What is Island Hopping Tour?
Island hopping tour from Ishigaki Island is a tour to visit each remote island of Yaeyama Islands.
Around Ishigaki Island, the center of Yaeyama Islands, there are many attractive remote islands, such as Taketomi Island, Kohama Island, and Iriomote Island.
Most island hopping tours take a ferry between the islands and a bus to visit sightseeing spots within the islands, so you can see all the major sightseeing spots of each remote island without getting tired.
Island hopping tours that babies and older people can join are highly popular among families.
Remote Islands around Ishigaki Island
Taketomi Island
Taketomi Island is the closest island to Ishigaki Island, located about 10 minutes by ferry from Ishigaki Island.
You can see red-tiled old houses, stone walls, and buffalo carts walking along the white sand road.
On Taketomi Island, you can see the streets of what you probably imagine as the remote islands of Okinawa.
It is recommended to rent a bicycle and ride it around the island while admiring the beautiful townscape or to take a glass boat with a glass bottom to see fish.
Iriomote Island
Over 90% of the island is covered with subtropical virgin forest, and Iriomote Island is called the “Galapagos of the East.”
The most popular remote island tours on Iriomote Island are the mangrove cruise of Nakama River and buffalo cart sightseeing on Yubu Island.
You can cruise while seeing mangrove forests spreading on both sides of the magnificent Nakama River, which has a basin area of 160 hectares.
On Yubu Island, where the whole island is a subtropical botanical garden, you can see tropical plants, animals, and old buildings and feel the history of Iriomote Island.
In addition, you can enjoy Sanshin (Okinawan traditional three-stringed instrument) playing on the buffalo cart that crosses from Iriomote Island to Yubu Island.
Kohama Island
Kohama Island was the setting for the TV drama “Churasan.”
The island is famous for “Sugar Road,” with sugar cane fields stretching on both sides.
A popular sightseeing course is to visit “Kohagura-so,” where Churasan was filmed, and the white sand beach of “Kubasaki Beach.”
It is a perfect remote island to enjoy a relaxing time.
