Introduction to Iriomote Island -Basic Knowledge

Basic Knowledge of Iriomote Island

Iriomote Island may have various images such as Iriomote Cat, tropical country, jungle, etc. However, many people do not actually know the detailed location and climate of the island, such as that it is designated as a national natural monument as the "Nakama River Natural Protected Area" with the largest area of mangrove forest in Japan. However, many people may not know the detailed location and climate of the area.

In this issue, we will provide basic knowledge about the location, climate, topography, etc. of Iriomote Island for those who are interested.

How to get to Iriomote Island

There is no airfield on Iriomote Island, so you can fly to Ishigaki Island. There are many routes, but Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya have direct flights, and you can also come via Naha.

It is also a 40-50 minute ferry ride from Ishigakijima Port Remote Island Terminal.

For more information about the remote island terminal, click here↓.
The gateway to the Yaeyama Islands! What is Ishigaki Port Terminal?

 

Click here to buy ferry tickets to remote islands.

Only Tours can make ferry reservations! Since you pay in advance, you can easily board the ferry by simply showing your smartphone on the day of the cruise.

There is no need to worry about getting caught in a line at the ticket booth on the day of the event.

Click here to book ferry tickets to Iriomote Island!
Iriomote Island Ferry Tickets

 

About the area of Iriomote Island

The eastern part of Iriomote Island refers to the districts of Ohara, Toyohara, Otomi, Komi, Yubu Island, and Takana. The entrance of eastern Iriomote Island is Ohara Port. Otomi stretches along the Nakama River. Komi has an old history. Crossing by buffalo cartYubu Island (Hiroshima-Nagoya Island)is a botanical garden covering the entire island.

In addition, only the eastern port of Ohara is the gateway to Iriomote Island when the western Uehara-bound service is cancelled.

*Many hotels offer transportation and other services for those staying at Uehara Port, which has many tourist attractions.

The western part of Iriomote Island refers to the districts of Funaura, Uehara, Nakano, Sumiyoshi, Urauchi, Hirauchi, Sonai, Shirahama, and Funauki.

Uehara: The gateway to the western part of the city is Uehara Port. The area around Uehara Port is a bustling district with many tourist attractions such as supermarkets, restaurants, and guest houses.
Nakano: Nakano Inn'sMaruma Beachis a private beach.
Sumiyoshi:beach of star sandThere are many restaurants in the area and many places to eat.
Urauchi: Okinawa's longestUrauchi Riveris flowing.
Hidate: A traditional village with a relaxed atmosphere.
Sonai: With a post office, a clinic, and a starry sky spot, this village has played a central role in the western part of Iriomote Island.
Shirahama: This is the end of the road connecting the east and west sides of Iriomote. Furthermore, there is Funauki, an isolated island on land, which can be reached only by boat from here.

Location of Iriomote Island

Iriomote Island is located approximately 2,100 km southwest of Tokyo, and is one of the westernmost islands in Japan, comprising the Yaeyama Islands. The latitude is 24 degrees north, which is about the same latitude as that of Taichung City in Taiwan, and if you go around the globe as it is, you will pass through the middle of the Sahara Desert on the African continent and a little south of Miami City on the Florida Peninsula in the United States!

From Iriomote Island to the east side of Taiwan is about 200 km, while to Naha City on the main island of Okinawa within the same Okinawa Prefecture is about 430 km, making the island very close to the border. When you turn on the radio in Iriomote Island, you will hear mostly Taiwanese broadcasts (in Chinese, of course!). It is so difficult to find Japanese broadcasts...!

Iriomote Island" is an extraordinary tropical resort that can be said to be Japan and not Japan at the same time.

 

Click here to buy ferry tickets to remote islands.

Only Tours can make ferry reservations! Since you pay in advance, you can easily board the ferry by simply showing your smartphone on the day of the cruise.

There is no need to worry about getting caught in a line at the ticket booth on the day of the event.

Click here to book ferry tickets to Iriomote Island!
Iriomote Island Ferry Tickets

 

Seasons and Climate of Iriomote Island

climate

The climate of Iriomote Island is characterized by hot and humid summer due to the Kuroshio Current and strong northeast winds in winter due to high pressure from the continent. The annual average humidity is very high, 82%, and the jungle in summer may be exactly the steamy scene from the jungle that you see in movies...

Annual precipitation is about 2,500 mm, with more rainfall during the rainy season in May and June and during the typhoon season from August to October.

For information on typhoon conditions, click here↓.
Prepare for typhoons on Ishigaki Island!

Temperatures are very warm, averaging 23.3 degrees Celsius annually, with average monthly temperatures exceeding 20 degrees Celsius for the eight months from April to November.What a surprise, even in December, you can hear the sound of cicadas.The climate is exactly "subtropical" Iriomote Island! However, although the sunlight is strong and it is warm overall, the temperature itself is only 33 degrees Celsius at the most, and it never reaches over 40 degrees Celsius like in Honshu.

