Oritoori - Ishigaki City Official Tourism Information Website
What transportation options are available on this island, which has no trains or monorails?
To ensure a comfortable stay on Ishigaki Island, research transportation options that suit your travel plans in advance.
There are many car rental companies on Ishigaki Island. You can rent a variety of vehicles, from compact cars to minibuses.
To reserve a rental car in advance, check the rental car company's website or social media, or make a reservation through a reservation service, specifying your desired rental date, time, and vehicle type. Many companies offer options such as smoking or non-smoking vehicles, so be sure to check carefully before booking. (Sometimes, rental cars are included with hotel rooms.)
Of course, same-day reservations are possible if there are cars available, but during peak summer season and long holidays, rental car companies often have no cars available. This can lead to situations where people plan to reserve a car locally but end up with no means of transportation. Therefore, it's best to consider renting a car as soon as your travel dates are finalized.
While renting a car offers the undeniable advantage of allowing you to go wherever you want, rental car troubles are also common, such as cars getting stuck in the sand, scratching the vehicle in bushes, or having accidents on narrow village alleys. Be sure to follow traffic rules and any restrictions imposed by the rental car company, and enjoy your trip safely.
On Ishigaki Island, only one bus company operates: Higashi Bus. The bus terminal is conveniently located in the heart of the town, very close to the Ishigaki Port Ferry Terminal.
There are 13 bus routes in total, including routes that connect hotels and tourist attractions, routes that go to areas far from the city center where buses only run once a day, and routes that go from the city center to the airport. (Payment is cash only.)
In addition to the cash-only payment method available until now, contactless payment will be available on all routes starting in March 2024. Supported payment brands include various cards (credit, debit, and prepaid) such as Visa, JCB, American Express, and UnionPay.
DetailsHigashi Bus Official Website
They also sell a one-day pass (1,000 yen) that allows unlimited rides on all Ishigaki Island bus routes for one day, and a five-day Michikusa Free Pass (2,000 yen) that allows unlimited rides for five days. A one-way adult ticket from the bus terminal to Kabira Bay normally costs 730 yen, so the free pass is quite a bargain!
Since some bus routes are frequently used by local residents of Ishigaki Island, one of the charms of taking the bus is that you can catch a glimpse of island life.
Taxis are a popular mode of transportation for locals. There are seven taxi companies operating on Ishigaki Island. You can board a taxi at taxi stands at the airport or port, or hail one if you see an empty one. If there are no empty taxis or if it seems unlikely that any will be passing by, you can call the call center to have one dispatched. (Please note that they may not be able to accept calls during busy times such as the evening.) Reservations are also possible, and the dispatch service is free of charge.
While you can find available taxis in the city center, it's rare to find them in areas further away, such as Fusaki Beach or Kabira Bay. It's best to contact a taxi company well in advance.
[Order a vehicle by phone]
* A number that can arrange taxis from multiple taxi companies.
Yaeyama Joint Radio:0980-83-3355
Ishigaki Island Taxi Call Center:0980-82-4649
* Taxi company's unique number
Kabira Kanko Kotsu Co., Ltd.0980-83-8383
Mitsuboshi Taxi LLC:0980-83-3355
Kawarayama Transportation Co., Ltd.0980-82-4649
Nansei Kotsu Limited Partnership:0980-82-4649
Misaki Taxi Limited Partnership:0980-83-3355
Sakishima Transportation Co., Ltd.:0980-82-3988
[Order a ride using the app]
There are two apps that allow you to book a taxi in Ishigaki Island.
1. DiDi
A taxi dispatch app that can be used both domestically and internationally.
2. Ishigaki Island Taxi Call Center
A taxi dispatch app unique to the Ishigaki Island area.
Some vehicle models may not support contactless payment, so be sure to check before boarding.
In addition to taxis as a means of transportation, sightseeing taxis are also very popular on Ishigaki Island. These taxis offer a half-day or full-day tour where a driver will guide you to recommended spots on the island. The time and course are fixed by price, and you can enjoy conversation while you travel.
In Ishigaki Island, rental motorcycles and bicycles are just as popular as rental cars. They're recommended for short distances that aren't quite as far as a car, but are a bit too far to walk, or as a convenient way to get around while enjoying the island's breeze.
Rental motorcycles and bicycles can be rented in the same way as rental cars. Always lock them when parked to prevent theft.
Here are some convenient parking options located in the city center.
It's located right in front of the ferry terminal for outlying islands.
Payment: Cash (new 500 yen coins not accepted) / Rakuten Edy
[Usually: 8:00-20:00]
100 yen for the first hour, then 50 yen for every 30 minutes thereafter.
[Night: 20:00-8:00]
50 yen per hour
It's located right next to the terminal.
Payment: Cash (new 500 yen coins not accepted) / Rakuten Edy
[Usually: 8:00-20:00]
100 yen for the first hour, then 50 yen for every 30 minutes thereafter.
[Night: 20:00-8:00]
50 yen per hour
It is located between the terminal and the Taketomi Town Hall.
Payment: Cash only (new 500 yen coins not accepted)
[Usually: 8:00-20:00]
100 yen for the first hour, then 50 yen for every 30 minutes thereafter.
[Night: 20:00-8:00]
50 yen per hour
It is located between the municipal library and Misaki-cho.
Payment: Cash (new 500 yen coins not accepted) / Rakuten Edy
[Usually: 8:00-20:00]
200 yen for the first hour, then 50 yen for every 30 minutes thereafter.
[Night: 20:00-8:00]
200 yen for the first hour, 50 yen for each subsequent hour.
It is located next to the old city hall.
Payment: Cash only (new 500 yen coins not accepted)
[Usually: 8:00-20:00]
100 yen for the first hour, then 50 yen for every 30 minutes thereafter.
[Night: 20:00-8:00]
50 yen per hour
It's located down an alley near the Yaeyama Post Office.
Payment: Cash only (new 500 yen coins not accepted)
100 yen per hour
It's located on the right-hand side when heading from the 730 intersection towards the Southern Gate Bridge.
Payment: Cash only (new 500 yen coins not accepted)
[Usually: 8:00-20:00]
100 yen for the first hour, then 50 yen for every 30 minutes thereafter.
[Night: 20:00-8:00]
50 yen per hour
Please observe proper parking etiquette and enjoy a pleasant trip to Ishigaki Island.
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