Taketomi-jima
竹富島Teedun24°20′ N 124°05′ EYaeyama Islandsred-tile villagewhite sand lanesflat
Taketomi-jima is a flat 5.4 km² island 10 to 15 minutes by boat from Ishigaki, where about 310 people live in a protected village of red-tiled houses and white sand lanes. Visitors cycle it on rental bikes and stay for the sunset at Nishi pier.
Photo shig2006 · Flickr · CC BY 2.0 and others, credited in the gallery
The village on Taketomi keeps its old shape: single-storey houses under red tile behind walls of stacked coral, and lanes swept and spread with white sand. Japan designated the townscape an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 1987, and most of the island lies inside Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park. Its town register counted 311 residents at the end of August 2026.
Most people come over from Ishigaki for the day, so the village is busiest from late morning to mid-afternoon and goes quiet after the last boats. Pick up a rental bike at the port and follow the ring road to Kondoi for the shallows and on to Kaiji for star sand. Nishi pier points west across the water toward Iriomote and gathers a crowd at sunset.
Nagomi-no-to, which gave the classic view over the roofs from Akayama Park, has been closed to visitors since 2016 because of its age. Since September 2019 Taketomi has asked visitors for a voluntary ¥300 island entry fee to fund conservation, and it was the first such levy under Japan's regional natural assets law. The seed-sowing festival Tanadui is the island's biggest event of the year, and several rental and bus companies close for its two days.
Getting there
High-speed boats from Ishigaki's island terminal reach Taketomi port in 10 to 15 minutes. Yaeyama Kanko Ferry and Anei Kanko both work the route through the day, and it has more sailings than any other route in their winter timetables. Yaeyama Kanko Ferry's high-speed boats have no space for bicycles, so rent one on the island.
Getting around
Bicycles do most of the work. Maruhachi Rent-a-Cycle and Minemoto Rent-a-Cycle send vans to meet the boats, and Taketomi Kotsu runs a small route bus from the port. Water buffalo carts take visitors through the village lanes at walking pace, with a sanshin song on the way. The village sits about 5 minutes by car or 15 to 20 minutes on foot from the port.
Riding on Taketomi-jima
Taketomi is flat, with the high point at about 33 m, and the village lanes are spread with white coral sand that grabs at narrow tyres. The ring road round the island links the village to Kondoi and Kaiji on the west coast, and a lap fits easily into a morning on a rental bike. Taketomi's community hall counted 1,139 rental bicycles on the island in 2019, so the lanes fill with riders by late morning.
Maruhachi Rent-a-Cycle in the middle of the village and Minemoto Rent-a-Cycle next to the Yugafu-kan visitor centre rent city bikes, e-bikes and children's bikes, and both collect riders at the port.
December to March
Boats run all winter on the October 2026 to February 2027 timetables. From December to March the beaches go quiet, and Yutaka Parlor's parasol and snorkel-rental bus at Kondoi operates only from late March to about October. JMA's 1991–2020 normal for the sea south of Ishigaki is about 23 °C in February, and the west-coast beaches sit away from the north-east wind.
Worth knowing
- Check the Tanadui dates before booking a Taketomi day trip: Minemoto Rent-a-Cycle and Taketomi Kotsu both list the festival days as closures.
- Maruhachi Rent-a-Cycle takes no phone bookings and wants bikes back by 17:00.
- Ride the sand lanes slowly; wide tyres and a low saddle help, and residents walk them too.
- Stay one night on the island to see the village after the day boats leave.
Where to base
Towns and villages on Taketomi-jima町
FAQ
Quick answers about Taketomi-jimaよくある質問
How long is the ferry from Ishigaki to Taketomi?
About 10 to 15 minutes. Yaeyama Kanko Ferry and Anei Kanko both run high-speed boats from Ishigaki's island terminal to Taketomi through the day.
Is Taketomi good for cycling?
Yes. Taketomi tops out at about 33 m, and rental bikes are the main way round the island. The village lanes are spread with white coral sand, so ride them slowly.
Can you climb Nagomi-no-to on Taketomi?
No. Nagomi-no-to has been closed to visitors since 2016 because of its age, according to the Yaeyama Mainichi newspaper and the island's Wikipedia entry.
Is there an entry fee for Taketomi Island?
Yes. Taketomi has asked visitors for a voluntary ¥300 island entry fee since 1 September 2019, according to Wikipedia's account of reports in the Ryukyu Shimpo and Okinawa Times. The money funds conservation and the buying back of island land.
How big is Taketomi-jima?
Taketomi-jima covers 5.43 km² and is home to about 311 people.
Can you cycle on Taketomi-jima?
Taketomi is flat, with the high point at about 33 m, and the village lanes are spread with white coral sand that grabs at narrow tyres. The ring road round the island links the village to Kondoi and Kaiji on the west coast, and a lap fits easily into a morning on a rental bike. Taketomi's community hall counted 1,139 rental bicycles on the island in 2019, so the lanes fill with riders by late morning.
What is Taketomi-jima like in winter?
Boats run all winter on the October 2026 to February 2027 timetables. From December to March the beaches go quiet, and Yutaka Parlor's parasol and snorkel-rental bus at Kondoi operates only from late March to about October. JMA's 1991–2020 normal for the sea south of Ishigaki is about 23 °C in February, and the west-coast beaches sit away from the north-east wind.
Within 15 km
Stay nearby宿
Within 15 km
Eat and drink nearby食
Within 15 km
Beaches and swims nearby浜
Within 15 km
See nearby見る
Book it
Line up the trip around Taketomi-jima
Some of these links pay us a commission. It costs you nothing and keeps the guide independent.