About remote islands that can be reached from Iriomote Island

Hello everyone!

There are many islands in the vicinity of Iriomote Island. Do you know that there are some islands among them that you can visit? They are small islands with unique charms. In this article, we will introduce the remote islands which can be reached from Iriomote Island.

Popular Iriomote Island Tour (with Ishigaki - Iriomote ferry ticket) is here↓.

Click here for ferry reservations to remote islands

 

What is Yubu Island?

Yubu Island, adjacent to Iriomote Island, is a small island made only of sand deposited by ocean currents, and the whole island is a botanical garden called "subtropical plant paradise". The sea between Yubu Island and Iriomote Island is usually only about 1 m deep, which is less than an adult's knee, so buffalo carts are used as a means of transportation for sightseeing between Yubu Island and Iriomote Island, making it a popular tourist attraction. When the tide is low and the waves are quiet, it is possible to cross by ordinary vehicles or on foot.

 

How to get to Yubu Island

There are no direct flights to Yubu Island. You have to walk or take a buffalo cart from Iriomote Island.

 

3 Sightseeing Spots on Yubu Island

Manta Beach

It is also called "Manta Way" because it is a pathway for manta rays. Swimming is prohibited, but beachcombers can enjoy picking up shells and looking for hermit crabs on this shallow beach.

 

Butterfly Garden

This is a butterfly garden where the largest butterfly in Japan, the "lady of the tropics," as it is also called, is kept. The butterfly's graceful flight is a must-see, and its pupa is a beautiful golden color. Please visit Yubu Island to see these butterflies, which seem to bring you good luck from somewhere.

 

Buffalo Pond

This is a pond where buffaloes pulling a buffalo cart spend their time when they are resting. You can see many buffaloes resting in the pond, which is a cool sight. It is a cool sight to see the buffaloes resting in the pond.

 

4 activities on Yubu Island

Yaeyama Remote Islands Tour

The remote islands of Yaeyama.Efficient SightseeingFor those who want to do so, a tour around the islands is recommended.

This tour allows you to fully enjoy the charms of Yaeyama's remote islands such as Iriomote Island, where 90% of the island is covered by jungle, Taketomi Island, where traditional townscapes remain, and Yubu Island, which is reached by a buffalo crossing the sea from Iriomote Island.

Unlike marine activities,Basically, it never gets wet.Therefore, it is also recommended for those who do not like the sea.

Click here for popular island tours

Check out more Yaeyama Remote Islands Tour Plans!

 

Standard set♪ Sightseeing in Yubu Island by buffalo cart & Jungle trekking in Iriomote Island

In this tour, you will visit butterfly garden, bougainvillea garden, buffalo pond, etc. in Yubu Island, a neighbor of Iriomote Island, and go trekking in the jungle of Iriomote Island in the afternoon. This tour is popular as a very relaxing tour where you can fully enjoy the great nature of Iriomote and the living creatures of Yubu Island. You will have 1.5 to 2 hours in Yubu Island, and you can enjoy the nature of Yubu Island in a relaxed manner.

 

Barasu Island snorkeling & Yubu Island buffalo cart tour

This tour includes sightseeing on Yubu Island and a visit to the two islands of Barasu Island, famous as the Island of Miracles.

In the morning, we will visit Barasu Island, a small white island that can be seen offshore from the Uehara area. Barasu Island is made up of pieces of white coral reef, and is sometimes called a "phantom island" because it is small and not shown on maps. The island is only a few dozen meters in diameter, and its shape changes with the ebb and flow of the waves. Snorkeling tours around Barasu Island, where coral reefs are abundant, are very popular.

In the afternoon, we will go sightseeing on Yubu Island. Visitors will be able to enjoy a leisurely afternoon on the island, crossing the sea on a buffalo cart and watching the graceful dance of the giant tiger butterflies at the Butterfly Pavilion.

 

This is a very popular set! Pinaisara Falls & Mangrove Canoeing & Yubu Island Buffalo Car Tour (with lunch)

It is one of the most famous waterfalls in Iriomote Island, with a drop of about 55 meters, the largest waterfall in Okinawa Prefecture. Cruise to the nearby area by canoe or kayak. After that, you can go trekking to Pinaisara Falls. This is one of the most popular spots because it is easy to visit and you can enjoy several activities at once. After working hard at the activities to reach the waterfall, relax on Yubu Island, play with buffaloes, watch bougainvillea in full bloom, and enjoy the diverse faces of the tropics.

 

What is Hatoma Island?

Hatoma Island is a very small island with an area of about 1 km2 and a population of about 40 people, located in the northern part of Iriomote Island. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the sea of Hatoma Island is also called "Hatoma Blue" because of its lapis lazuli color. The transparency of the sea is one of the best among the seas of the Yaeyama Islands, and fish can be seen swimming in all directions in the beautiful sea in an exciting manner. The island is not a tourist attraction, but rather a good old-fashioned isolated island.

 

How to get to Hatoma Island

Hatoma Island is about 45 minutes from Ishigaki Island by high-speed boat and 10 minutes from Uehara Port in Iriomote Island.

