*This article confirmed the information in June 2023.
*”Nitta Kankou” has been temporarily closed since April 2023.
Summary
・No reservation required
・There are two companies that operate water buffalo carts.
・Those course are different, but you can see beautiful scenery no matter which one you take.
・The cheapest way for you to take advantage of it is to join a package tour.
The most famous sightseeing of Taketomi Island is the buffalo tour. You can enjoy the beautiful village in a car pulled by Buffalo. On the buffalo tour, you can feel the pleasant sea breeze while listening to the sounds of traditional Okinawan musical instruments called Sanshin. You will be healed in a slow time.
The buffalo tour takes about 30 minutes.
As you can see in the picture above, the buffalo car has a roof so you won’t get wet with a little rain. It can also be used as a travel destination on rainy days.
Contents
♦ How to participate in a buffalo tour
♦ Comparison of the buffalo tour companies
♦ Buffalo tour is cheaper to take a package tour
How to participate in a buffalo tour
When you arrive at Taketomi Port by ferry, there are shuttle cars for rental bicycle shops and buffalo tour companies on the left side. You don’t need to make a reservation to get on it, and if you take the shuttle car of the buffalo tour company you want to use, it will take you to the store.
The buffalo tour on Taketomi Island is operated by two companies, Nitta Kankou and Taketomi Tourist Center. Both prices are the same.
The fee comparison of the buffalo tour company is described later.
How to participate in a buffalo tour
1. You get on the shuttle car of the company where you want to participate in a buffalo tour.
2. You apply for a tour at the store and get in a car pulled by a buffalo.
Comparison of the buffalo tour companies
Taketomi Island is famous for its beautiful village unified with traditional Okinawan houses with red roofs. The standard plan is to see the village in a car pulled by a buffalo while listening to the sounds of traditional Okinawan musical instruments called Sanshin. Buffalo walks slower than you. Do you usually ride something slower than walking? Here, you will be healed in such a slow time.
The buffalo tour on Taketomi Island is operated by two companies. The route that the buffalo car takes is different, but there is no difference in the services of the two companies. Both companies offer rental bicycle services, and you can also rent a bicycle here.
Nitta Kankou
| Business Hours | 8:30 – 5:00pm |
|---|---|
| Closed | Wed. |
| Required Time | About 30 minutes |
| Fee | |
| Rental bicycle | 2,500 yen/day |
| Phone Number | 0980-85-2103 (Reservation not possible) |
| Web | Official |
Taketomi Tourist Center
| Business Hours | 9:00 – 4:30pm |
|---|---|
| Closed | Always open |
| Required Time | About 25 minutes |
| Fee | 3,000 yen |
| Rental bicycle | 2,000 yen/day |
| Phone Number | 0980-85-2998 (Reservation not possible) |
| Web | Official |
Buffalo car route
This is a comparison of buffalo car routes. You can see beautiful village on either route, but the routes are different.
Nitta Kankou
Buffalo car route of Nitta Kankou is a western route that passes through *Asatoya Kuyama house.
*Asatoya Kuyama
This is the house where “Asatoya Kuyama”, which appears in the lyrics of the folk songs of Taketomi Island, lived.
Taketomi Tourist Center
Buffalo car route of Taketomi Tourist Center is an eastern route that passes around the Machinamikan.
Buffalo tour is cheaper to take a package tour
There is a one-day package tour that includes a round-trip ferry fare between Ishigaki Island and Taketomi Island and a buffalo tour fee. It’s cheaper than buying each of these.
You are free to decide the time for the round-trip ferry and the time for the buffalo tour. However, this package tour requires a reservation. The buffalo car has a roof so you won’t get wet with a little rain, but it’s better on a sunny day.
This tour is offered by a tour company in the Ishigaki Port Ferry Terminal. If you want to participate in the tour, you can make a reservation at the website below, by phone, or at the shop counter.
Tour company
Anei Kanko Ferry
Yaeyama Kanko Ferry
Ishigaki Island Travel Center (only in Japanese)
Yamaneko Tours (only in Japanese)
Ishigaki Dream Tours (Afternoon departure only)
