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Last update: 21 Oct 2026
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Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park Summary
These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.
‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.
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‘Suited for’ badges:
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Suited for
Japan – Quick facts
| Power Grid: |
100 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A
Type A:
 Read about power adapters |
|---|---|
| Currency: |
Japanese Yen (JPY) £1 ≈ JP¥210 |
| Cashless info: |
Rating 4/5
Cashless payments are becoming more common, especially in cities, with some shops still preferring cash. Be prepared for occasional cash-only situations in rural areas.
Save with a travel credit card |
| eSIM providers: |
Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison |
| Tipping: | Tipping is not customary in Japan and can be considered rude. Excellent service is the norm, and tipping is unnecessary in most places. |
|---|---|
| Public drinking: | Public drinking is legal and commonly accepted, particularly during festivals and events. |
| Public smoking: | Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places but allowed in designated outdoor areas. Some restaurants may have smoking sections. |
| New Year (January) |
One of the most important holidays, expect crowded temples and high prices. Plan ahead. |
|---|---|
| Golden Week (April-May) |
The busiest travel time, expect high demand for accommodation and transport. |
| Obon (August) |
A time to honour ancestors, many businesses close, and transport can be crowded. |
| Emergency contact: | Emergency Number: 110 (Police), 119 (Fire & Ambulance) |
|---|---|
| Taxi apps: | Uber, JapanTaxi, DiDi |
| Other: | Japan is a country of respect, so understanding local customs and etiquette is important. Public transport is efficient, but can be crowded during peak hours. |
Best times to travel
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
for Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, Japan
Typhoon season July to October; ferries between Ishigaki and Iriomote are often cancelled
Rainy season mid May to late June, with frequent showers and humid air
Box jellyfish possible roughly April to October; swim only in netted areas
Don't miss
- 🤿 Snorkel at Iriomote's crystal clear mangrove lagoons
- 🛶 Kayak up the mangrove-lined Urauchi River on Iriomote
- 🏔️ Hike through the jungle to Pinaisara Falls
- 🌴 Explore the lush tropical rainforest on a guided eco tour
- ⚓ Admire the turquoise waters of Kabira Bay on Ishigaki
You've been here?
Log in to manage your own bucket list! Why travel to Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park?
Iriomote is where the park shows its wild side. About 90 percent of the island is jungle and mangrove forest and around 130 km of coastline is ringed by coral reefs. Sightseeing boats go up the Urauchi River through the jungle toward Mariyudo Falls. Japan's largest mangrove forest grows along the Nakama River. The island is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to the Iriomote cat, a critically endangered species that few visitors ever see. The water is the second draw. The Sekisei Lagoon has more than 360 kinds of coral and is the largest coral reef in Japan. Snorkelling and diving trips leave from both islands. On Ishigaki, Kabira Bay has white sand and glass-bottom boat tours over the reef. This is a nature trip more than a resort trip. Most of Iriomote is wild and many of the best experiences, like river cruises, kayaking and reef trips, are tours. Plan three to five days to combine Ishigaki with Iriomote. Taketomi is a short ferry ride from Ishigaki and works as a half-day extra. The islands suit travellers who want snorkelling and wildlife and don't mind that weather can change plans.
