Kondoi Beach is a representative scenic spot on Taketomi Island.

With its white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, this place is a must-visit if you're in the area of Taketomi Island. 

This article will introduce ways to enjoy Kondoi Beach.We will also show you the scenery of Kondoi Beach and Taketomi Island as seen from offshore, while riding in a traditional wooden boat called a "sabani". 

1. Kondoi Beach, a white sand beach that is representative of Taketomi Island.

Kondoi Beach, located on the west side of Taketomi Island, is one of the island's most beautiful beaches.

What unfolds before your eyes is a crystal-clear emerald-blue sea and a smooth, endless stretch of white sand. The blue of the sea, the white of the sand, and the green surrounding the island combine to create a picturesque scene no matter where you look.

The sea is shallow and the waves are relatively calm. You can enjoy swimming, walking on the sandy beach, or simply gazing at the sea from the shade of the trees—there are many ways to spend your time.This is a place where you can enjoy the relaxed island pace that is characteristic of Taketomi Island.

KondoiBeach｜Basic information

• Location: 907-1101 Taketomi, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa Prefecture
• TEL: 0980-82-5445
• Access: Approximately 15 minutes by rental bicycle or 5 minutes by local bus from Taketomi Port.
• Bicycle parking: Available
• Toilet: Available
• Shower: Available
• Shop: Open only during the summer (irregular closing days)

2.Kondoi Beach changes with the tides and time of day.

The scenery at Kondoi Beach is never the same, no matter when you visit.

The color of the sea and the shape of the beach change moment by moment depending on the sun's position, the movement of the clouds, the wind, and the ebb and flow of the tides.

When the tide is high, it's recommended to enjoy swimming or simply admire the clear waters that are characteristic of Kondoi Beach.

On the other hand, during periods of low tide, the shallow sea expands even further, and a pristine white sandbar may appear offshore.

Because you can walk in areas that are normally underwater, you can enjoy scenery that is different from what you see at high tide.

Check the tide levels and weather on the day you visit, and try to find the unique scenery of Kondoi Beach that can only be seen on that day and at that time.

3.The beautiful sea that has supported island life

Kondoi Beach is now known as one of Taketomi Island's most representative beaches, but this sea has long been deeply connected to the lives of the island's people.

Kondoi Beach has a sacred site called "Nishi-Misaki Utaki (Irumishashion)".

Utaki are sacred places of prayer, widely found in the southwestern islands of Japan, such as Okinawa Prefecture, where gods and ancestral spirits are believed to reside.There are approximately 28 of them on the island, and the islanders have carefully preserved them for generations.

Nishimisaki Utaki is said to enshrine the god of sea creatures, and it is believed that he watches over the lives of the islanders from Kondoi Beach, which is blessed with the bounty of the sea.

Kondoi Beach is a place to enjoy beautiful scenery, but it is also a place that retains the memories of Taketomi Island, where people have lived in harmony with the bounty of the sea.

Incidentally, in the Yaeyama Islands, including Taketomi Island, sacred groves (utaki) are called "on."

4. Kondoi Beach as seen from the sea

If you're visiting Kondoi Beach, you can enjoy not only the beach and shallow waters, but also the sea and unspoiled landscapes of Taketomi Island from offshore.

That's the Sabani tour, which takes you on the only traditional wooden boat on Taketomi Island, the "Sabani."

When you look back at the beach from the open sea while riding in a traditional Okinawan boat (sabani), a completely different view unfolds compared to when you see it from land.

Like Miyako Island and the Kerama Islands, Taketomi Island is a flat island formed from uplifted coral reef limestone, so it has no high mountains or rivers.

When viewed from the sea, the unique landscape of the island, with its low-lying, horizontally spreading greenery, becomes clearly apparent.

The white sandy beach, the island's greenery, the sky, and the sea—all these elements blend together seamlessly, making Kondoi Beach appear as an integral part of Taketomi Island's natural landscape.

Viewing Kondoi Beach from both the shore and the sea will allow you to experience the island's nature more deeply.

5. Sabani boats that move solely on the wind and human power of Taketomi.

The traditional wooden boats known as "sabani," which have been passed down through generations in the seas of Okinawa and the Yaeyama Islands, were once used for fishing and transporting people, and supported the lives of those on Taketomi Island.

These boats are not commonly used today, and there are only a handful of wooden sabani boat craftsmen left.

The sabani boat moves forward by catching the wind in its sails and rowing with oars (ek) as needed.

Because there is no engine, the only sounds you hear on the sea are the swaying of the sails in the wind, the waves created by the oars catching the water and crashing against the hull—all sounds of nature.

The sea of Taketomi Island, and the culture, history, and nature that have been passed down on the island.

The sabani is a type of boat that allows you to experience all of these things with all five senses.

6.To the sea of Taketomi Island in Shu-kaji's sabani boat

"Taketomi Island Sabani Tour Shu-kaji" offers tours of Taketomi Island in traditional wooden boats called sabani.

Our guides, who are intimately familiar with the waters around Taketomi Island, will take you to the best possible spot in the Taketomi Island sea, based on the day's conditions and wind.

As this is a completely private tour limited to one group at a time, you can spend quality time alone with your family, friends, or loved ones.

If the timing is right, you can land on the "uncharted white sand beach" that appears at low tide. The view of Kondoi Beach from this white sand beach is a special sight that can only be experienced from the sea.  

We will guide you to a special Taketomi Island that you can't experience in your everyday life.

> Learn more about Sabani tours

Article publication date: August 24, 2026