7 Best Hotels in the Yaeyama Islands Surrounding Ishigaki Islands

About 3 hours and 10 minutes by plane from Haneda Airport. The Yaeyama Islands, which are located further south of the main island of Okinawa, are home to many remote islands rich in nature, centering on Ishigaki Island. Japan's southernmost Hateruma Island, Japan's westernmost Yonaguni Island, Iriomote Island, Kuroshima, Kohama Island, Taketomi Island, etc. A remote island with a lot of personality that seems to be similar everywhere. It is easily accessible by ferry, so why not enjoy island hopping from Ishigaki Island?

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The Yaeyama Islands are made up of more than eight islands, but there are too many to cover all of them... Sometimes, it is recommended to choose the hotel you want to stay at. It would be nice to choose a hotel with a snorkel or canoe plan, or choose an inn where you can enjoy Okinawan meal, or choose based on the beauty of the sea. We have carefully selected recommended hotels in the Yaeyama Islands, where the ways to enjoy them are endless. Please use this as a reference when choosing a base for your trip.

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First time in the Yaeyama Islands. For those who say, first go to Ishigaki Island. ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort is close to Ishigaki Airport and the city, making it perfect for your first stay. “Club InterContinental”, which opened in July 2020, is not only the hotel, but also the most luxurious lodging building on Ishigaki Island. In addition to being the most luxurious guest room in the resort, it has its own private wing and pool, so you can enjoy a higher level of relaxation.

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"Club International" rooms are spacious with a space of 43.2 square meters, even for the most standard superior rooms. The balcony offers an unobstructed view of the beautiful blue sea. The bath amenities are from the popular cosmetic brand HARNN, and the soaps are carefully selected by a soap sommelier. There are many services that will make your stay in Ishigaki Island more luxurious.

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Staying at "Club International" is also attractive because it comes with various benefits. At the Club InterContinental lounge, you can enjoy meal and drinks for free depending on the time of day, such as breakfast using local Okinawan ingredients, afternoon tea, cocktails and canapés. Of course, drinks such as coffee, tea, and juice are also available. Check-in and check-out procedures are also possible at the lounge, and the service concierge will take care of sightseeing information, ticket arrangements, restaurant reservations, etc. You can easily plan a trip to Ishigaki Island.

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The pool adjacent to the exclusive private wing is also a luxurious space exclusively for guests of "Club International". It is located a little behind the main area, so you can relax in a quiet space away from the hustle and bustle. How about relaxing by the elegant poolside?

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About 10 minutes by ferry from Ishigaki Island. "Hotel Peace Island Taketomijima" is a cottage-type hotel located on Taketomi Island, surrounded by the beautiful sea and coral reefs, where the original scenery of Okinawa remains. All of the cottage-type rooms are built in a traditional Okinawan style with striking red bricks. You can enjoy your stay as if you were living on Taketomi Island. About 20 minutes on foot from Taketomi Port. We can also arrange a pick-up car from the port, so be sure to contact us in advance.

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There are three types of guest rooms: standard twin rooms, connecting rooms, and family rooms. I'm happy that it can be used in a variety of situations, such as couples, married couples, families, and trips with three generations. The walls of the rooms are made with Okinawan traditional Ryukyu plaster, which absorbs carbon dioxide from the air. How about relaxing in a space where you can feel the warmth of natural materials?

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Breakfast and dinner are served at the on-site restaurant Benihana Akabana. Enjoy meal made with local seasonal ingredients while gazing out at the dazzling green courtyard. Local brand beef, Ishigaki beef is also available for dinner! Ishigaki beef grilled in an iron pot is hearty, and meat lovers will definitely be satisfied.

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Haimurubushi (Kohamajima) Kohamajima is located on Kohamajima, which is located between Ishigakijima and Iriomotejima. This resort hotel is sure to satisfy both those who want to exercise their bodies with marine activities and those who want to relax in a quiet environment. In front of the hotel is Haimurubushi (Kohamajima) Beach, the largest coral reef in the northern hemisphere, Sekiseishoko. In addition, from the emerald green sea and the white sandy beach, you can see the islands of the Yaeyama Islands such as Taketomi Island, Kuroshima Island, and Aragusuku Island.

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There are many types of guest rooms, from standard rooms to superior rooms and suites. For those who want to enjoy a luxurious stay, we recommend the "Ocean View Bath Suite", which has an outdoor bathtub where you can enjoy a view of the ocean. Inside the guest room, where you can feel the traditional culture of Ryukyu and the warmth of wood everywhere, you can relax in a comfortable and high-quality space. Enjoy island time leisurely on the vast grounds.