🏯Places worth seeing
🎡Places for activities
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1
Yonehara Beach
🍽️Eat & Drink
-
1
Kitchen Matsuyama
Yaeyama soba, a regional noodle soup, with handmade noodles. The restaurant grew out of a local bento shop and keeps a simple menu of soba and set meals. It serves lunch only and is a 5-minute walk from Ohara Port. -
2
Parler Mimi
Soki soba, Okinawan noodles topped with pork cartilage, plus plain Yaeyama soba and a vegetable version. Staff also make a rich mango juice. The shop closes when the food sells out and is a short walk from Uehara Port. -
3
Pari no Gohanya
Yoshoku, Japanese-style Western food, at a dining bar with omurice, an omelet wrapped around seasoned rice, on the menu. It serves dinner only and offers pickup from a nearby hotel. -
4
Azahaemi
Island dishes of fresh fish, seaweed and kamai, wild boar caught nearby, at an izakaya, a Japanese pub. Lunch and dinner are both offered, and solo diners are welcome. It is near Ohara Port in the south. -
5
Densa Shokudo
Okinawa soba and other home-style dishes at an everyday diner right next to Uehara Port. Travellers use it as a quick stop while waiting for the ferry. It serves meals through the afternoon and closes in the early evening. -
6
Ichitaka
Pizza from a stone oven at an izakaya, a Japanese pub, that also serves classic Okinawan dishes and fresh fruit drinks. The restaurant serves dinner only and offers a shuttle service from a nearby hotel. -
7
Satonushi
Wild boar tataki, lightly seared Ryukyu boar with plenty of condiments, at an izakaya, a Japanese pub. Cooks also stew boar trotters and bake pizza from handmade dough. It serves dinner only and is a 15-minute drive from Uehara Port. -
8
Island Italian en
Italian food made with wild boar and island beef. Dishes include wild boar carpaccio, beef shin stewed in tomato sauce and pasta with a ragu of island beef. It serves dinner only and is a 10-minute drive from Uehara Port. -
9
Roco
Island seafood, including boiled Iriomote mangrove crab and a sashimi salad. Cooks also lightly roast Ryukyu wild boar and fry rice croquettes and noodles. It is also particular about its shochu and serves dinner only. -
10
Hoshizuna-tei
Okinawan home cooking from a diner run by older island residents. A grandfather and grandmother make the dishes. The diner is a stop for travellers near Hoshizuna Beach and serves lunch and an early dinner.
Knowledge before you go
- Check the weather 48 hours ahead since ferries get cancelled.
- Ohara Port has more crossings and fewer cancellations than Uehara Port, so choose it in rough weather.
- Iriomote cats are mostly active at night and rarely seen, so drive slowly on island roads.
- Mangroves and tidal flats change with the tide, so kayak and river tour times vary by day.
How to travel to Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park
Fly to Ishigaki Airport (ISG) and continue by ferry. Flights leave from Naha in about 1 hour and from Tokyo and other mainland cities in about 3 hours depending on the route. Iriomote has no airport so the ferry is the way across. Ishigaki Port is a short transfer from the airport and ferries leave from there for Iriomote, Taketomi, Kohama and Kuroshima. Crossings to Iriomote take under an hour and are operated by Yaeyama Kanko Ferry and An-ei Kanko. Timetables change with the season and the weather, so check the day before and again that morning. When waves are high the Uehara route is the first to stop. Ohara is the more dependable arrival. Build a buffer day into your plan if you have a flight to catch from Ishigaki.
Access summary
- From Ishigaki Airport (ISG): Bus to park entrance, 35–45 min.
- From Naha Airport (OKA): Ferry to Ishigaki (3h), then bus 30–40 min.
- Ferry from Ishigaki to Iriomote Island: 30 min; park spans both islands.
Check your route from anywhere
Where to stay in Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park
Most visitors base themselves on Ishigaki and make day trips by ferry. The city has the widest choice from business hotels to larger beach resorts on the coast, plus guesthouses and restaurants within walking distance of the port. Iriomote has fewer rooms. Small guesthouses, eco-lodges and a handful of resorts are spread around Ohara, Uehara and the western coast. Staying overnight lets you start river and reef trips early. Rooms are limited and book out in summer and during holidays, so reserve early. Taketomi has small family-run inns that suit a quiet night after the day-trippers leave. If you have only a short time, staying on Ishigaki and taking a full-day tour to Iriomote is simpler than changing lodgings.
Hotel recommendations
*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.
ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort By IHG
GRANDVRIO RESORT ISHIGAKIJIMA Ocean’s Wing & Villa Garden
The BREAKFAST HOTEL PORTO Ishigakijima
Fusaki Beach Resort Hotel & Villas
ISHIGAKIJIMA Hotel East China Sea
Art Hotel Ishigakijima
The BREAKFAST HOTEL MARCHE Ishigakijima
Route Inn Grantia Ishigaki
Vessel Hotel Ishigaki Island
Hotel Emerald Isle Ishigakijima
How to get around Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park
Ishigaki is the base for getting around the park. Buses and taxis serve the town and the main sights, but services are limited and ferries from Ishigaki Port connect to the other islands.
