*This article confirmed the information in October 2024.
Transportation on Ishigaki Island
・Car rental
・Bus
・Taxi
・Motorcycle rental
If you rent a car, you can enjoy sightseeing efficiently, but you need an international driver’s license to drive a car or motorcycle in Japan. In addition, the traffic rules differ from your country.
Therefore, we introduce you how to get to the tourist attractions by bus.
One is Karry Bus that operates a direct bus that connects Ishigaki Airport and Ishigaki Port Ferry Terminal. The other is Azuma Bus, which operates a route bus on Ishigaki Island.
You can go the major tourist attractions by Azuma Bus.
The Azuma Bus operates 12 routes. This page explains which bus routes go to which tourist attractions. We are creating a schedule for each destination based on the latest schedule of Azuma Bus.
Azuma Bus official timetables
page 1 , 2
You cannot download the English timetables for Airport Line (Route No.4 and No.10) from the official website. Therefore, you should use one we created.
How to get from Ishigaki Airport to Ishigaki Port is summarized on another page. You can find out about Karry Bus schedules, discount ticket information, and bus stops at Ishigaki Airport on that page.
In addition, how to take the Azuma Bus, such as how to pay the fare, and how to see the bus stop are summarized on another page.
Contents
♦ Bus Routes of Azuma Bus (Route Bus)
♦ Discount ticket information of Azuma Bus
– Bus Pass
– Roundtrip-ticket for Airport Ishigaki Port
– Anei Kanko Ferry discount ticket
♦ Bus Schedules of Azuma Bus
– Airport Ishigaki Port
– Bound for Banna Park or Ishigaki Limestone Cave
– Airport Kabira Bay or Yonehara Beach
– Bus Terminal Kabira Bay or Fusaki Beach
– Bound for Ishigaki Yaima Village
– Bus Terminal Yaeyama Peace Memorial Museum
Bus Routes of Azuma Bus (Route Bus)
The Azuma Bus (route bus company) operates 12 routes. There aren’t many buses, but you can get to major tourist attractions by bus. We have created a map of all routes, so please download and use it.
The area around the Bus Terminal is the city center of Ishigaki Island, and there are many restaurants and hotels. In addition, there is Ishigaki Port Ferry Terminal, which is the port that goes to remote islands such as Taketomi Island and Iriomote Island, about a 1-minute walk from the Bus Terminal.
download Bus Route (PDF:0.3MB)
Summary of bus routes
The route is briefly summarized in a table.
| Route ２ (2 buses / day) |
West-around line It operates in the afternoon only. |
|---|---|
| Route ３ (1 bus / day) |
East-around line It operates in the early morning only. |
| Route ４ (2 buses / hour) |
Airport line This line connects Ishigaki Airport and the city center (around Ishigaki Port). This bus is operated on a schedule that is in time for the first and last flight of the plane. |
| Route ６ (3 buses / day) |
It is the only route that goes further north than the airport. This bus departs from the bus terminal and goes to Tamatorizaki Observatory and Hirakubo Lighthouse via the airport. |
| Route ７ (2 buses / day) |
This route takes you from the bus terminal to Ishigaki Limestone Cave, Banna Park, Ishigaki Yaima Village, and Kabira Bay. |
| Route ８ (1 bus / day) |
If you take this bus, you can back and forth from the bus terminal to Ishigaki Limestone Cave, Banna Park, Ishigaki Yaima Village, Kabira Bay, Yonehara Beach, and Yaeyama Palm Grove. |
| Route ９ (6 buses / day) |
This route goes back and forth between resort hotels such as Hotel Royal Marine Palace, Grandvrio Resort Hotel, Fusaki Resort Hotel, Club Med Kabira Ishigaki, Seaside Hotel, and the bus terminal. In addition to these, you can also go back and forth to Ishigaki Yaima Village and Kabira Bay. |
| Route １０ (4 buses / day) |
Airport line via hotel It is a route that connects the airport and the city center (around Ishigaki Port) via ANA Hotel and Art Hotel. |
| Route １１ (2 buses / day) |
This route goes back and forth between the airport and the bus terminal via Yonehara Beach, Yaeyama Palm Grove, Kabira Bay, Club Med Kabira Ishigaki, Seaside Hotel. |
| Route １３ (7 buses / day) |
It is a route that goes back and forth between the bus terminal and the hospital. You can go to the Yaeyama Peace Memorial Museum by riding it. |
| Route１, ５ | It is a route not used by tourists. |
Discount ticket information of Azuma Bus
Bus Pass
There are tickets (Bus Pass) available for 1 or 5 days on all Azuma Bus routes on Ishigaki Island. This ticket allows you to use the bus as many times as you like during the expiration date.
