate Yaeyama ferry routes: Anei Kanko and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry. Both run near-identical schedules to Taketomi, Kohama, Kuroshima and Iriomote, so neither one is clearly better for most travelers. A smaller third operator, Ishigaki Island Dream Tourism, covers some of the same routes with fewer daily departures.

Check the Yaeyama Sightseeing Ferry timetable online before you commit to a single-day plan. Schedules shift slightly by season, and the last boat back to Ishigaki can be earlier than you expect in winter. Booking a specific return time in advance avoids getting stranded on a small island overnight without a hotel.

Ishigaki Island Dream Tourism is worth checking if your preferred company's boat is sold out. It runs fewer daily sailings but can fill a scheduling gap during busy holiday weeks. Comparing two or three operators only takes a few extra minutes online and can save your whole day.

Yaeyama Ferry Routes, Times and Fares by Island

Travel times from Ishigaki Port vary widely, from a quick ten-minute hop to over an hour on rougher water. Fares below are approximate one-way prices in Japanese yen, based on currently published rates, and can shift with fuel surcharges. Always confirm the exact fare and timetable on the operator's website before your trip, since numbers do change.

Taketomi, Kuroshima and Kohama sit close enough to Ishigaki for an easy same-day round trip. A dedicated Taketomi day trip plan works well if that is your only outer-island stop. Iriomote and Hateruma sit farther out and often need a full day built around a single crossing.

Yonaguni Island sits outside this list because Anei Kanko and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry rarely run there. A twice-weekly ferry runs but the open-water crossing is rough, so flying remains the practical choice for most visitors. Treat Yonaguni as a separate short flight trip rather than part of your ferry-hopping day.

• Taketomi Island — about 10 minutes
  • The shortest crossing in the Yaeyama group, priced around 790 yen one-way.
  • Boats leave roughly every 30 minutes through the middle of the day.
  • A solid pick for a half-day trip before lunch back on Ishigaki.
• Kuroshima — about 25 to 30 minutes
  • This quiet cattle-ranching island runs around 1,510 yen one-way from Ishigaki Port.
  • Departures are far less frequent than Taketomi, often only three or four times daily.
  • Renting a bicycle near the pier is the easiest way to see the whole island.
• Kohama Island — about 30 to 35 minutes
  • Fares sit close to the Kuroshima range, though hilly terrain favors a rental car.
  • Boats also connect Kohama directly with Taketomi and Iriomote, not only Ishigaki Port.
  • A resort base here suits travelers who want beach time without a crowded island.
• Iriomote Island, Ohara Port — about 35 to 40 minutes
  • The southern port costs roughly 2,060 yen one-way and serves jungle and river tours.
  • This side of Iriomote sits closer to Yubu Island and its water buffalo crossing.
  • Choose Ohara if your plans include the Nakama or Urauchi river cruises.
• Iriomote Island, Uehara Port — about 40 to 45 minutes
  • Uehara costs around 2,690 yen one-way and lands closer to Pinaisara Falls.
  • This port suits travelers heading straight into jungle trekking or waterfall hikes.
  • Note that Uehara services can pause more often in strong northerly winds.
• Hateruma Island — about 60 to 70 minutes
  • Japan's southernmost inhabited island costs roughly 4,070 yen one-way from Ishigaki Port.
  • Open water crossings here run longest and cancel most often in poor weather.
  • Only a few sailings run each day, so book your return before you leave.

Free Passes and Booking Your Tickets in Advance

Both major operators sell multi-day free passes valid for two, three or four days of unlimited island-hopping. These passes typically cover every scheduled route each company runs, not just the popular Taketomi crossing. Some passes even let you board whichever operator's next boat leaves first, saving a wait at the counter.

Do the math before buying: add up your planned one-way fares and compare that total against the pass price. Visiting three islands in two days, say Taketomi, Kuroshima and a return trip, usually tips the balance toward a pass. A single round trip to just one nearby island, though, is often cheaper as separate one-way tickets. Check current pass pricing directly through the official Okinawa ferry information page since rates are adjusted yearly.

Reserve seats online at least a few days ahead during Golden Week, summer break and the New Year holidays. Book your Iriomote day trip and Hateruma sailings early, since both carry fewer passengers per trip and sell out faster than Taketomi crossings. Walk-up same-day tickets usually work fine for Taketomi, Kuroshima and Kohama outside of peak weeks.

Seasickness, Cancellations and a Backup Plan for Rough Seas

Open-water crossings to Hateruma and Iriomote's Uehara Port get choppy fast once northerly winds pick up. Cancellations cluster from around November through March, when swells regularly exceed safe limits. Typhoon season, roughly June through October, brings shorter but sharper spikes in cancelled sailings.

If you feel prone to seasickness, book an early morning crossing, since seas are usually calmest before midday winds build. Sit low and near the center of the boat, where the rocking motion feels less intense. Motion sickness tablets, available at any Ishigaki pharmacy or convenience store, are worth packing just in case.

Build a backup plan before you commit to a far-flung island like Hateruma. If that sailing gets cancelled, pivot same-day to Taketomi or Kohama, where crossings run in more sheltered water. Both operators post real-time cancellation notices on their websites each morning, so check before you leave your hotel. A flexible itinerary with no locked hotel booking on the outer islands protects your whole trip from one bad forecast.

Day Trip or Overnight: Where to Base Yourself

Taketomi, Kuroshima and Kohama work well as same-day trips, since the last boats back to Ishigaki run into early evening. Staying in Ishigaki town keeps you close to the terminal and lets you pick a different island each morning. This approach also works well when you want to combine ferry days with wider Okinawa island-hopping plans.

Iriomote rewards an overnight stay, since its jungle tours and river cruises run long and start early. Many visitors book something like the Iriomote Pinaisara Falls kayak tour to fill a full day on the island. A one or two-night stay near Ohara or Uehara port saves you from rushing the last boat home. Hateruma also suits an overnight visit, mainly for stargazing once the day-trip crowds have gone home.

Booking a room on Iriomote or Hateruma in high season needs more lead time than an Ishigaki hotel. Guesthouses on the smaller islands are limited, and popular ones fill months ahead for summer weekends. Decide early whether you want a packed day-trip schedule or a slower overnight pace.