*This article confirmed the information in November 2022.
Contents
♦ Welcome to Hateruma Island
♦ How to get to Hateruma Island
♦ Electric bicycle is recommended
♦ There are not many restaurants
♦ There are no supermarkets
♦ There are no resort hotels
♦ Hateruma Island ATM information
♦ Hateruma Port Ferry Terminal
♦ Emergency medical care
♦ There are no trash cans
♦ Free Wi-Fi
Welcome to Hateruma Island
・Hateruma Island is the southernmost island in Japan where people live.
・It takes about 80 minutes by ferry from Ishigaki Island.
・The circumference of the island is about 15km.
・Population about 500
The island is surrounded by a beautiful sea called “Hateruma Blue“. Furthermore, it is also suitable for starry sky observations such as the Southern Cross, and you can observe distant stars with a telescope from the Hateruma Island Starlight Tower.
The manhole with the Southern Cross drawn on it is also cute. It can only be found on Hateruma Island. Please look for it.
Hateruma Island does not have a tourist facility like a theme park, and you can see the idyllic scenery such as the beautiful sea and sugar cane fields. It is a standard sightseeing plan of this island to go around the island by rental bicycle while watching the idyllic scenery. If you are sightseeing by bicycle, it will take a full day. It is a plan to go by first ferry and return to Ishigaki Island by the last ferry.
The climate is almost the same as Ishigaki Island.
How to get to Hateruma Island
From January 2024, Hateruma Island can be accessed not only by ferry but also by plane from Ishigaki Island. It takes about 80 minutes by ferry or 30 minutes by plane from Ishigaki Island.
It’s faster to get there by plane than by ferry, but the plane only flies once a day and doesn’t run every day. In addition, considering the flight time from Hateruma Island, you can only stay on Hateruma for less than an hour, so it is difficult to use it as a day trip.
On the other hand, there are three ferries every day, so it is recommended for day trips.
Ishigaki Airport Hateruma Island Flight information
First Flying website
If you are going to Hateruma Island from Tokyo or Osaka Japan, you will first need to take a plane to Ishigaki Island and then transfer to a plane or ferry from there.
You can take the plane at Ishigaki Airport, but it takes about 30 to 40 minutes by bus or taxi from Ishigaki Airport to the ferry terminal (Ishigaki Port Ferry Terminal). The ferry terminal is far from the airport, so plan your trip considering the travel time.
How to get from Ishigaki Airport to Ishigaki Port is summarized on another page.
How to get to Hateruma Island by ferry
1. Ishigaki Airport (Ishigaki Island)
2. Ishigaki Airport (about 30,40 minutes) Ishigaki Port (Ferry terminal for Hateruma Island)
3. Ishigaki Port (about 80 minutes) Hateruma Island
*Ferries to Hateruma Island often cancel in winter. Please check the operation status.
Ferries are often canceled, especially in winter in December and January. Even if you can go to Hateruma Island, the return ferry may be canceled. Therefore, when you go to the island, it is better to go on a travel schedule with plenty of time.
More information about the ferry, such as how to take the ferry and discount tickets, is summarized in “How to take a ferry from Ishigakijima to other islands“.
Ishigaki Port Hateruma Port Ferry schedule
Ferries to Hateruma Island are operated only by Anei Kanko Ferry. The ferry makes three round trips a day.
Anei Kanko Ferry : schedule
Ishigaki Port Hateruma Port Fare
The fare changes according to the fuel price. Please check the fare of ferry company.
Anei Kanko Ferry fare
Adult fare
one way : 3,610yen～／round trip : 6,910yen～
Child fare
(Elementary school students)
one way : 1,810yen～／round trip : 3,470yen～
*If you make a reservation from the Anei Kanko Ferry website, you will get a 5% discount on the fares.
Anei Kanko Ferry reservation (Anei Kanko Ferry website)
The ferry shakes
The ferry from Ishigaki Island to Hateruma Island is a medium-sized ferry like the one in the photo above, or a large ferry, but it often shakes. In the case of a medium-sized ferry, depending on the situation, it is scary because it shakes like a roller coaster so that the buttocks floats.
The boarding time is about 80 minutes, so if you get seasick easily, we recommend that you take motion sickness medicine. In addition, you should sit in the backseat of the ferry, which has relatively little shaking. The ferry is a non-reserved seat, so you should go early to the boarding gate to wait for the ferry and sit in the back seat.
Motion sickness medicine is sold at a shop called “Sagaribana” inside Ishigaki Port Ferry Terminal.
The first and third ferries are large ferries, so we recommend that you take them.
Electric bicycle is recommended
Transportation on Hateruma Island
・Rental bicycle
・Rental scooter
・Rental car
・Electric scooter
There are no route buses or taxis.
Hateruma Island is not a very large island, so we recommend that you take a leisurely bicycle ride around the island. You can go around the island on a city cycle, but there are several slopes on the island, so an electric bicycle is the best choice. You don’t need a reservation to rent a bicycle.
Rental bicycle
Hateruma Island is too big to walk, and tourist attractions are scattered all over the island. Therefore, many people rent a bicycle for sightseeing. There are several slopes on the island, so an electric bicycle is the best choice.
There are several bicycle rental shops on Hateruma Island, and you can rent a bicycle without reservation. However, especially since the number of electric bicycles is small, it is better to make a reservation during the busy summer season.
“How to rent a bicycle on Hateruma Island” is summarized on another page.
Rental scooter
There are several slopes on Hateruma Island, so some people use rental scooter. We recommend using it for people who don’t have much time.
Rental scooters are less than rental bicycles, so you should reserve.