It is a great value ticket for traveler by bus. If you are traveling on Ishigaki Island by bus, this is a must buy ticket. It costs 1,080 yen to go back and forth between the airport and the city center by bus. However, you can buy a 1day pass for 1,000 yen.
download All Route Timetables
Page1 (PDF:0.8MB)
Page2 (PDF:0.8MB)
How to buy
You can buy this ticket from the bus driver or ticket office in the Bus Terminal.
1day pass : 1,000yen
(This ticket is available 24hours from the time of buy.)
5days pass : 2,000yen
(This ticket is available 120hours (5days) from the time of buy.)
*Half price for children.
How to use
It’s easy to use, just show the ticket to the driver when getting on and off the bus. This is convenient because you don’t need to prepare coins when you get on the bus.
*This ticket cannot be reissued or refunded.
Roundtrip-ticket for Airport Ishigaki Port
This is a round-trip discount ticket to and from Ishigaki Airport and Bus Terminal or Ishigaki Port Ferry Terminal. If you pay the fare for this section one way, it costs 540 yen, but you can buy this round-trip ticket for 1,000 yen. This ticket is a discount of only 80 yen, but it is convenient because you don’t need to prepare coins when you get on the bus. In addition, this ticket has no expiration date, so you can use it the next time you come.
How to buy
You can buy this ticket from the Airport Line (Route 4 or 10) bus driver or ticket office in the Bus Terminal.
How to use
The ticket is a set of two, and if you give the ticket to the driver when you get off the bus, one will be cut off.
*This ticket cannot be reissued or refunded.
Anei Kanko Ferry discount ticket
This ticket is a coupon that discounts the ferry fare when going to remote islands such as Taketomi Island and Iriomote Island.
There are two ferry companies that go from Ishigaki Island to remote islands such as Iriomote Island. The company is Anei Kanko Ferry and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry.
You can use this coupon to get 10% off the round-trip fare or 5% off the one-way fare for the Anei Kanko Ferry ticket. It can also be used for a 10% discount on tour fees handled by Anei Kanko Ferry.
This one coupon will give everyone in your group a discount.
There are two ways to get it.
You can get this coupon from the bus driver of the Azuma Bus Airport Line (Route4 or 10). When you get on the bus at the Ishigaki Airport, please tell the bus driver “Please give me a discount ticket for Anei Kanko Ferry”.
In addition, there are discount coupons for Kabira Bay glass bottom boats and Ishigaki Limestone Cave in these leaflet areas, so it is worth visiting.
But we don’t know if they are always there.
How to use
You can buy a ferry boarding ticket or tour ticket at a discounted price by submitting this coupon when you buy these tickets at the Anei Kanko Ferry ticket office in the Ishigaki Port Ferry Terminal.
However, it seems that some tours are not eligible for this coupon discount. Please check with the staff.
Bus Schedules of Azuma Bus
*Latest bus schedule as of October 2024
We divided a schedule of buses for arrival and departure Ishigaki Airport or Bus Terminal by destination. Click on the place you want to go and you will see the schedule of the buses that arrive and depart from the Bus Terminal or Ishigaki Airport.
The fare written is the adult fare per person. Child fare is half the adult fare. Elementary school students are eligible the child fare. Children under elementary school age are free.