Access to Hatoma Island
An-ei Kanko
From Uehara Port in Iriomote Island From Hatoma Island
10:30 16:15
Adults 1,480 yen
Child 740 yen

 

Click here to book a ferry to Hatoma Island

 

3 Sightseeing Spots on Hatoma Island

Hatoma Nakamori, Hatoma Island Lighthouse

A hill located almost in the center of the island. From the top, you can see the blue sea and the magnificent Iriomote Island, and it is said that this place was the theme of the folk song Hatoma-bushi. There is a lighthouse at the end of the path among trees and stairs, and a viewing platform next to it. The Hatohai Island Lighthouse has become a symbol of the island because of its presence.

The name "Nakamori" comes from the middle of the three forests on Hatoma Island. The view of the lapis lazuli-colored sea from here is a popular spot.

 

sand beach in front of a temple's main hall

Mae-no-hama beach is located in the southern part of Hatoma Island and is only a 3-minute walk from Hatoma Port, making it an easy beach to visit for sightseeing. Because Mae-no-hama is surrounded by breakwaters, the waves are very calm and the water is shallow, making it a very popular beach with children.

 

Yara Beach

Yara Beach is located on the west coast of Hatoma Island and is the largest natural beach on the island. The beach is ideal for swimming due to its shallow waters and gentle waves. It is also famous for its beautiful sunsets and is featured in BEGIN's song "Koi no Shima Hatoma-jima" (Island of Love).

 

3 Activities on Hatoma Island

Hatoma Island, the "Last Secret Island," sightseeing & sea turtle snorkeling - lunch included - available in the afternoon

Departing from Iriomote Island at noon, you can enjoy Hatoma Island sightseeing and snorkeling. Since it departs from noon, you can join the tour as a day trip from Ishigaki Island as well. Hatoma Island is an island with Okinawan townscape, and walking around there, you can see the original landscape of Okinawa, which will surely heal your mind.

After sightseeing, you can enjoy snorkeling in the nearby sea. The area around Iriomote Island is known to be visited by sea turtles during their spawning season, and there is a high probability that you will see them. It is recommended for those who want to enjoy an underwater walk in the beautiful sea because you can encounter not only sea turtles but also corals and tropical fishes.

 

Nakahama Beachcombing

Shimanakahama is a secluded beach on the north side of Hatoma Island. It is a very beautiful beach with white sand and clear blue ocean, and is close to the reef. This beach combing is done on such a beach.

The sea of Hatoma Island is so beautiful that it is called "Hatoma blue," and many tourists from all over Japan visit the island to enjoy the sea. Due to the currents in the sea, many drifted objects such as coral fragments and shells wash ashore. Why not try beachcombing as a souvenir of Hamama Island?

 

Yara Beach Sunset

Yara Beach is the largest natural beach on Hatoma Island and is located on the west side of the island, so you can see a beautiful sunset when the sun sets. It is the best sunset spot on Hatoma Island. During the time when the sunset can be seen, there are no boats to return home, so it is a precious thing that only those who stay on the island can see.

 

What are Outer and Inner Outlying Islands?

These are two large islands in front of Shirahama Port in Iriomote Island. The island near the port is Uchi-rikijima. The island on the open sea side of the inner island is the outer island.

Uchi-Itochu Island was once a lively coal-mining island in the Taisho era (1912-1926), but the island's history is replete with malaria, which caused the mines to close many times. Today, malaria has been eradicated and the island is safe to visit. There are local guided tours that take visitors to the ruins of coal mines that still remain, so if you are interested, please join the tour.

Outer islands also once prospered as coal mining islands after World War II. The coal mines later went out of business, but a black pearl processing plant was built around 1998.

 

Directions to Outer and Inner Outlying Islands

For the inner islands, a sightseeing boat of Funauki Kaiun Ltd. is available from Shirahama and Funauki in Iriomote Island. Outer islands can be reached by renting a chartered boat.

 

3 activities on outer and inner islands

Exploration of remote island coal mines in Uchinai

Uchi-Island has been a coal mining town since the Taisho era (1912-1926). You can see the trolley rails and tunnels that were laid at that time, which are no longer in use.

 

Naruya Wetland

Further in from the former grazing lands of Uchiharashi Island, there is a marshy area. In the marshland, an old-growth mangrove forest has developed, forming the largest nipa palm colony in Japan. At the mouth of the river near the beach, there is a rich mangrove forest with three species of hollyhocks. The nipa palm colony here is designated as a special plant community by the Ministry of the Environment.

 

Base Station

Uchi-Island had a forward base of bases in the Funauki area during World War II, with a hole where suicide boats were stored and gun emplacements and communication facilities were set up. Currently, it is not possible to see inside, but you can take a boat tour.

 

summary

How was it? I introduced some remote islands near Iriomote Island. Yubu Island is a sightseeing spot, and I think it is easy to visit from the location. Hatoma Island has a very beautiful sea represented by Hatoma Blue, and it is a perfect island to relax and be healed.

There are regular flights to the outer and inner outlying islands, and it is common to visit them together with the Funauki area. The ruins of coal mines and bases are a must-see for the enthusiast.

Such deep islands are also located near Iriomote Island. If you are interested in them, I would be happy if you could visit them once. Thank you for reading to the end.

Popular Iriomote Island Tour (with Ishigaki - Iriomote ferry ticket) is here↓.

Click here for ferry reservations to remote islands