Car and scooter:
The island of Ishigaki is easiest with a hire car. On Iriomote the road follows the coast on the east and north side and doesn't form a full loop, so you can't drive all the way around. A hire car or scooter helps there since local buses are infrequent.
Ferries to Iriomote:
Ferries from Ishigaki Port land at Ohara or Uehara. Ohara has more departures and fewer cancellations. Uehara boats are often cancelled in high waves and in winter. In that case take the ferry to Ohara and continue by bus.
Other islands:
Taketomi, Kohama and Kuroshima have their own short ferry routes from Ishigaki Port. Many visitors rely on tours with pick-up for the river and reef trips.
Food in Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park
Food in the Yaeyama Islands is Okinawan with local touches. Yaeyama soba is a noodle soup with thick flat noodles and Ishigaki beef is a well-known local brand. Fresh fish and shellfish are common and tropical fruit like pineapple and mango turn up in desserts and drinks in season. Awamori, the local distilled spirit, is served in most izakaya.
Ishigaki has the most restaurants and supermarkets. Iriomote has only a limited number of places to eat and many close early, so book dinner at your lodging or bring snacks. Lunch on a tour is often a boxed meal. On a budget, supermarkets and convenience stores on Ishigaki are the best place to stock up before crossing to Iriomote.
Budget snapshot
Costs compared to home
We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.
To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.
Daily expenses in the region are around 45% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.
Exchange rate trend
The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.
Your exchange rate (GBP to JPY) is 20% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.
Travel costs
To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.
Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.
Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.
To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.
Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.
Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.
Daily cost summary
Travel style categories explained:
Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.
Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.
Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.
Travel style categories explained:
Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.
Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.
Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.
| Backpacker | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation | |||
| 🏨 Accommodation per night, per person | |||
| 🍝 Food per day | |||
| 🚕 Transportation per day |
Food & Drink
| 🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person | |
|---|---|
| 🍛 Lunch Set, per person | |
| 🍟 Fast food combo | |
| 🍝 Preparing your own food, per day | |
| ☕ Cappuccino | |
| 🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l |
Transportation
| 🚌 Public transport ticket | |
|---|---|
| 🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi | |
| ⛽ Petrol, 1 l |
Other
| 🎞️ Cinema ticket | |
|---|---|
| 👩⚕️ Doctor's consult | |
| 🤧 Cold medication | |
| 💇 Basic haircut |
Safety information overview
General safety
The islands are very safe with low crime. The main risks are natural. Typhoons can cancel ferries and flights in late summer and autumn. Strong currents and jellyfish occur in the sea and venomous habu snakes live in forest and grass areas.
Health & Medical
Ishigaki has hospitals and clinics but Iriomote has only small clinics, so serious cases are transferred to Ishigaki or Naha. Carry any regular medication and travel insurance. Strong sun, heat and mosquitoes are the main everyday health concerns.
Accessibility
Accessibility is limited outside Ishigaki town. Ferries and boats involve steps and gangways and many beaches and trails are uneven. Iriomote's jungle trails are muddy and steep. Plan guided boat tours or resort beaches if mobility is a concern.
Tap water
Tap water in Ishigaki and on Iriomote is generally safe to drink like the rest of Japan. Bottled drinks are easy to buy in Ishigaki town. On Iriomote shops are few, so carry water on tours and hikes.
Packing recommendations for Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park
Log in to add this place to a travel list and get a summary of all recommended items for your whole trip.
🥾
Walking boots
📷
Camera
🌞
Sun cream
🚰
Reusable water bottle
🍫
Energy snacks
nuts, dried fruit
🧥
Waterproof jacket
🕶️
Sunglasses
sun cream, hat, sunglasses
🪰
Insect repellent
🎒
Hiking rucksack
🗺️
Map or GPS device
🤿
Snorkelling gear
mask, snorkel, fins
🔋
Power bank
🩹
Basic first aid kit
plasters, antiseptic wipes
👒
Sun hat
📃
Travel insurance
🚰
Water bottle with filter
👕
Quick-dry clothing
💦
Waterproof dry bag
📱
Travel eSIM
🔌
Universal travel adaptor
💳
Credit card with no foreign transaction fees
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