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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Taketomi
竹富島
Go for one night, not a day trip: the last ferry leaves about 17:30, so only overnighters get the village and beaches after the crowds go.
Taketomi is a 5.4 km² island 15 minutes by ferry from Ishigaki, with a preserved Ryukyu village of white-sand lanes, coral walls and red-tile roofs. Most people come as a day trip; one night is what buys you the empty village at dusk and the west pier at sunset. There is no supermarket, no rental car and one taxi.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 竹富島
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (typhoon season), Golden Week
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥6,000–9,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥9,000–14,000 excl. bed · High ¥14,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Yaeyama soba with soki pork ribs | ¥700–1,000 |
| Rafti-don pork rice bowl | about ¥1,000 |
| Sata-andagi doughnuts | 2 for ¥100 |
| Awamori or cocktail at the island bar | ¥500–900 |
| Star sand souvenir | about ¥30 per teaspoonful |
| Shuttle bus, port to village | ¥200–310; ¥1,030 day pass |
| Kihōin temple entry | ¥300 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ISG · New Ishigaki Airport
- Bus or taxi to Ishigaki port, then a 15-min high-speed ferry to Taketomi; allow 1 h door to door.
Typical fares
- Ishigaki → Taketomi, high-speed ferry
- ¥690 one-way, ¥1,330 return, 15 min
- Taketomi Port → village, shuttle bus
- ¥200–310 by distance
- Bicycle, full day
- ¥1,500
Get around
Walk or rent a bicycle (¥300/hour, ¥1,500/day). A shuttle bus runs from the port to the village and beaches at least hourly; fares ¥200–310 by distance, ¥1,030 for a day pass. No rental cars or motorcycles. One taxi on the island, book ahead.
See and do
Known for
- Ryukyu village of white-sand lanes
- Kondoi Beach
- Star sand at Kaiji Beach
- Water buffalo cart rides
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ishigaki | High-speed ferry from Taketomi Port, about 15 min | About 30 min |
| Kohama | One ferry a day each way, about 25 min | About 1 h |
| Hateruma | Ferry via Ishigaki, then a fast ferry south | 3–4 h |
Sleep
- The village (shūraku)
- Guesthouses, minshuku and the only bar; walk to everything, but quiet after dark.
- Near the port and Aiyaruhama
- Hoshinoya and Hotel Peace Island; 1 km walk or shuttle to the village.Hoshinoya and Hotel Peace Island; 0.6 mi walk or shuttle to the village.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| This one, please | これをくださいkore o kudasai |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Can I pay by card? | カードで払えますか？kādo de haraemasu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Miss the last ferry (about 17:30) and you are stuck for the night: there is no charter service.
- Return ferry tickets are valid only on the company you bought them from; two one-ways cost about ¥50 more and keep you flexible.
- No supermarket or convenience store on the island: bring cash and supplies from Ishigaki.
- Taking star sand is not allowed; pick individual grains only.
- An address reading 'Taketomi' may be on Iriomote or another island: Taketomi Town covers most of the Yaeyamas.
Very safe. The real risks are the last ferry, summer heat and typhoons, and coral or stone walls after dark: bring a torch and check the sea state before swimming.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Taketomi yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ryukyu village of white-sand lanes
- Kondoi Beach
- Star sand at Kaiji Beach
- Water buffalo cart rides
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Taketomijima Kōtsū (island shuttle bus): takekou.info/
- An-ei Kankō (ferry operator): aneikankou.co.jp/
- Wikivoyage: Taketomi, revision 5237244 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5237244
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Taketomi竹富島
ここまでお願いします
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies on the island; the US has a consulate in Naha and most countries' embassies are in Tokyo (check).
Cash is king on the island; some guesthouses and cafés take cards, many do not.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/taketomi). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.