The temperature difference between day and night is small, and the average annual temperature is about 5 degrees Celsius, so the climate is very comfortable. In midwinter, January and February, the temperature drops to the point that you feel cold in short sleeves, and sometimes it drops to about 10 degrees Celsius.

It is almost unknown only to the locals in Iriomote Island, but on really cold days, tropical fish sometimes float in the shallows of estuaries and the ocean in a state of suspended animation because they cannot bear the cold. People in Iriomote Island sometimes go out to the sea to pick up fish in anticipation of this. It is a winter-only privilege of people living in Iriomote Island.

That said, it does not get so cold as to be frosty, and except on exceptionally cold days, snorkeling is possible even in winter if you wear a wetsuit.

For more information about snorkeling in Iriomote Island, which can be done even in winter, and a list of plans, click here↓.

 

season

It is not necessarily only in summer that you can enjoy Iriomote Island!In Iriomote Island, which has such a wide variety of flora and fauna that it is called "Galapagos of the East," even in winter or typhoon season, there are many creatures that can be seen only in that season, such as flowering plants, appearance of insects, migration and breeding of birds.

Some of the repeaters of Iriomotejima enjoy various ways of visiting the island by deliberately shifting the season from the last time they were here.

⇒Fun you can do in Iriomote Island in winterclick here

Related columns are here↓.
When is the best season to travel to Ishigaki Island?

 

Sunlight hours in Iriomote Island

When you visit Iriomote Island, you will be surprised at how long the days are. Especially in June and July, the sun sets around 7:30 p.m., so it is sometimes not dark even after 8:00 p.m.

Because Iriomote Island is the westernmost region of Japan, there is actually a time difference (?)! In fact, there is a time difference (?)! Iriomote Island, like the mainland, adopts the standard time, so of course the time is the same, but in terms of location, it is calculated to be about 45 minutes off from Akashi City in Hyogo Prefecture, where the standard time of Japan is determined.

It can be said that this is the time to fully enjoy Iriomote Island, a tropical resort with early sunrise and late sunset.

Click here for popular island tours

⇒Activities to enjoy sunrise in Iriomote IslandThis way if you are looking for
⇒Activities to enjoy the sunset of Iriomote IslandThis way if you are looking for

 

traffic

The main means of transportation on Iriomote Island are rental cars, cabs, buses, and rental bicycles. High degree of freedom,Advance reservations are required for car and bicycle rentals, as they fill up quickly.

Iriomote Island's local buses run on prefectural roads connecting east and west from Toyohara in the eastern part of the island to Shirahama in the western part. There is also a "free boarding system" where you can board the bus by raising your hand and signaling other than the bus stops (23 locations) in major villages and tourist spots, and there is also a 1-day/3-day unlimited boarding pass for tourists.

 

bus

Fare: 130 yen to 1,280 yen (depending on the section of the train ride)
Number of round-trips: 4 round-trips per day
Inquiries: Iriomotejima Kotsu (0980-85-5305)

 

cab

Two cab companies, Iriomote Kanko and Iriomotejima Kotsu, are available at Ohara Port, but the number of cabs is limited, so advance reservations are required.
Iriomote Kanko: 0980-85-5333
Iriomotejima Kotsu: 0980-85-5303"

 

ferry

Departing from Ishigakijima's remote island terminal. There are two ports for high-speed boats in Iriomote Island: Ohara Port in the east and Uehara Port in the west. Please be careful not to make a mistake in boarding.

Uehara Port Route
Fare: Adults: 2,060 yen one-way, 3,910 yen round-trip; children: 1,030 yen one-way, 1,960 yen round-trip
Travel time: about 45 minutes one way
Timetable:Ferry ServicePlease check the

*If the Uehara-bound route is cancelled, you can use the free shuttle bus between Ohara Port and Uehara Port by purchasing a ticket for the Uehara-bound route and boarding the Ohara-bound route.

 

Q&A about Ferry

Q: Where can I buy a boarding ticket?
A: You can purchase tickets at the counter of each shipping company in the Ishigakijima Remote Islands Terminal. Reservations are not required for individuals, and can be purchased on the day of purchase. In addition, there is a discount for round-trip tickets, so purchasing a round-trip ticket is recommended.

Q: Where do I board from?
A: The boat boarding area is indicated on the electronic board in the waiting lobby. Try to arrive at the boarding area at least 10 minutes before departure time. Also, the ship is air-conditioned, so we recommend that you always bring underwear.

Q: Is there a place to leave my luggage?
A: There are three coin lockers (large: 500 yen, medium: 400 yen, small: 300 yen) at the Ishigakijima Terminal in addition to the main entrance. Also, each shipping company will accept lockers for a fee.

