- Update : 2024/3/31
- Kuroshima
*This article confirmed the information in January 2022.
Contents
♦ Welcome to Kuroshima Island
♦ How to get to Kuroshima Island
♦ Rental bicycles are convenient
♦ All restaurants on Kuroshima Island
♦ There are no supermarkets
♦ There are no resort hotels
♦ Kuroshima Island ATM information
♦ Emergency medical care
♦ There are no trash cans
♦ Free Wi-Fi
Welcome to Kuroshima Island
Kuroshima Island in Okinawa Prefecture is a small island with a circumference of about 13km, which can be reached in about 30 minutes by ferry from Ishigaki Island.
The island has about 230 people and about 2700 cows, making it an island of cattle with more cattle than humans.
Furthermore, this island is also called a heart island because the shape of the island looks like a heart when viewed from above.
Kuroshima Island is a peaceful island with no convenience stores, supermarkets, or even Koban. In addition, there are not many restaurants, so be careful when visiting the island.
However, the beautiful sea remains because there are not many inhabitants.
The beautiful sea is a tourist attraction on the island, such as the Nishinohama where sea turtles come to spawn, and the Nakamoto Beach where coral reefs become large tide pools at low tide and look like a natural pool.
If you rent a bicycle to visit the tourist attractions on this island, it will take 4 to 5 hours even if you go around slowly. Many people who visit the island are on a day trip.
There are not many travelers on Kuroshima Island, so it is recommended for those who want to relax on the beautiful sea.
The weather is almost the same as Ishigaki Island.
How to get to Kuroshima Island
There are no flights to Kuroshima Island. The only way to get to the island is by ferry from Ishigaki Island. Therefore, you need to fly to Ishigaki Island first and then transfer to the ferry. It takes about 30 minutes by ferry from Ishigaki Island.
It takes about 30, 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.
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“.
How to get to Kuroshima Island
1. Ishigaki Airport (Ishigaki Island)
2. Ishigaki Airport (about 30,40 minutes) Ishigaki Port (Ferry terminal for Kuroshima Island)
3. Ishigaki Port (about 30 minutes) Kuroshima Island
Ishigaki Port Kuroshima Port Ferry schedule
Ferries to Kuroshima Island are operated by two companies. It is Anei Kanko Ferry and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry.
Please check the schedule of each company.
Anei Kanko Ferry : schedule
Yaeyama Kanko Ferry : schedule
Ishigaki Port Kuroshima Port Fare
The ferry to Kuroshima Port is operated by two companies, but the fare is the same.
The fare changes according to the fuel price. Please check the fare of each company.
Anei Kanko Ferry : fare
Yaeyama Kanko Ferry : fare
Adult fare
one way : 1,340yen～／round trip : 2,570yen～
Child fare (Elementary school students)
one way : 680yen～／round trip : 1,300yen～
*If you make a reservation from each company’s website, you will get a 5% discount on the fares.
Anei Kanko Ferry reservation (Anei Kanko Ferry website)
Yaeyama Kanko Ferry reservation (Yaeyama Kanko Ferry website)
The ferry shakes
The ferry from Ishigaki Island to Kuroshima Island is a medium-sized ferry like the one in the photo above. It sails in the open ocean for about 15 minutes, but it may shake depending on the sea conditions.
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 the shop inside Ishigaki Port Ferry Terminal.
Rental bicycles are convenient
Transportation on Kuroshima Island
・Rental bicycle
・Electric scooter
・Rental motorcycle
・Rental car
・on foot
There are no route buses or taxis.
It takes about 30 minutes on foot from Kuroshima Port to Nakamoto Beach. It’s not too far to walk, but many people rent a bicycle.
Rental bicycle
Many people who visit the tourist attractions on the island use bicycle rental. Kuroshima Island has almost no slopes, so you can ride a bicycle comfortably.
There are several rental bicycle shops on Kuroshima Island, and you can rent a bicycle without reservation.
Moreover, if you stay on the island, it seems that you can rent it at your accommodation.
“How to rent a bicycle on Kuroshima Island” is summarized on another page.
Rental motorcycle
We recommend using it for people who don’t have much time.
Rental motorcycles are less than rental bicycles, so you should reserve.
Machan Oba’s Rental Bicycle & Scooter : 080-6497-2323
Rental car
You can also rent a car on Kuroshima Island. However, you cannot bring a rental car from Ishigaki Island. You need to make a reservation to rent a car on Kuroshima Island.
Kuroshima rental car : 0980-85-4211
All restaurants on Kuroshima Island
There are only about 6 restaurants where you can eat lunch, including food trucks. Therefore, if the restaurant is open, you should eat there. The business hours of the restaurant are ambiguous.