Your Destination
Transportations
Airport, Bus Terminal, Ishigaki Port Ferry Terminal
Tourist attractions
Kabira Bay, Tamatorizaki Observatory, Hirakubo Lighthouse, Ishigaki Limestone Cave, Yaeyama Palm Grove, Ishigaki Yaima Village, Banna Park, Cape Uganzaki (only Taxi), Torin-ji Temple, Yaeyama Museum, Yaeyama Peace Memorial Museum, Miyara River (mangrove forest)
Beaches
Yonehara Beach, Sunset Beach, Fusaki Beach, Maesato Beach, Sukuji Beach (only Taxi)
Accommodations ・ Shop
Club Med Kabira Ishigaki (from Ishigaki Airport, from Bus Terminal), ANA InterContinental Hotel, Grandvrio Resort Hotel, Fusaki Resort Hotel, Seaside Hotel (from Ishigaki Airport, from Bus Terminal), Art Hotel, Hotel Royal Marine Palace, Beach Hotel Sunshine
Don Quijote (Discount store), Max Value (supermarket)
download All Route Timetables
Page1 (PDF:0.8MB)
Page2 (PDF:0.8MB)
Airport Line Bus Schedule
(airport Ishigaki Port)
This is a line connecting Ishigaki Airport and the city center (around Bus Terminal or Ishigaki Port).
This bus is operated on a schedule that is in time for the first and last flight of the plane.
As for the Airport Line bus, another bus company (Karry Bus) operates a direct bus between the airport and Ishigaki Port. How to get from Ishigaki Airport to Ishigaki Port is summarized on another page.
Route 4 and 10 with “Airport” written on the side of the blue bus are the route buses of the Airport Line.
In addition to these routes, there are route buses that go to the city center (around Bus Terminal or Ishigaki Port) via the airport. Therefore, we created a list of bus schedules in the figure below.
However, the bus to ANA InterContinental Hotel or Art Hotel is only Route 10.
Riding Time (airport city center)
35 minutes or 40 minutes (It depends on the route.)
Departure
About 2 buses / hour
Last Bus
Ishigaki Airport Bus Terminal
9:45 pm (Airport departure time)
First Bus
Bus Terminal Ishigaki Airport
6:10 am (Bus Terminal departure time) 6:50 am (Airport arrival time)
Bus stop at Ishigaki Airport
・Route 4 and 10 : Azuma Bus Platform ‘A’
・Other routes : Azuma Bus Platform ‘B’
departure 
return 
download detail timetables
Route4 (PDF:0.4MB)
Route10 (PDF:0.4MB)
Bus Schedule bound for Banna Park or Ishigaki Limestone Cave
This is a bus schedule bound for Banna Park or Ishigaki Limestone Cave.
The Banna Park has an observatory overlooking the Ishigaki city.
Ishigaki Limestone Cave is the largest limestone cave on Ishigaki Island.
There is no direct bus from Ishigaki Airport to these destinations, so you take the bus that goes there from Bus Terminal.
Considering the bus time, there is only one return bus a day. Furthermore, there is no taxi stand. Therefore, be careful about time of the return bus.
How to get to Ishigaki Limestone Cave
Bus stop name「Shizenmura」 About 10 minutes on foot
How to get to Banna Park observatory
You can enjoy a panoramic view of the sea and Ishigaki city.
Bus stop name「Yaemorino-tou」 About 25 minutes on foot
You will walk a steep uphill.
Best Plan
① 「Bus Terminal」Dep. (10:45) get off「Shizenmura (Ishigaki Limestone Cave)」(10:57)
② Lunch at Ishigaki Limestone Cave
③ Ishigaki Limestone Cave Dep. (12:30) (about 50 minutes) Banna Park observatory
④ Banna Park observatory Dep. (13:25) (about 25 minutes) 「Yeamorino-tou」bus stop
⑤ 「Yeamorino-tou」Dep. (13:59) get off「Bus Terminal」 (14:11)
departure 
return 
download timetables
Route2 (PDF:0.4MB)
Route3 (PDF:0.4MB)
Route7 (PDF:0.3MB)
Route8 (PDF:0.4MB)
Route 11 : Yonehara Campground Line
(Airport Yonehara Beach or Kabira Bay)
This bus line connects Ishigaki Airport to Kabira Bay, Yonehara Beach, Yaeyama Palm Grove, Club Med, Seaside Hotel. The bus line is the only bus that goes from Ishigaki Airport to these destinations.
There are only two buses a day.
The bus stop at Ishigaki Airport is platform ‘B’.
The bus from the Bus Terminal to Club Med and Seaside Hotel is Route 9.
How to get to Kabira Bay from airport
Bus stop name「Kabira Park」 About 2 minutes on foot
How to get to Kabira Bay by bus is summarized on another page.
How to get to Yonehara Beach from airport
Bus stop name「Yonehara」 About 4 minutes on foot
How to get to Yonehara Beach by bus is summarized on another page.