Q: I get seasick easily.
A: For those who get easily intoxicated, it is recommended to take anti-sickness medicine just in case. Depending on the sea conditions, the boat may rock. When boarding the ship, we recommend that you sit as far back from the center of the ship as possible.

Q: I am renting a car on Ishigaki Island, is there a parking lot?
A: There are seven pay parking lots in and around the Ishigakijima Remote Island Terminal.

 

Click here to buy ferry tickets to remote islands.

Only Tours can make ferry reservations! Since you pay in advance, you can easily board the ferry by simply showing your smartphone on the day of the cruise.

There is no need to worry about getting caught in a line at the ticket booth on the day of the event.

Click here to book ferry tickets to Iriomote Island!
Iriomote Island Ferry Tickets

 

Iriomote wildcat (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis)

Iriomote Island is home to the Iriomote wild cat and many other wild creatures, and the subtropical nature of the island remains strong. There are many ways to enjoy and have fun in the sea, mountains, and rivers that can only be experienced here.

Driving around the island in a rental car is a great way to experience and fully enjoy the abundant nature! However, in recent years, traffic accidents have occurred due to cars driving too fast. Please be careful.

Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Centerwhich is a well-maintained Iriomote wildcat sanctuary. Please call us if you find an injured or dead bobcat!

Phone number: 0980-85-5581 (24 hours a day, 365 days a year)

Traffic Accident Alert in effect! Request to all drivers on the island!

Signs are placed where there is a high risk of traffic accidents. Please be especially careful when driving on roads where signs are posted.
Be especially careful at dawn and around dusk, when the activity is most active.
Please be careful not to jump out of the car suddenly. Please drive at a speed of 30 km/h within the village and 40 km/h within the island.

If you have any questions, please call us.
Eastern Ohara Clinic ... 0980-85-5516
Seibu Clinic ... 0980-85-6268
Ohara Residential Office ... 0980-85-5110
Uehara Resident Office ... 0980-85-6510
Shirahama police station ...0980-85-6110

Related columns are here↓.
You can see Iriomote wildcat!

Topography and Geology

terrain

Iriomote Island has a circumference of 130 km and an area of 284 hectares, roughly half the size of Tokyo's 23 wards, making it the second largest island in Okinawa Prefecture after Okinawa Island. It is shaped like a rhombus, extending approximately 20 km from north to south and 30 km from east to west.

Iriomote Island has few flatlands and is mostly mountainous, with Komi-dake (469m above sea level), the highest peak in Iriomote Island, in the central part of the island, and a series of mountains in the 300m to 400m class.About 40 rivers, both large and small, flow between the mountains into the coral reef sea, and the Urauchi River is the longest river in Okinawa Prefecture at about 18 km in length.With high precipitation and approximately 90% of the island covered with subtropical vegetation, Iriomote Island maintains clean and plentiful water.

⇒Activities to enjoy the clean rivers of Iriomote Islandclick here

geological features

The geology of Iriomote Island is mostly composed of sandstone and rubble rock.Fossils of subtropical plants and shellfish, such as Japanese oak, Japanese white ash, camphor tree, etc., were found in the sandstone layer, suggesting that Iriomote Island had the same climate in the past as today.

The strata of Iriomote Island also show coal layers created about 10 million years ago, and there is a history of coal mining from the Meiji Era to the postwar period.

Also, near Uehara Port, one of the two ports in Iriomote Island, you can see Ryukyu limestone formations called Ryukyu Formation, and several large and small limestone caves formed by them. Why don't you experience the cool limestone caves even in summer?

For details of activities and a list of plans to enjoy limestone caves in Iriomote Island, click here↓.

 

About ATMs

In Iriomote Island, there are many cash settlements, so please bring more cash than usual. In case you run out of cash, you can withdraw it at ATM!

 

List of ATMs in Iriomote Island

• • Iriomote Ohara Post Office:
    Business hours = Weekdays 9:00-17:00
    ATM = Weekdays 8:45-18:00
    Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 9:00-17:00

• • Iriomotejima Post Office:
    Business hours = Weekdays 9:00-17:00
    ATM = Weekdays 8:45-19:00
    Saturdays, Sundays and holidays ... 9:00-17:00

• JA Okinawa Iriomote East
  ATM = Weekdays 9:00-16:00

 

summary

How was it? Did you learn more trivia about Iriomote Island? If you want to know more about Iriomote Island, we recommend you to go on a tour of Iriomote Island with a local nature guide while listening to local stories.
Iriomote Island is very popular these days. Please make a reservation for the tour before coming to Iriomote Island!

Click here for popular island tours

Related columns are here↓.
List of recommended places to visit and play in Iriomote Island!

All the fun in Iriomote Island is here↓.
Iriomotejima Tours