An independent island guide
Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan
Island stories
The islands
Iriomote is Yaeyama's jungle island: dense forest, mangrove rivers and mountains that change how you travel. The main road gives you a first look. A planned activity with a local guide takes you farther into the landscape.
Island life
Hounensai brings harvest, prayer and community together. It is part of the life of the islands, with ceremonies and celebrations that differ from village to village.
Plan your trip
What kind of day by the sea are you looking for? Yaeyama coasts range from managed swimming beaches to reef edges, long open shores and tide-dependent sandbars.
Culture & community
A documentary about textile maker Akiko Ishigaki on Iriomote, with drone footage contributed by our team.
Don’t miss the traditional Hounensai harvest festival if you’re visiting Ishigaki, Iriomote, or one of the other Yaeyama Islands. The festival is held to thank the gods for the year’s harvest and to pray for abundance in the coming season. Each village organizes its own festivities. Many events are open to visitors, while some ceremonies […]
Juroku-nichi-sai is New Year’s Day for the ancestors. It’s the 16th day of the new year, the day after the first full moon in the moon calendar or lunar calendar. According to this calendar, New Year’s Day in 2017 was on the 28th of January. In the Yaeyama islands the moon calendar is still used […]
Cycling is one of the best ways to explore the Yaeyama Islands. Each island has its own character: Ishigaki is mountainous, Iriomote feels remote and wild, while Taketomi, Kuroshima and Kohama are compact enough for a relaxed ride. Choose your bike and route carefully, because distances, heat and hills can be more demanding than expected. […]
Japan is a very safe country to travel. The Japanese people would like to prevent insecurity and choose safe situations first. That makes travelling through Japan enjoyable. We made a list of possible hazards on the beaches and inside the ocean. Don’t worry, this list is mainly to make you conscious and to prevent unnecessary situations. […]