Kuroshima
黒島Ffusïma24°14′ N 124°01′ EYaeyama Islandscattleflatheart-shaped
Kuroshima is a flat, heart-shaped island of 10 km² and about 220 people that lies 25 to 30 minutes by boat from Ishigaki, and its cattle outnumber residents more than ten to one. It suits an easy bike day through pasture to Nakamoto beach and Iko pier.
Photo Kentaro Ohno · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Taketomi Town counts more than 3,000 cattle on Kuroshima against about 220 people, and young islanders have come home to raise calves for a new auction market near the port. Seen from the air the island makes a heart shape, and it is marketed as Heart Island.
The land is coral limestone barely above the sea, so the lanes run flat between stone walls and pasture to the five hamlets: Hori by the port, Iko, Nakamoto, Higashisuji in the middle and Miyazato in the west. The Kuroshima Research Institute in Miyazato studies the sea turtles that come ashore to nest from April to about October. Iko pier, which runs straight out across the shallows on the north-east coast, became a registered tangible cultural property in 2005.
Nakamoto beach on the south coast has a reef lagoon full of fish at low tide, and Taketomi Town warns that rip currents there have caused many accidents. Only a handful of places serve food, so plan lunch before you set off.
Getting there
High-speed boats from Ishigaki's island terminal reach Kuroshima port in 25 to 30 minutes. Yaeyama Kanko Ferry and Anei Kanko each run three boats a day in their autumn 2026 and winter timetables, so check the last return before you plan a long ride. Yaeyama Kanko Ferry's high-speed boats do not carry bicycles.
Getting around
Kuroshima has no hills, and Taketomi Town recommends a bicycle as the best way round. Kuroshima Rent-a-Cycle near the port rents by the hour, and Heart Land café rents bikes from the first boat to the last. A phone-booked public rideshare run by Route Kuroshima carries visitors between the port and the hamlets.
Riding on Kuroshima
Kuroshima tops out at 15.3 m, and its lanes run between stone walls and pasture with more cattle than people. Prefectural Route 213 runs from the port to Higashisuji in the middle of the island, and farm lanes reach Nakamoto beach on the south coast and Iko pier on the north-east. Even a slow rider covers the island in a few hours, and the wind supplies the only real effort.
Kuroshima Rent-a-Cycle near the port rents city bikes, e-bikes and child seats, and Heart Land café rents bicycles too.
December to March
Kuroshima's flat open pasture gives no shelter from the north-north-east winter wind, so plan the ride with the wind behind you on the way home to the port. The Ushi Matsuri, a cattle festival held each February, draws about 4,000 people to an island of 221, according to Taketomi Town. Boats run three a day per company in the winter timetables, and a winter-only manta snorkel trip runs from the island.
Worth knowing
- Check the three daily boats per company before you go; the gap between the morning and afternoon returns is long.
- Taketomi Town advises swimming at Nakamoto in a life jacket with a partner, and only in the two hours around low tide.
- The Ushi Matsuri in February is the island's busiest day; book the boat early.
- Visit Iko pier at high tide or at sunrise, as the tourism association suggests.
1 route
Ride Kuroshima走る
Where to base
Towns and villages on Kuroshima町
FAQ
Quick answers about Kuroshimaよくある質問
How do you get to Kuroshima from Ishigaki?
By high-speed boat from Ishigaki's island terminal, which takes 25 to 30 minutes. Yaeyama Kanko Ferry and Anei Kanko each run three boats a day in their October 2026 to February 2027 timetables.
Is Kuroshima good for cycling?
Yes. Kuroshima's highest point is 15.3 m, and Taketomi Town calls cycling through the pasture the best way to see the island. Rental bikes wait near the port.
When is the Kuroshima cattle festival?
Each February. Taketomi Town says the Ushi Matsuri draws about 4,000 visitors to the island; check the town's event pages for the 2027 date.
How big is Kuroshima?
Kuroshima covers 10.02 km² and is home to about 221 people.
Can you cycle on Kuroshima?
Kuroshima tops out at 15.3 m, and its lanes run between stone walls and pasture with more cattle than people. Prefectural Route 213 runs from the port to Higashisuji in the middle of the island, and farm lanes reach Nakamoto beach on the south coast and Iko pier on the north-east. Even a slow rider covers the island in a few hours, and the wind supplies the only real effort.
What is Kuroshima like in winter?
Kuroshima's flat open pasture gives no shelter from the north-north-east winter wind, so plan the ride with the wind behind you on the way home to the port. The Ushi Matsuri, a cattle festival held each February, draws about 4,000 people to an island of 221, according to Taketomi Town. Boats run three a day per company in the winter timetables, and a winter-only manta snorkel trip runs from the island.
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