Hateruma loop to Japan's southernmost point
波照間島一周（ニシ浜・日本最南端の碑）24°04′ N 123°46′ EEasy EasyCity bikeE-bikeloop
The Hateruma loop is a 15.2 km ride by our route data from Hateruma Port past Nishihama and round the island's ring road to the monument marking Japan's southernmost point at Takanasaki, with 98 m of climbing, no traffic lights and no shade.
KonbiniWaterTop of chart 100 m
Routed over OpenStreetMap with BRouter trekking, measured against AWS Terrarium z13 (2026-10-09). The waypoints run counter-clockwise.
Photo 松岡明芳 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hateruma is Japan's southernmost inhabited island, and a 9 km ring road circles the farmland around the village in the middle. Spurs run out to the port, the airport and the cliffs at Takanasaki, and our loop strings them together for 15.2 km by our route data. Nemo Jitensha warns that the roads to the monument and Nishihama carry some distance and some ups and downs, and it rents only e-bikes for that reason.
We start at the port and ride first to Nishihama, the white beach on the north-west shore, then swing south and east round the ring road to the coast road. Painusima's day course times the ride from Nishihama to Takanasaki at 25–30 minutes. The three monuments there mark Japan's southernmost point, and open-ocean swell breaks on the rocks below.
From the cliffs the road climbs north past the airport and back to the village, where the shops and diners cluster. Eat early, because the stores close over the middle of the day and the soba shops keep irregular hours.
Worth knowing
- Book a bike when you book your room and ask about the port pick-up; there are no buses or taxis for general use.
- Stay the night if you can; the boat timetable leaves day-trippers only a few hours on the island.
- Check the boat status the evening before; in winter the crossing cancels often.
Ride safely
- Bring lunch and water. Many island restaurants close on irregular days, and our route data finds no konbini on the loop.
- Stay back from the cliff edge at Takanasaki; the open-sea swell breaks hard on the rocks below.
- E-bikes and bikes too big for the high-speed boat go on the cargo ferry Ferry Hateruma 2, which sails three days a week.
Wind at Iriomotejima, JMA 1991–2020
Which way to ride, month by month風
Jan
NE 4.6
Either way
Feb
NE 4.6
Either way
Mar
NE 4.2
Either way
Apr
NE 3.8
Either way
May
NE 3.5
Either way
Jun
S 4.1
Either way
Jul
S 4
Either way
Aug
S 3.8
Either way
Sep
NE 4
Either way
Oct
NE 5.2
Either way
Nov
NE 4.7
Either way
Dec
NE 4.8
Either way
Arrows point the way the wind blows. Speeds are monthly means in m/s. The wind on any given day can differ from the monthly pattern, so check the forecast.
Lunch, swims and sights
Stops along the way寄り道
Nishihamabeach
White sand near the port, and the island's sunset beach.
Japan's Southernmost Monumentview
Three monuments stand on the cliffs at Takanasaki.
Takanasakicape
Cliffs where open-ocean swell breaks on the rocks.
Closed since July 2022; the cliffs nearby still give a dark southern sky.
Peenushima Shokudolunch
Soba between the village and Nishihama; cash only.
Soba and set meals in the village.
Parlor Minpikacafe
Shaved ice in the afternoon, three minutes from Nishihama.
kukuru cafecafe
Outdoor café in the Minami hamlet, open late morning.
Nearby rental
Rent a bike for itレンタル
FAQ
Quick answers about Hateruma loop to Japan's southernmost pointよくある質問
How long does it take to cycle around Hateruma?
Our Hateruma loop from the port is 15.2 km by our route data with 98 m of climbing, and the ring road itself is 9 km. The tourism association's day course fits the island's sights between the morning and afternoon boats on a bike.
Do you need an e-bike on Hateruma?
No. A city bike handles our 15.2 km loop. Nemo Jitensha, the island's e-bike rental shop, points out that the roads to the southernmost monument and Nishihama involve distance and some ups and downs, and an e-bike makes them easy.
Book it
Line up the trip around Hateruma-jima
Some of these links pay us a commission. It costs you nothing and keeps the guide independent.