Taketomi Island is a small island that can be easily visited on a day trip from Ishigaki Island, taking about 15 minutes by high-speed ferry.

Taketomi Island has many famous tourist spots, but what I'd like to introduce today is a trip where you can leisurely cycle around the island while enjoying the scenery.

I'd like to share some of my favorite scenery and experiences.

 

 

1. First, get to know Taketomi Island at "Yugafu-kan".

Upon arriving at Taketomi Port, the first place you should visit is the Taketomi Island Yugafu-kan Visitor Center, located near the port.

At Yugafu-kan, you can learn about Taketomi Island's nature, history, festivals, traditional culture, and island life through videos and exhibits.

The approximately 7-minute video shown inside the building is easy to understand even for those who are just about to explore the island. The scenery you see will be different depending on whether you start walking without knowing anything or if you learn a little about the island's history and culture beforehand.

Yugafu-kan also recommends watching the video before exploring the island.

 

I tried the quiz rally book about Taketomi Island that was placed at the entrance of Yugafu Hall. I thought it would be for children, but there were many difficult questions, and I couldn't get all of them right. I'd like to try again when I come back.

After learning a little about Taketomi Island at Yugafu-kan, we'll rent bicycles and head to the village.

 

Taketomi Island Yugafu Museum | Basic Information

• Address: 2350 Taketomi, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa 907-1101, Japan
• TEL: 0980-85-2488
• Opening hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Closed on: during typhoons
• Admission fee: Free
• Official website:
• https://taketomijima.jp/

 

2. Explore the village by rental bicycle.

Renting a bicycle is a convenient way to explore the villages of Taketomi Island.

There are about 10 bicycle rental shops on Taketomi Island, and most of them offer pick-up and drop-off services from Taketomi Port if you make a reservation. You can rent a bicycle without a reservation, but it's best to check in advance.

As you slowly cycle along the white sandy paths, you'll encounter a succession of landscapes characteristic of Taketomi Island, such as rows of houses with red tile roofs, stone walls, hibiscus flowers, and bougainvillea.

As you drive through the village, you'll come across the charming Taketomi Post Office, with its red-tiled roof. Sending a postcard stamped with a scenic postmark unique to Taketomi Island is a great way to commemorate your trip.

Instead of rushing to your destination, take a slight detour if you come across an interesting alley or building. That kind of pace suits Taketomi Island perfectly.

 

3. Finding your favorite Shisa

As you drive through the village, you'll encounter Shisa statues with various expressions on the red-tiled roofs and gates.

Shisa are guardians of homes, protecting them from evil spirits, but the Shisa of Taketomi Island are particularly expressive. Some have a dignified gaze, while others have a slightly goofy expression that will make you smile. If you look closely, you'll see that each one has a different face, posture, and color.

The Shisa statues of Taketomi Island originated when former tile makers created them using scrap materials and left them behind as souvenirs. The warmth of handmade craftsmanship is evident in their expressions and postures.

 

Speaking of Shisa statues on Taketomi Island, have you heard of the "Wishing Shisa"?

It refers to a small Shisa statue with its hands clasped together as if in prayer, but apparently it's in a very hard-to-find location.

It is said that if you find the "Wishing Shisa" located somewhere in the village of Taketomi Island, your wish will come true.

I stumbled upon it by chance on a small path. I encourage you to try and find it while exploring the village!

*When taking photos of Shisa statues, please refrain from entering houses or private property.

 

4. The townscape with red tile roofs as seen from "Nagomi Tower"

Nagomi Tower is located in the heart of the village on Taketomi Island.

Nagomi Tower is a reinforced concrete tower built in 1953 and is now a nationally registered tangible cultural property.

The view of the village from Nagomi Tower is one of the most representative landscapes of Taketomi Island, and this landscape has also been designated as a nationally important traditional building preservation district.

What I really want you to see here is a photograph of the village from 1976, taken from Nagomi Tower.

Comparing it to the current landscape, some things have changed, while others have been carefully preserved.

As I gazed upon the red-tiled roofs and white sandy paths, I was filled with affection for Taketomi Island, thinking, "The people of this island have been protecting this scenery for so long."

*Currently, access to the top of Nagomi Tower is prohibited.

Taketomi Island_Photographed in 1976_Collection of Okinawa Prefectural Archives

 

5. Experience the island's prayers at "Nishi-Misaki Utaki"

As you explore Taketomi Island, you can experience not only its beautiful townscape and ocean views, but also the culture of prayer that the islanders have carefully preserved.

On Taketomi Island, sacred sites (utaki) are called "on," and they have been passed down as sacred places deeply connected to the island's history and way of life.

On the western side of the island, at Nishimisaki Utaki (Irumishashion), a deity who presides over marine life is enshrined and is said to watch over the lives of the islanders from Kondoi Beach, which is rich in the bounty of the sea.

