Just 15 mins by ferry from Ishigaki Island, Taketomi gives you all the Okinawa vibes—blue sea, red-tile houses, and star-shaped sand!If you’re already in Ishigaki, don’t miss this peaceful gem.
Check out the last article here!
- How to Get to Taketomi Island
- Biking Around Taketomi Island is the Way to Go!
- Kondoi Beach – White Sand & Crystal Clear Water
- Take a Water Buffalo Cart Ride Around the Island
- Lunch at “Kanifu” Restaurant
- Finish off with a tropical dessert!
- Nishi Pier – a Famous Photo Spot
- Hoshizuna Beach – “Star Sand” Spot
- Final Thoughts
How to Get to Taketomi Island
You can take a ferry to Taketomi Island from the Euglena Ishigaki Port Terminal.
There are two ferry companies: Yaeyama Kanko Ferry and Anei Kanko.
During busy seasons, the ticket counters can get super crowded.So we highly recommend booking your ferry tickets online ahead of time!
Biking Around Taketomi Island is the Way to Go!
Taketomi Island has narrow roads and the sightseeing spots are kinda spread out.You can walk, but renting a bike is way easier and more fun!Most visitors rent a bike near the ferry terminal—super convenient!
Not into biking? There are other options too!
If you’re not confident about biking, no worries—there are also buses and private taxis available☺.But FYI, buses don’t run that often…So if you want to explore the island fully, renting a bike is still your best bet!
https://takekou.info/bus-usage-guide
Book your rental bike in advance!
I visited Taketomi Island during Japan’s Golden Week, and bikes were already fully booked way before our trip 💦
We mentally prepared ourselves to walk…Luckily, there were a few bike rental shops taking walk-ins at the ferry terminal.But don’t count on it—if you can, book early to be safe!
I rented my bike from Nitta Kanko.
Getting to your rental bike shop from the Taketomi Ferry Terminal
When you arrive at Taketomi Ferry Terminal, you’ll see shuttle buses from various rental bike shops waiting.Hop on the bus from the shop you booked (or signed up for on the spot), and they’ll take you to their rental station.The roads are super narrow—but the drivers are pros. Seriously impressive driving! 👏
And just like that—we got our bikes and zoomed off to explore Taketomi Island! 🚲💨
Kondoi Beach – White Sand & Crystal Clear Water
Kondoi Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on Taketomi Island, with white sand and super clear water.
There are separate changing rooms for men and women, so feel free to bring your swimsuit and enjoy snorkeling!
ou can also rent parasols and floaties right on the beach.
I still remember almost stepping on tons of sea cucumbers!💦
The water was so clear that I could see them way too well! 😅
The view at Kondoi Beach totally changes depending on the tide—high tide vs low tide makes a big difference! 💡
If you’ve got the time, try checking it out at both!
Take a Water Buffalo Cart Ride Around the Island
One of the must-do activities on Taketomi Island is the traditional water buffalo cart tour!
You can relax and enjoy the slow ride while listening to the sound of the sanshin, a traditional Okinawan instrument.）
Try booking through Taketomi Kanko Center instead.You can also find water buffalo cart rides included in ferry tour packages!
Lunch at “Kanifu” Restaurant
When you get hungry, head over to Kanifu, a clean and spacious local restaurant.
You can try lots of Ishigaki Island specialties, including Yaeyama soba noodles!
I totally fell in love with taco rice on this trip to Ishigaki!
Not sure if it was the restaurant’s top recommendation,
but I couldn’t resist my craving and had to order it.Taco rice is a popular Okinawan dish:
seasoned ground beef, lettuce, cheese, and crispy taco chips served over rice.
The combo of textures and flavors is just perfect. Seriously delicious!
Finish off with a tropical dessert!
At Parlor Ganshuya on Taketomi Island,
you can enjoy colorful tropical parfaits made with island fruits.Perfect treat after a hot day of exploring.
Nishi Pier – a Famous Photo Spot
This long pier stretching out into the ocean is one of the most Instagram-worthy spots on Taketomi Island.…Unfortunately, it was super windy when I visited, so none of my pics turned out great 😅So I’ll skip the photos this time—just imagine the vibe!
Hoshizuna Beach – “Star Sand” Spot
One of the most popular souvenirs from Okinawa is “star sand,” and this beach is where you can actually find it!…Though to be honest, I had a hard time finding any actual star-shaped grains when I visited 😅It’s like a little treasure hunt on the beach!
Final Thoughts
Taketomi Island totally blew me away—the ocean was unbelievably beautiful.I shared a bunch of spots in this post, but honestly… I spent the most time just floating around on an inflatable ring at Kondoi Beach 😂
Growing up in Aichi, I used to think the ocean = sticky and kind of smelly after a while…But in Ishigaki and Taketomi, the water wasn’t sticky at all—so comfy the whole time!(They say it’s because there’s less plankton!)
…Then came the tragedy. I tied my wet swimsuit to my bike and started riding around the island… only for it to get caught in the wheel and rip to shreds 😭RIP, my swimsuit 🩱💔
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