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Umi Café is located in a perfect location overlooking the ocean. The atmosphere changes dramatically depending on the time of day, with “blue sky time” during the day and “starry sky time” at night. At night, you can enjoy wine and cocktails while gazing at the sky full of stars on the rooftop, so why not visit and make memories of your trip? You can meet a starry sky so beautiful that you can't even see it in Honshu.

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If you are on Iriomote Island, which has been certified as a World Heritage Site, how about a wild “Iriomotejima-Jungle Hotel Painumaya” nestled in the jungle? On the street of "Oriental Galapagos", there are no private houses or shops around the hotel, only the jungle where nature spreads! You can enjoy the precious experience of staying in a subtropical forest. It is recommended for those who want to enjoy activities that can fully enjoy nature, and for family trips.

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There are four types of guest rooms: standard rooms, deluxe rooms, Japanese-Western style resort rooms and cottages. The subtropical jungle spreads out from the balcony of every room except the cottage, and you will be healed by the chirping of birds and the murmuring of the natural river flowing in front of you. Owls sometimes come to the balcony at night! You can experience the nature of Iriomote Island, which has a rich ecosystem and nature, up close.

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Painumaya offers many nature experience programs that allow you to fully enjoy the subtropical wilderness of Iriomote Island. In addition to tours and trekking in the jungle by canoe or kayak, SUP, and tours to explore the island at night, there are plenty of exciting things to do. Enjoy the adventure with your family, friends, lovers and couples.

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About 90% of the island is occupied by subtropical jungles of Iriomote Island. "La Tida Iriomote Resort" is a cottage-type resort hotel surrounded by this majestic nature, with a beautiful sea spread out in front of you. It takes about 10 minutes by car to Haemida no Hama, which is known as the longest beach on the island. During the day you can enjoy the beautiful sea and majestic nature, and at night you can enjoy an unobstructed sky full of stars. If the season and weather conditions are right, you may be able to see the Southern Cross and the Milky Way. The experience of being surrounded by stars will be a lifetime memory.

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Breakfast and dinner are served at the 180-degree ocean view restaurant Suou. You can enjoy Okinawan cuisine that uses plenty of locally caught fresh fish, meat, and vegetables. Awamori is also a perfect accompaniment to cooking. There is a wide variety of sake available, from familiar ones that the islanders usually drink to vintage ones and plum wine, so even sake lovers are sure to be satisfied. Be sure to fill your stomach with a variety of dishes that are bright and fresh to the eye.

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The resort also has a natural onsen facility, Campanella no Yu. You can relax in onsen while gazing at the sky full of stars, and if the conditions are right from December to June, you can even see the Southern Cross from the bathtub. You can heal your fatigue slowly.

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Hakona ryokan is the first ryokan to open on Hateruma Island, the southernmost island of Japan. Inside the inn surrounded by sugar cane fields, you can feel the Okinawan atmosphere everywhere, and it is very comfortable. There are only 3 guest rooms that are based on white, and Ryukyu tatami mats are laid out, and there are shower booths and toilets. also fully equipped. The washing machine can be used for 200 yen once, so it is recommended for long-term stays.

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The accommodation plan basically includes breakfast. The healthy breakfast is made with rare ingredients unique to the island, such as green papaya and Otaniwatari, which has leaves that look like ornamental plants. It seems they are open. You may also get fish caught by the owner, who was originally from Hateruma Island and was a sushi chef.

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Yonaguni Island, located at the westernmost point of Japan, is a "border island" near Taiwan surrounded by precipitous cliffs. It is popular as a spot for diving and fishing, and you can also enjoy a horseback riding experience where you can come in contact with Yonaguni horses that are only found here on the island.
“Island Hotel Yonaguni” is one of the few resort hotels on Yonaguni Island. It is very close to Yonaguni Airport, about 3 minutes by car, and has a comfortable space in harmony with nature.

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There are basically three types of rooms: twin rooms, triple rooms, and deluxe rooms. It can accommodate 1 to 4 people, so it is suitable for a variety of occasions, such as traveling alone, with a lover, with friends, as a family, or as a couple. The spacious guest rooms are spacious enough for one person to relax. It's quiet at night so you can sleep soundly.

Ishigaki Island, which has become convenient due to development, and the Yaeyama Islands, where there are still many places where untouched nature remains. Each island has its own culture and traditions and is full of charm. For those who want to be healed by nature and enjoy activities, please consider island hopping in the Yaeyama Islands.