New Ishigaki Airport, or Painushima Ishigaki Airport, is the gateway to the Yaeyama Islands where popular tourist destinations such as Ishigaki Island and Taketomi Island are located in Okinawa.
The trip to the Yaeyama Islands starts from the New Ishigaki Airport.
Taketomi Island, Iriomote Island, and other islands of the Yaeyama Islands are reached by ferry from Ishigaki Island.
In this article, I, an Okinawan resident, will introduce how to get to the remote island terminal from Ishigaki Airport and how to buy a boarding ticket!
Access From New Ishigaki Airport to the Remote Islands Terminal
″Welcome to Ishigaki Island, everyone who has arrived at New Ishigaki Airport!″
From the moment you get off the plane, you will feel the southern island air all around you.
From here to the destination island, you still need to move.
There are three ways to get from the airport to the remote island terminal, so I will introduce them in order!
Method 1: By Bus
There are two companies that operate buses to the remote island terminal departing from New Ishigaki Airport.
One is the local bus operated by Higashi Bus, and the other is the direct bus operated by Karry Kanko.
The local bus takes about 45 minutes and costs 540 yen. The direct bus takes about 30 minutes and costs 500 yen.
Both buses run about every 30 minutes, so if you have enough time, please consider taking the bus.
＜Bus Stop at New Ishigaki Airport＞
(Source: New Ishigaki Airport)
Method 2: Take a Cab
It takes about 25 minutes from New Ishigaki Airport to the remote island terminal by cab.
The cab fare is about 3,000 yen.
If you arrive late or need to get to the terminal quickly, consider taking a cab.
Method 3: Car Rental
You can also rent a rental car near the airport from New Ishigaki Airport to the remote island terminal.
It takes about 25 minutes to get to the terminal, the same time as a cab.
However, if you are not staying at Ishigaki Island and going directly to the remote islands, renting a car is not efficient, so please consider taking a bus or a cab.
Purchasing Tickets to the Islands at the Terminal
When you arrive at the terminal, purchase a boat ticket to the island you want to visit.
＜Destinations of the Boats Departing From the Terminal＞
Taketomi Island, Kohama Island, Kuroshima Island, Iriomote Island (Ohara route/Uehara route), Hatoma Island, Hateruma Island
There are two companies that operate ferries from Ishigaki Island to each remote island.
They are Anei Kanko and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry.
Anei Kanko operates more routes, but Yaeyama Kanko Ferry also operates major routes.
Since the service times are slightly different, it is best to choose the ferry company that is easier to schedule.
Ticket prices are the same for both companies.
Tickets can be purchased at the counter of each shipping company at the remote island terminal.
*Anei Kanko has a Hateruma route, but Yaeyama Kanko Ferry does not. Anei Kanko operates an inter-island hopping service that allows passengers to cross from one remote island to another.
If you take the Higashi Bus route bus from Ishigaki Airport to the remote island terminal and purchase a ticket for Anei Kanko, you will receive a discount ticket worth 260 yen (130 yen for children).
If you are planning to travel by bus, consider using the discount ticket.
＜Yaeyama Kanko Ferry Ticket Office＞
＜Anei Kanko Ticket Office＞
Next to the Anei Kanko counter, there is an automatic ticket vending machine as shown below.
The ticket vending machine is available in Japanese, English, and Chinese, so it is recommended to use the ticket vending machine to purchase tickets.
*Of course, it is not possible to take a ferry of Yaeyama Kanko Ferry with a ticket of Anei Kanko, and vice versa. Many people make mistakes, so be careful when purchasing tickets!
You can also purchase a boarding ticket in advance by reservation on the web.
If you purchase tickets in advance, you do not need to stop by the ticket counter on the day of boarding and can go directly to the ferry terminal.
However, since it is not a seat reservation ticket, it is recommended to arrive at the ferry port with enough time to spare.
＞ Yaeyama Kanko Ferry Web Ticket Purchase Site
＞ Anei Kanko Web Ticket Purchase Site
*Although the destinations of Anei Kanko and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry are the same, the boarding places are different, so be sure to check the boarding place sign carefully and get in line!
＜Anei Kanko Boat Ramp＞
Both companies, Anei Kanko and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry, offer Gosenin (seal of the ship) for 300 yen per piece (tax included).
The design is very nice and Okinawan, so it is recommended as a souvenir of your trip to the Yaeyama Islands!
Points to Keep in Mind When Boarding the Boat
After boarding the ferry from the remote island terminal, please enjoy the Yaeyama sea trip.
The air-conditioning on board may be a bit harsh, so it is better to prepare something to wrap your head in. They dare to lower the temperature because high room temperatures tend to cause seasickness.
In addition, the ship may be greatly rocked at certain times of the year due to the time difference at sea caused by bad weather. If you are prone to seasickness, take anti-sickness medicine beforehand!
When You Arrive at the Islands
Once you arrive at the remote islands, enjoy the nature of Okinawa as much as you like!
From the port, you can take a shuttle bus, a pick-up service from your accommodation, or a rental car to your final destination. Enjoy your trip to the Yaeyama Islands, where you can experience a different atmosphere from your daily life.
May you have a great trip in Okinawa! :)
English 
Japanese 
Korean 
Chinese