Place:
The Yaeyama Islands are both the southernmost and westernmost inhabited islands of Japan. Together with theMiyako Islands and the Okinawa Islands they make up the three main island chains of Okinawa Prefecture.
With their tropical atmosphere and laid back, rural lifestyle, the Yaeyama Islands are a popular getaway destination for those wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of Japan's metropolises. This island paradise offers beaches, snorkeling, diving and relaxation.
24.3631° N, 123.7464° E
Transport:
*The Yaeyama Islands are
a long way from anywhere.
By plane
The main airport of the
islands is Ishigaki.
There are frequent connections to Naha as
well as limited direct flights to major Japanese cities like Tokyo, while those in
Okinawa can get it from larger travel agencies that are known to handle these
flights, such as Okinawa Tourist and Chuo Tourist. The establishment of a year
round regular international service is being negotiated at present and would
begin at the latest with the opening of the new Ishigaki airport in 2013.
By boat
Since Ryukyu Kaiun took
the last passenger ferry out of service in 2006 and Arimura Sangyo went out of
business altogether in 2007, there are no scheduled services to Taiwan,
mainland Japan or islands outside the Yaeyama group. (Between late April to the
end of October, Star Cruises operates cruises from Keelung (near Taipei,Taiwan) to Okinawa Island, Miyako Island, and Ishigaki Island,
but this is not a ferry service.)
Price:
JTA (Japan
Transocean Air), a member of the JAL Group, operates two direct flights per day between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Ishigaki Airport on Ishigaki Island, the transportation hub of the Yaeyama
Islands. Flight duration
is around three hours. The regular one way fare is about 60,000 yen; however, discount fares are usually available for between 20,000 and 40,000 yen. An air pass can be of great value on these flights. ANA will also start
operating one flight per day on this route from March 31, 2013 with similar
fares as JAL.
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