Okinawa

Compare ferries from Okinawa to Iriomote Island

There are 4 ferry routes operating between Okinawa and Iriomote Island offering you combined total of 34 sailings per day. Yaeyama Kanko Ferry operates 4 routes, Ishigaki to Iriomote Ohara runs 12 times per day, Ishigaki to Iriomote Uehara about 10 times daily, Kohama to Iriomote Ohara about 7 times weekly & Hatoma to Iriomote Uehara about 14 times weekly. Ishigaki Dream Tours operates 4 routes, Ishigaki to Iriomote Ohara runs 6 times per day, Ishigaki to Iriomote Uehara about 3 times weekly, Kohama to Iriomote Ohara about 7 times weekly & Hatoma to Iriomote Uehara about 3 times weekly.

As the frequency and duration of crossings on some routes varies we would advise that you do a live search for crossings from Okinawa to Iriomote Island to get the most up to date information.

Okinawa Iriomote Island Ferry Map

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Ferries from Okinawa to Iriomote Island

About Okinawa:

Okinawa is Japan’s southernmost prefecture, comprising three island groups stretching from Kagoshima Prefecture to within 110 kilometres of Taiwan.

The archipelagos of Okinawa are part of the Southwest Islands, offering a unique Japanese experience with their subtropical climate, lush forests and stunning scenery resembling the famous Thai islands.

The Miyako Islands have some of the best beaches in the country, particularly on Miyako-jima, the coral-fringed Yaeyama Islands offer superb diving and snorkelling spots and the Okinawa Islands are home to the prefecture’s capital and transport hub, Naha.

The Yaeyamas boast an extensive ferry network, offering fast and frequent crossings within the archipelago, all operated by one of the region’s leading ferry companies. Also, given the isolated location of Okinawa, travelling by ferry is the most reliable way to jump between the islands.

About Iriomote Island:

Iriomote is a sparsely populated island in the Yaeyamas, southern Japan, measuring almost three hundred square-kilometres, making it the second largest landmass in Okinawa Prefecture.

A trip to Iriomote gives you the chance to explore one of Japan’s most untouched environments, with 90% of the island covered in dense trees, mangroves and national parks. Not only that, surrounding Iriomote are some of the country’s finest coral reefs, whilst inland, a network of rivers meanders through jungles and cascades down cliffs. These are best enjoyed on a riverboat or kayak, adding a real sense of wilderness and adventure.

Although home to just over two thousand residents, Iriomote is inhabited by the critically endangered namesake wildcat, a small subspecies of leopard rarely seen by visitors, so keep an eye out.

Japan is known for its excellent ferry infrastructure; the Yaeyamas are no different. Travelling between the islands couldn’t be easier, with roughly a dozen sailings every day from Hatoma and Ishigaki and daily routes from Kohama.