How to get to Yaeyama Palm Grove from airport
Bus stop name「Yonehara Palmtree」 About 4 minutes on foot
How to get to Yaeyama Palm Grove by bus is summarized on another page.
Best Plan
① 「Ishigaki Airport」Dep. (12:15) get off「Yonehara (Yonehara Beach)」(12:39)
② Lunch at Yonehara Beach
③ Enjoy marine leisure at Yonehara Beach.
④ 「Yonehara」Dep. (15:24) get off「Kabira Park (Kabira Bay)」(15:42)
⑤ Route 9 bus「Kabira Park」Dep. (17:19) get off「Bus Terminal」 (18:05)
departure 
return 
download timetable
Route11 (PDF:0.4MB)
Route 9 : Kabira Resort Line
(Bus Terminal Kabira Bay or Fusaki Beach)
This bus line is a bus that goes from Bus Terminal to Club Med via Kabira Bay and resort hotels such as Fusaki Beach Resort.
The route 9 bus is the only bus that goes to resort hotels such as Fusaki Beach Resort, Grandvrio Resort and Beach Hotel Sunshine. There are no buses from the airport to them, they depart from the bus terminal. There are 6 buses a day.
How to get to Kabira Bay from Bus Terminal
Bus stop name「Kabira Park」 About 2 minutes on foot
How to get to Kabira Bay by bus is summarized on another page.
How to get to Fusaki Beach from Bus Terminal
Bus stop name「Fusaki Beach Resort」 About 2 minutes on foot
How to get to Fusaki Beach by bus is summarized on another page.
Best Plan
① 「Bus Terminal」Dep. (12:55) get off「Fusaki Beach Resort (Fusaki Beach)」(13:17)
② Enjoy marine leisure at Fusaki Beach.
③ Enjoy the sunset from Fusaki Beach.
④ 「Fusaki Beach Resort」Dep. (19:37) get off「Bus Terminal」 (20:00)
departure 
return 
download timetable
Route9 (PDF:0.4MB)
Bus Schedule bound for Ishigaki Yaima Village
This is the schedule of the bus that goes to Yaima Village, the southernmost theme park in Japan.
Yaima Village is theme park that reproduces the traditional houses of Okinawan. You can experience various Ishigaki Island cultures such as Shisa (Shisa is Okinawan guardian lions.) coloring experience and Ryukyu costume experience there.
In addition, next to Yaima Village is a vast wetland with mangrove called Nagura Amparu.
How to get to Ishigaki Yaima Village
Bus stop name「Yaima mura」 About 1 minute on foot
or
Bus stop name「Moto-nagura」 About 1 minute on foot
The bus stop names “Yaima mura” and “Moto-nagura” are located near the front and back gates of Yaima Village. Therefore, you can walk to Yaima Village from either bus stop.
Business hours of Ishigaki Yaima Village
9:00am – 5:30pm (open all year round)
Best Plan
① 「Bus Terminal」Dep. (9:45) get off「Yaima mura (Yaima Village)」(10:15)
② Experience Ishigaki Island’s culture at Yaima Village.
③ Observe the mangrove of Nagura Amparu.
④ Lunch at Yaima Village
⑤ 「Moto-nagura」Dep. (13:50) get off「Bus Terminal」 (14:11)
departure 
return 
download timetables
Route2 (PDF:0.4MB)
Route7 (PDF:0.3MB)
Route8 (PDF:0.4MB)
Route9 (PDF:0.4MB)
Route 13 : Yaeyama Hospital Line
(Bus Terminal Yaeyama Peace Memorial Museum)
This bus line connects the city center and the prefectural Yaeyama hospital. You can take this route bus to the oldest Torin-ji Temple on Ishigaki Island and Yaeyama Peace Memorial Museum.
How to get to Torin-ji Temple
Bus stop name「Torin-ji Temple」 About 1 minute on foot
or
Bus stop name「Bus Terminal」 About 10 minutes on foot
How to get to Yaeyama Peace Memorial Museum
Bus stop name「Yaeyama Peace Memorial Museum」 About 1 minute on foot
Business hours of Yaeyama Peace Memorial Museum
9:00am – 5:00pm (Closed : Mon.)
departure 
return 
download timetable
Route13 (PDF:0.3MB)