I, too, quietly clasped my hands together from outside the sacred grove, praying for a safe journey and for the beautiful nature and scenery of Taketomi Island to be preserved forever.  

*When visiting the sacred site, please show respect and refrain from going beyond the designated worship area.

 

6. Enjoy Yaeyama soba at "Yarabo"

After cycling around the village, it was almost lunchtime.

We headed to "Yarabo," a restaurant located west of the village, next to the Kihoin Collection Museum.

Founded in 1972, Yarabo is a Yaeyama soba specialty restaurant that has supported the food culture of Taketomi Island for over half a century.

I ordered the "Vegetable Soki Soba" this time. It was topped with large pieces of pork ribs and plenty of vegetables.

First, I took a bite of the pork ribs. They were so tender and juicy that they practically fell apart when I chewed them. The straight noodles were smooth and easy to bite, and they coated the soup well. Before I knew it, I had finished the whole bowl.

The restaurant also has a tatami room, providing a relaxing space where you can unwind after cycling around the island.

Restaurant Yarabo | Basic Information

• Address: 107 Taketomi, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa 907-1101, Japan
• TEL: 070-5589-6631
• Opening hours: 11:00 - 16:00
• Closed on Wednesdays
• Google Maps:
• https://share.google/Hzk9vEvSGDCxa6wls

 

7. Make a "lucky charm salt" as a souvenir of your trip.

After filling our stomachs at Yarabo, we still had some time, so we headed to Fukugi, which was right next door.

Fukugi is a shop where you can experience making "amulet salt" using seawater from Taketomi Island.

First, I head to the west pier by bicycle to collect seawater, and when I return to the shop, I put the seawater in an earthenware pot and boil it down.

While watching the salt gradually form, we make a protective pouch to hold the salt. Inside the pouch, along with the finished salt, we put rice, star sand, and "san," which is cherished in Okinawa as a charm against evil.

As I learned the meaning behind each amulet, I felt a strong desire to cherish them forever.

A small, one-of-a-kind "lucky charm salt" made from seawater from Taketomi Island. It became a memorable souvenir of my trip, reminding me of the time I spent on the island.

Handmade Fukugi Experience | Basic Information

• Address: 107 Taketomi, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa 907-1101, Japan
• TEL: 070-1483-2364
• Opening hours: 11:00 - 16:00
• Closed on Wednesdays
• Official website:
• https://fukugi-taiken.com/

 

8. Experience ultimate relaxation and inspiration."Sabani"

The trip concludes with a ride out to sea around Taketomi Island in a traditional wooden boat called a "sabani."

In the past, sabani boats were indispensable for fishing and getting around the islands in Okinawa and the Yaeyama Islands, but with the spread of engine-powered boats after the war, they gradually disappeared from the everyday seas. 

"Taketomi Island Sabani Tour Shu-kaji" is a modern activity that carries on the culture and charm of the sabani boat. 

Aboard a traditional Okinawan boat without an engine, the only sounds you hear are the waves crashing against the hull, the wind, and the calls of seabirds.

As I gazed at the island from the sea, the same island I had just been cycling around, I began to feel that I, too, was a part of this nature, just like the wind, the waves, and the island's greenery.

As you listen to the sound of the wind on the sails, feel the swaying of the waves, and smell the scent of the sea, your five senses gradually become balanced, and the things that have been building up inside your heart quietly begin to unravel.
It was a time when simply surrendering myself to the sea allowed my mind to be completely reset. 

Depending on the wind direction and the tides, the places where the sabani boats travel and the scenery you can see on any given day will change.

Surrendering myself to the sea that day—that moment was one of the most memorable experiences of my day on Taketomi Island.

Shukaji's sabani tour is a completely private experience, limited to one group at a time. You can enjoy the sea of Taketomi Island at your leisure with your loved one without worrying about other customers.

Shu-kaji Taketomi Island Sabani Tours｜Basic information

• Address: 1057 Taketomi, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa 907-1101, Japan
• TEL: 070-7534-0843
• Opening hours: 9:00 AM
• Closed on: None
• Official website:
• https://www.shukajitaketomijima.com/
• *Sabani tours are by reservation only.

 

9. Learn about it, walk around it, and savor it. Taketomi Island, my favorite place.

Learn about the island's history and culture at Yugafu Hall, then cycle along the white sandy paths.

I stopped to look for the Shisa statues on the rooftops, and observed the ordinary daily life of the island.

Enjoy island cuisine at Yarabo, take a break at Fukugi, and finally, experience the magnificent nature of Taketomi Island by riding in a traditional Okinawan boat (sabani).

Not only did we visit famous tourist spots, but the scenery we discovered along the way and the small, unexpected finds also became cherished memories of this trip.

When visiting Taketomi Island, don't try to cram too much time into your schedule. Take a moment to stop and linger wherever you feel like stopping your bike.

You might discover your own favorite side of Taketomi Island that isn't featured in guidebooks.

 

Article publication date: August 20, 2026