Guided in Japanese: Taketomi Island

4 hours | Ishigaki | ISG-219
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Points of Interest

  • Taketomi Island
Strenuous activity

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Your adventure begins at the Ishigaki Pier, which includes a tourist center and souvenir shop. There you'll embark on a quick ferry journey to Taketomishima.

This petite islet is a charming, living museum and true representation of Ryūkȳū culture.

Stop at Taketomi Island Pier and take a moment to snap a photo of this serene spot surrounded by sparkling blue water before crossing the road. There, behind a bamboo fence, you will find the island's Taketomi Yugafukan Museum, a traditional wooden building that shows videos with stories and music from the region.

Taketomi is very tiny, with a population under 300, but it is quite charming and has become a favorite with visitors because of its traditional and well preserved Ryūkȳū village. Red clay roofs adorn many of the village's houses, which are guarded by lion sculptures, and low volcanic rock walls are lined with colorful flowers. Many roads are unpaved lanes of white sand, down which ambling water buffalo pull tourist-packed carts.

Travelling the town from a cart pulled by a water buffalo is the preferred way of sightseeing – and if you're lucky, your guide will also tell you folk stories and play the sanshin, a traditional Okinawan stringed instrument.

The island's beaches are not only historically significant, but are also simply spectacular. Situated on the tip of a crescent bay, the white sand and turquoise waters sparkle. Gorgeous Kondoi Beach is the most popular.

Another must see is the "star sand" beach, called Hoshizuna-no-hama. The sand that accumulates on its shores is formed from the shells of tiny crustaceans – you can sift through the grains of sand to find the tiny, individual star shapes or, as many prefer to do, buy some at the souvenir shop.

At the end of this enjoyable day filled with culture and fun, return to port and re-board your ship.

Special Notes:

**The cancellation deadline of this tour is 7 days prior to the embarkation day and after this deadline a full cancellation fee is applied. Please also note that after this cut-off date, new bookings might not be accepted.

Tour timeline may vary to avoid overcrowding, etc.