Is a day trip from Naha City to Taketomi Island possible?
I will be staying in a guest house in Naha City, the capital of Okinawa prefecture in Japan, and was considering a day trip to Taketomi Island
Taketomi is one of the so-called "Isolated Island" of the Japanese Yaeyama islands. So far, I got that the main way to go there is:
go to Ishigaki Island by plane (50 min)
travel to the ferry terminal (40 min)
take a 10-min ferry to Taketomi.
Including waiting time, I guess it takes 2h30 at most. This seems realistic. But all day trip tours I can find starts from Ishigaki, so I am starting to think that the trip is not that easy to do in one day.
My questions:
Is it possible to do a one day trip to Taketomi Island from Naha City? Waking up really early/going back really late is not an issue.
If so, are there guided tour departing from Naha City?
If I travel alone, is it fine to buy the ferry and/or plane tickets on the spot? As I am not sure at what time I would finish my day trip, I am not sure how to make a reservation.
Best Answer
Yes, it is possible, as you have figured out yourself. Buying ferry tickets on the spot is no problem; buying plane tickets on the spot is possible too but is expensive (about 20,000 yen, versus about 5,000 if bought sufficiently in advance) and there is a risk that the flight will be booked out already.
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How do you get to Taketomi Island?
The only way to get to Taketomi island is by ferry. There are regular departures every hour even in low season and the ride is only ten minutes, just make sure not to miss your last ferry. You can buy tickets at the ferry terminal just before departure.Is Naha worth visiting?
The main island of Okinawa is a popular starting point for tourists wanting to explore this sub-tropical part of Japan. The city of Naha boasts an ancient castle, a vibrant shopping street, and many other attractions that make it well worth a visit.How do you travel between islands in Okinawa?
Ferries are a scenic and enjoyable way to travel between the islands of Okinawa. A vast network of ferries connects the many beautiful islands that make up Okinawa. Flights serve some of the larger islands, but for many of the smaller islands, access is by boat.Is Okinawa island worth visiting?
Okinawa has beautiful beaches, great weather and friendly people! The culture is very distinct from what you'll find on the main islands of Japan, so it's definitely worth a visit![4K/Binaural] Complete Guide to Taketomi Island Bike \u0026 Walking Tour - Okinawa Japan
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