OCEANS : 0980-85-8787
Nishihamaso : 0980-85-8290
Kumanomi : 090-8290-2823
Rental car
You can also rent a car on Hateruma Island. However, we don’t recommend it because the roads are narrow and most tourist attractions don’t have parking lot.
In addition, you cannot bring a rental car from Ishigaki Island. You need to make a reservation to rent a car on Hateruma Island.
OCEANS : 0980-85-8787
Hausu Minami : 090-8437-3132
There are not many restaurants
Restaurants are located in the residential areas of the islanders, but there are not many of them and their business hours are short. However, many travelers visit to the island during the busy summer season. Therefore, you should have lunch early. We recommend having lunch before the arrival of the second ferry from Ishigaki Island (around 1:00pm).
Minpika
The cafe is marked by the cute bus stop in the photo above. You can eat shaved ice while looking at the sea here.
The shaved ice “Kuromitsu Special” is famous, and it will soothe your tired body. “Kuromitsu Special” is black honey flavored shaved ice. The shaved ice is large as shown in the picture.
| Business Hours | 11:00 to 1:00pm 2:30pm to 4:30pm |
|---|---|
| Closed | Rainy days |
| Menu | Kuromitsu Special : 500yen |
| Web | – |
| Official |
Ayaffami
This is a “Shokudo” with calm music. There are table seats and counter seats, so it is easy to use even if you are alone.
You can check its business hour information on its website (in Japanese).
I had the most popular “Rafutei Teishoku” at the restaurant. It is a set meal of “Rafutei” which is stewed pork. In addition to the main dish “Rafutei”, you can eat several kinds of vegetables and rice with mixed grain rice, so it seems to be good for your health. The “Rafutei” was melty and the miso soup was also delicious.
I also ate “Shima Tofu champuru Teishoku”. It is stir-fried tofu and vegetables. Tofu is delicious and you can eat a lot of vegetables.
| Business Hours | 11:30 to 3:00pm |
|---|---|
| Closed | Irregular holiday |
| Menu | Rafutei Teishoku : 1,000yen Shima Tofu champuru Teishoku : 1,100yen |
| Web | Official (only Japanese) |
| Official |
There are no supermarkets
There are no supermarkets, convenience stores or drug stores on Hateruma Island. There are several small stores (called Shoten) on the island, but there aren’t many items for sale and the prices are high.
When it comes to drinks, there are many drink vending machines in the village, so you don’t have to worry. However, if you need something on Hateruma Island, we recommend that you buy it on Ishigaki Island before you go.
Hateruma Island does not have much shade, so sunscreen is essential when cycling around the island. You should buy it on Ishigaki Island before you go.
There are no resort hotels
Most of the visitors to Hateruma Island are day trips. However, there are scenery that can only be seen if you stay at Hateruma Island, such as the sunset seen from Nishihama Beach (pictured below) and starry sky observation.
Most of the accommodations on Hateruma Island are *Minshuku, and there are no resort hotels.
When you book accommodation on this island, we recommend an accommodation plan with dinner. There are not many restaurants on Hateruma Island where you can eat dinner.
Furthermore, there are no supermarkets or convenience stores too. Therefore, if you have what you need for your stay, you should buy it on Ishigaki Island before going to Hateruma Island.
Hateruma Island ATM information
There are no banks on Hateruma Island and no place to exchange foreign currency. But you can withdraw money with the credit card or cash card issued by overseas financial institutions at the post office.
There is an ATM in the Japanese post office, and there is also one post office on Hateruma Island. It is convenient because it is also available on weekends and holidays.
The payment method on the island is cash in most places. Therefore, you should prepare cash on Ishigaki Island before going to the island.
Hateruma Post Office
| Business Hours | 8:45 to 5:30pm (weekday) 9:00 to 5:00pm (the others) |
|---|---|
| Closed | Always open |
| Address | 106-2,Hateruma,Yaeyama-gun Taketomi-cho,Okinawa |
| Web | Post Office Website |
Hateruma Port Ferry Terminal
Hateruma Port Ferry Terminal is small. There is only one small shop and one small restaurant. Other than these, there is only the Anei Kanko Ferry ticket office, chairs and toilets.
Drinks are sold at the shop. The shop also sells green tea, juice, coffee and alcohol.
However, sweets such as ice cream and chocolate are not sold there. Sightseeing on the island in the strong sun is exhausting, so you will want to eat something sweet. But the shop at the port doesn’t sell them.
Emergency medical care
There is only one clinic on Hateruma Island. It is not a 24-hour medical examination system.
You will call the clinic directly during the office hours and the Ambulance Service (119) during the non-office hours.
The clinic is located near Hateruma Elementary School in the village.
Office Hours
Weekday : 8:30 to 11:30、1:30pm to 4:30pm
Closed
Sat., Sun., Holiday
Phone Number
0980-85-8402
119 (Ambulance Service)
Website
There are no trash cans
There are no trash cans on Hateruma Island. There are no it put even at Hateruma Port. You will need to bring back any garbage you bring in.
You should take a garbage bag to this island and bring your trash back to Ishigaki Island to keep this beautiful landscape.
Free Wi-Fi
Hateruma Island belongs to Taketomi Town. Therefore, you can use the free public Wi-Fi provided by Taketomi Town on Hateruma Island. However, the Wi-Fi hotspots are only the following two places, and we think that they can hardly be used for your sightseeing.
Wi-Fi hotspot : Hateruma Port Ferry Terminal, Hateruma Island Starlight Tower
Taketomi Town Free Wi-Fi ID ： Taketomi-Free-Wi-Fi
PASSWORD : No password
When you go sightseeing on the island, a map is essential because there are no landmark buildings and few guide signs. We recommend that you prepare a router or SIM card to use Google Maps.
