Major city · Japan
Yoron与論島
Go for 2 nights if you want empty beaches and a slow village; skip if you need nightlife, English menus or a car without an IDP.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JPY
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Sep (typhoon season), Jan–Feb (cool and windy)
- Airport
- RNJ
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
Yoron is a 20 km² island in the Amami chain, about 6,000 people, with Chabana village as its only real centre. Beaches and diving are the point; there is almost no nightlife and little English. Two nights covers the island; three lets you wait out a windy day for the Yurigahama sandbar.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Yoron, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.Japan-wide
- SIM or eSIMData-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.Japan-wide
- Tap waterSafe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.Japan-wide
- TippingRestaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.Japan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 100 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Japan-wide
- SafetyVery low crime; the real risks are sun, coral cuts, strong currents at the sandbar and typhoon-season travel disruption.
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet.Japan-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance · 0997-97-2511 (≈ US$17) Yoron hospital, Chabana (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); many family restaurants close one weekday, often Tuesday or Wednesday…Japan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportRNJ Yoron Airport (Flights to Amami Oshima, Okinoerabujima, Naha and Kagoshima; fares run higher than ferry travel.
- Getting aroundcheckA rental car or scooter is the practical choice; bring an IDP (1949 Convention) because agencies here check it strictly.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or tea at a café¥300–500 (≈ US$3–4)
- Sit-down mealIzakaya dinner with a drinkcheck¥2,500–4,000 (≈ US$17–30)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 mi5 km taxi3.1 mi taxicheck¥1,500–2,000 (≈ US$11–14)
- Museum or sight ticketSouthern Cross Center entry¥300 (≈ US$3) adult, ¥150 (≈ US$2) child
- Budget bedSelf-catering villa (2 people), a night, per room¥4,800 (≈ US$35)
- Mid-range bedSelf-catering villa (2 people), a night, per room¥6,500 (≈ US$45)
- High-end bedSelf-catering villa (2 people), a night, per room¥8,600 (≈ US$60)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥6,000 (≈ US$45) · Mid ¥11,000 (≈ US$75) · High ¥20,000 (≈ US$140)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- RNJ Yoron Airport (Flights to Amami Oshima, Okinoerabujima, Naha and Kagoshima; fares run higher than ferry travel. About 10 min by taxi to Chabana.)
Weather and climate
Yoron: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
19°C66°F
14°C57°F
12 rd
Feb
19°C66°F
14°C57°F
11 rd
Mar
21°C70°F
16°C61°F
12 rd
Apr
24°C75°F
18°C64°F
11 rd
May
27°C81°F
21°C70°F
12 rd
Jun
29°C84°F
24°C75°F
12 rd
Jul
32°C90°F
26°C79°F
9 rd
Aug
32°C90°F
26°C79°F
11 rd
Sep
31°C88°F
25°C77°F
11 rd
Oct
28°C82°F
22°C72°F
9 rd
Nov
25°C77°F
19°C66°F
9 rd
Dec
21°C70°F
16°C61°F
11 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A rental car or scooter is the practical choice; bring an IDP (1949 Convention) because agencies here check it strictly. A circuit bus runs several times daily in each direction, and the island is small enough that short walks between village and beach work.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Okinoerabujima
goDoor to door: About 2–3 h
Flight from Yoron Airport, about 20 min; ferries also run between the islands
Caves and a bigger village; doable as a long day but better as an overnight.
Kikai
overnightDoor to door: 3 h+
Ferry or connecting flight via Amami Oshima
Too slow for a return day; sleep there.
Tokunoshima
overnightDoor to door: 4 h+
Flight via Amami Oshima, or ferry
A separate island trip, not a day out.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Chabana
West side, walkable to the ferry port, airport and most restaurants; the default for a first visit.
East coast near the campground
Quieter, closer to Yurigahama beach; you need a car, scooter or the circuit bus.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥6,000–10,000 (≈ US$45–70) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥10,000–16,000 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
- High
- ¥16,000 (≈ US$110)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Self-catering villa (2 people)1 × 2 nights × ¥6,500 | ¥13,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × ¥11,000 | ¥44,000 |
| Rental car, one day1 × ¥7,000 · check | ¥7,000 |
| Yurigahama boat ride2 × ¥2,000 | ¥4,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ¥2,500 | ¥5,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ¥7,300 |
| Trip total≈ ¥20,080 per person per day, bed included | ¥80,300≈ US$550 |
2026 estimate in yen; flights and ferry fares excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or tea at a café | ¥300–500 (≈ US$3–4) |
| Lunch set or curry rice | ¥700–1,200 (≈ US$5–9) |
| Pasta or risotto at lunch | ¥1,000 (≈ US$7)+ |
| Izakaya dinner with a drinkcheck | ¥2,500–4,000 (≈ US$17–30) |
| Southern Cross Center entry | ¥300 (≈ US$3) adult, ¥150 (≈ US$2) child |
| Campground pitch, per tent per night | ¥350 (≈ US$3) |
| 5 km taxicheck | ¥1,500–2,000 (≈ US$11–14) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Rental agencies are strict about the international driving permit: no IDP, no car.
- English is rare outside a few guesthouses; the tourist association site is Japanese-only.
- Yurigahama appears only at the right tide: check the day's boat schedule before you plan around it.
- Typhoons can cancel ferries and flights in late summer and autumn.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
- Yoron hospital, Chabana
- 0997-97-2511
- Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English)
- 050-3816-2787
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Yoron与論島
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ここまでお願いしますTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Yoron hospital0997-97-2511
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
Embassy
No embassies on the island; the US consulate is in Naha and most embassies are in Tokyo.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Ferry Kagoshima → Yoron: about ¥13,000 (≈ US$90) one way, overnight sailing
- Yurigahama boat ride: about ¥2,000 (≈ US$14)
- Taxi airport → Chabana: about ¥1,000–1,500 (≈ US$7–11) (check)
Say or show
- すみません — Excuse me / Sorry (sumimasen)
- ありがとうございます — Thank you (arigatō gozaimasu)
- いくらですか？ — How much is it? (ikura desu ka)
- ビーチはどこですか？ — Where is the beach? (bīchi wa doko desu ka)
- カードで払えますか？ — Can I pay by card? (kādo de haraemasu ka)
- トイレはどこですか？ — Where is the toilet? (toire wa doko desu ka)
Ferry and flight times change with the season: confirm the day before you travel.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Yoron. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Sep (typhoon season), Jan–Feb (cool and windy) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for RNJ: taxi ranks, bus timing and the walk from the port.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Chabana, the east-coast campground, Yurigahama beach, the Southern Cross Center hill.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Southern Cross Center, Yunnu Rakuen, the cave shrine) and eat pages with last orders.
- Tide and boat fixtures for Yurigahama so the sandbar day can go green.