Oritori Ishigaki City Official Tourism Information Site
What kind of transportation is available on this island where there are no trains or monorails?
To ensure a comfortable stay on Ishigaki Island, be sure to research in advance which transportation method best suits your travel plans.
There are many car rental companies on Ishigaki Island, where 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 preferences for the date and time of rental, car model, etc. Many companies allow you to choose between smoking and non-smoking cars, so be sure to check carefully before making a reservation. (Some hotels also include rental cars in their rooms.)
Of course, same-day reservations are possible if there are available cars, but during peak summer times and long holiday periods, no rental car company will have any available cars, and there are many cases where people want to make a reservation on site but then find themselves without a means of transportation...so be sure to consider renting a car as soon as you have decided on your travel dates.
Renting a car has the overwhelming advantage of allowing you to go wherever you want freely, but there are also many rental car troubles, such as the car getting stuck on the beach, damaging the body in bushes, or having an accident in the narrow alleys of a village. Please be sure to follow traffic rules and any prohibitions imposed by the rental car company, and drive safely to enjoy your trip.
There is only one bus company operating on Ishigaki Island, Azuma Bus. The bus terminal is located right next to the Ishigaki Port Remote Island Terminal, making it easily accessible from within the city.
There are 13 bus routes in operation, including routes that travel around tourist spots centered around hotels, routes that travel to areas far from the city center where there is only one bus per day, and routes that go from the city center to the airport. (Payment is cash only.)
In addition to the previously cash-only payment method, touch payments will be available on all routes from March 2024. Payment brands include various cards (credit, debit, and prepaid) such as Visa, JCB, American Express, and UnionPay.
For detailsAzuma Bus Official Website
There are also two passes available: a 1-day pass (1,000 yen) that allows unlimited travel on all routes on Ishigaki Island for one day, and a Michikusa free pass (2,000 yen) that allows unlimited travel for five days. The regular adult fare from the bus terminal to Kabira Bay is 730 yen one way, so the free pass is a great deal!
Some routes are used by many local people living on Ishigaki Island, so one of the attractions of the bus is that it gives you a glimpse into island life.
Taxis are a popular means of transportation for local residents, and there are seven taxi companies operating on Ishigaki Island. You can board a taxi from taxi stands at the airport or port, or if you find an available taxi, you can stop one and use it. However, if there are no available taxis or if it looks like a taxi won't be coming through, you can call the call center and have one dispatched. (Please note that calls may not be accepted during busy times such as the evening.) Reservations are also possible, and pick-up is free.
You may be able to find empty taxis in the city, but it is rare to find empty taxis in areas away from the city, such as Fusaki Beach or Kabira Bay. Be sure to contact a taxi company well in advance.
[Dispatch by phone]
*Number that can be used to arrange for multiple taxi companies
Yaeyama Joint Radio:0980-83-3355
Ishigaki Island Taxi Call Center:0980-82-4649
* Taxi company's unique number
Kabira Tourism Transportation Co., Ltd.:0980-83-8383
Three Star Taxi Partnership:0980-83-3355
Kawarayama Transportation Co., Ltd.:0980-82-4649
Nansei Transportation Partnership:0980-82-4649
Misaki Taxi Partnership:0980-83-3355
Sakishima Transportation Co., Ltd.:0980-82-3988
[Dispatch a vehicle via the app]
There are two apps that can be used to order a taxi on 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 car models do not support touch payment, so be sure to check when you get in.
In addition to taxis as a means of transportation, sightseeing taxis are also very popular on Ishigaki Island, where the driver will show you around Ishigaki's recommended spots for half a day or a full day! The time and route are set by the price, and you can enjoy the conversation while traveling.
On Ishigaki Island, rental cars are popular, as are rental motorbikes and bicycles. While not as far as a car, they can be a bit far to walk. These are recommended as a convenient means of transportation, allowing you to travel long distances and enjoy the island breeze while still being able to maneuver easily.
You can rent a motorbike or bicycle in the same way as you would a car. When parking your bike, be sure to lock it to prevent theft.
Here are some convenient parking lots in the city.
It is located right in front of the remote island terminal.
Payment: Cash (new 500 yen coins not accepted) / Rakuten Edy
[Usually: 8:00-20:00]
100 yen per hour, 50 yen per 30 minutes thereafter
[Night: 20:00-8:00]
50 yen per hour
It's right next to the terminal.
Payment: Cash (new 500 yen coins not accepted) / Rakuten Edy
[Usually: 8:00-20:00]
100 yen per hour, 50 yen per 30 minutes thereafter
[Night: 20:00-8:00]
50 yen per hour
It is located between the terminal and Taketomi Town Hall.
Payment: Cash only (no new 500 yen coins)
[Usually: 8:00-20:00]
100 yen per hour, 50 yen per 30 minutes thereafter
[Night: 20:00-8:00]
50 yen per hour
It is located between the city library and Misakicho.
Payment: Cash (new 500 yen coins not accepted) / Rakuten Edy
[Usually: 8:00-20:00]
200 yen per hour, 50 yen per 30 minutes thereafter
[Night: 20:00-8:00]
200 yen for the first hour, 50 yen for each additional hour
It is adjacent to the old city hall.
Payment: Cash only (no new 500 yen coins)
[Usually: 8:00-20:00]
100 yen per hour, 50 yen per 30 minutes thereafter
[Night: 20:00-8:00]
50 yen per hour
It is located down an alley near Yaeyama Post Office.
Payment: Cash only (no new 500 yen coins)
100 yen per hour
It is on your right hand side as you head towards the Southern Gate Bridge from the 730 intersection.
Payment: Cash only (no new 500 yen coins)
[Usually: 8:00-20:00]
100 yen per hour, 50 yen per 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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