In addition, the restaurant is closed at night, so if you’re staying on the island, book dinner at your accommodation.
*Business hours may have changed.
Heart Land
This is a restaurant in front of Kuroshima Port. This shop operates not only as a restaurant but also as a bicycle rental shop.
We recommend eating tempura of ice cream (pictured above). There is cold ice cream in a warm deep-fried bread, and honey is on it. This sweetness will heal your body tired from cycling and snorkeling.
| Business Hours | 11:30 to 6:00pm |
|---|---|
| Closed | No closing days |
| Menu | Sea lettuce Soba : 1,000yen Tempura of ice cream : 800yen |
| Map No. | 1 |
| Web | Official (in Japanese) |
| Official |
Iconoma
It is a fashionable cafe near the Iko Pier. The photo above is the terrace seat of Iconoma, which is a photo of today’s sweets (waffles) and fruit milk shake. The amount of fruit milk shake is large, but it is not too sweet and moisturizes the tired body.
The inside of the cafe has a calm atmosphere, and we think it’s easy for even one person to enter.
| Business Hours | 12:00pm to 5:00pm |
|---|---|
| Closed | Wed., Sat., Rainy days |
| Menu | Japanese curry with papaya : 800yen Today’s sweets : 400yen Fruit milkshake : 600yen |
| Map No. | 2 |
| Web | Facebook (in Japanese) |
| Official |
Horie Sand
It is a sandwich shop of a food truck. It is open in front of Kuroshima Research Institute.
It is recommended to eat sandwiches while looking at the sea at Nakamoto Beach. Nakamoto Beach has a bench with a roof.
| Business Hours | about 10:00 to 2:00pm |
|---|---|
| Closed | Unclear |
| Menu | Homemade Sandwich : 300yen Coffee with brown sugar : 300yen |
| Map No. | 3 |
| Web | Tabelog |
Soba&Cafe Undouya
This restaurant seems to be closed.
It is a restaurant that also operates guest houses and rental cars.
(in Japanese) |
|
Parloar Achan
This restaurant seems to be closed.
It is a restaurant that also operates guest houses.
(in Japanese) |
|
Minshuku Miyayoshiso
This restaurant seems to be closed.
This is a guest house, but it seems to be operate as a restaurant during the day.
(in Japanese) |
|
There are no supermarkets
There are no supermarkets, convenience stores or drug stores on Kuroshima Island. There is a small store (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 vending machines for drinks, but not many. Therefore, if you need something on Kuroshima Island, we recommend that you buy it on Ishigaki Island before you go.
Kuroshima 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.
Map No. 1
There are no resort hotels
Most of the visitors to Kuroshima Island are day trips. However, there are some experiences such as starry sky observation that can only be done by staying at Kuroshima Island.
The accommodation on Kuroshima Island is a *Minshuku, and there is no hotel.
When you book accommodation on this island, you should choose an accommodation plan with dinner. There is no restaurant on Kuroshima 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 Kuroshima Island.
Shimayado Nankuru
This is a Minshuku near Nishinohama
0980-85-4304
Minshuku Achan
This accommodation also operates a restaurant.
0980-85-4936
Minshuku Kuroshima
This accommodation also operates snorkel tours.
0980-85-4280
Minshuku Nodoka
0980-85-4804
Instagram
Minshuku Miyayoshiso
0980-85-4152
Instagram
Minshuku Nakataso
0980-84-6811
Minshuku Miyukiso
0980-85-4159
Kuroshima Island ATM information
There are no banks on Kuroshima 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 one post office on Kuroshima Island.
The payment method on the island is cash in most places. Therefore, you should prepare cash on Ishigaki Island before going to the island.
Kuroshima Post Office
| Business Hours | 8:45 to 5:30pm (Weekday) 9:00 to 5:00pm (Sat.) |
|---|---|
| Closed | Sun., Holiday |
| Address | 1032-1,Kuroshima,Yaeyama-gun Taketomi-cho,Okinawa |
| Web | Post Office Website |
Emergency medical care
There is only one clinic on Kuroshima 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 Kuroshima Post Office in the Agarisuji area.
Office Hours
Weekday : 9:00 to 12:00pm、1:00pm to 4:00pm
Closed
Sat., Sun., Holiday
Phone Number
0980-85-4114
119 (Ambulance Service)
Map No.
2
There are no trash cans
There are no trash cans on Kuroshima Island. There are no it put even at Kuroshima 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
Kuroshima Island belongs to Taketomi Town. Therefore, you can use the free public Wi-Fi provided by Taketomi Town on Kuroshima 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 : Kuroshima Port Ferry Terminal, Nakamoto Beach
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 only guide signs written in Japanese. We recommend that you prepare a router or SIM card to use Google Maps.
