Beaches

Yonehara Beach – The Best Snorkeling Spot You Can Reach by Bus

*This article confirmed the information in August 2024.

  Contents 
Welcome to Yonehara Beach – Ishigaki’s Snorkeling Paradise
Getting to Yonehara Beach: Your Guide to Access and Transportation
By Route Bus (Azuma Bus)
By Taxi
By Rental Car
Facilities at Yonehara Beach
How to Use the Showers at Yonehara Beach
Where to Store Your Baggage Temporarily
Restaurants Near Yonehara Beach
Accommodations Near Yonehara Beach
Beach Equipment Rentals Near Yonehara Beach
Yoneko-yaki Seesah Garden: A Must-Visit Spot

Welcome to Yonehara Beach – Ishigaki’s Snorkeling Paradise

More photos : Instagram

Summary
・This beach is also popular with locals.
・You’ll find a rental shop offering marine gear and showers.
・A great spot for snorkeling.
・Best enjoyed at high tide.

Yonehara Beach is one of the most popular snorkeling spots on Ishigaki Island. The shallow waters near the shore are home to beautiful coral reefs and vibrant tropical fish, making it an ideal spot even for beginners.
During the summer season, the beach comes alive with both tourists and locals enjoying the sun and sea.

The beach is equipped with convenient facilities such as a parking lot, restrooms, and showers, and there are several restaurants nearby. These amenities make it easy and comfortable to enjoy a full day of marine activities.

However, the currents can be strong and there are no lifeguards on duty, so visitors are advised to exercise caution.
Unfortunately, accidents do occur every year, so please be careful when entering the water.

We highly recommend wearing a life jacket while snorkeling.

There are several rental shops near the beach where you can rent life jackets, snorkeling gear, and beach umbrellas.

This is a shallow beach, so it’s best to visit during high tide. At low tide, the coral in the shallow areas becomes exposed, and you’ll need to go dozens of meters offshore to snorkel.


Getting to Yonehara Beach: Your Guide to Access and Transportation

How to Get There:
By route bus
By rental car
By taxi

Yonehara Beach is located in the central area of Ishigaki Island. It’s about a 30-minute drive from the city center (around the Bus Terminal or Ishigaki Port), and approximately 25 minutes from Ishigaki Airport. You can reach Yonehara Beach by route bus, rental car, or taxi.

The beach is located near a bus stop and has shower facilities, so it’s possible to visit by bus. However, please note that buses run infrequently, so be sure to check the schedule in advance.

Getting to Yonehara Beach by Route Bus (Azuma Bus)

POINTPlease note that the bus stop has a different name on the return trip.

Route buses to Yonehara Beach depart daily from the Bus Terminal and Ishigaki Airport. The beach is about a 3-minute walk from the nearest bus stop.

Please note that the bus stop names at Yonehara Beach differ depending on the direction of travel. The two stops are ‘Yonehara’ and ‘Yonehara Camp Jo’. Buses stop at only one of these, so be sure to check the bus’s direction and get off at the correct stop.

The two bus stops are located about 200 meters apart. You can find both locations marked on the map below.

Getting to Yonehara Beach by Bus
  Bus stop name  
“Yonehara” or “Yonehara Camp Jo” ( 3-minute walk to Yonehara Beach)

  Bus Route  
 From Bus Terminal (Five Buses per Day)  No.2(870), No.8(870), No.11(940)
From Airport (Three Buses per Day)  No.3(1,070), No.11(570)

Azuma Bus Schedule from the Bus Terminal

*Current Bus Schedule (Updated May 2025)

There are five buses a day from the Bus Terminal to Yonehara Beach. Three different bus routes go to the beach, but we recommend taking Route No. 2 or Route No. 8. These buses travel along a scenic seaside road, offering beautiful views of the ocean during the ride.
When you’re heading to Yonehara Beach, the sea will be on the left side of the bus, so we suggest sitting on the left for the best views.

Nagura Bay

The bus fare from the Bus Terminal to Yonehara Beach is either 870 yen or 940 yen, depending on the route. If you’re planning a round trip by bus, it’s more cost-effective to buy a One-Day Bus Pass for 1,000 yen.
Details on how to purchase the Bus Pass are available on a separate page.

 Duration 
56 to 58 minutes (depending on the route)
 Fare 
870 yen or 940 yen (depending on the route)

Timetable for DepartureBusSchedule Yonehara FromBusTerminal

Timetable for ReturnBusSchedule Yonehara FromBusTerminal Return

Download Timetables
Route2 (PDF:0.4MB)
Route3 (PDF:0.4MB)
Route8 (PDF:0.4MB)
Route11 (PDF:0.4MB)

Azuma Bus Schedule from the Airport

*Current Bus Schedule (Updated May 2025)

There is a direct route bus from Ishigaki Airport to Yonehara Beach. So when you arrive at the airport, you can hop on the bus and head straight to the beach for a swim. Showers are also available at the beach for your convenience.

If you’re carrying large luggage like a suitcase, the Baggage Delivery Service is a convenient option. Please note that there are no lockers at Yonehara Beach that can accommodate large items such as suitcases.

The bus stop at Ishigaki Airport is Stop B.

The bus fare from Ishigaki Airport to Yonehara Beach is 570 yen one way. If you plan to take more route buses later in the day, it’s a good idea to buy a One-Day Bus Pass for 1,000 yen.

 Duration 
25 to 74 minutes (depending on the route)
 Fare 
570 yen or 1,070 yen (depending on the route)

Timetable for DepartureBusSchedule Yonehara FromAirport

Timetable for ReturnBusSchedule Yonehara FromAirport Return

Download Timetables
Route2 (PDF:0.4MB)
Route3 (PDF:0.4MB)
Route11 (PDF:0.4MB)

Best Bus Trip Plan to Yonehara Beach

This is a suggested itinerary for exploring the Yonehara Beach area using only route buses. A visit to Yoneko-yaki Seesah Garden is highly recommended.

 Best Plan 
1. Route No. 8 – Departs from Bus Terminal at 10:45 AM
Get off at Yonehara Camp Jo bus stop (for Yonehara Beach)
2. Lunch at Tonkatsu-riki
3. Life jackets are available for rent at Jerry Fish.
4. Relax and enjoy the beauty of Yonehara Beach
5. After changing, enjoy a visit to Yoneko-yaki Seesah Garden.
6. Route No. 11 – Departs from Yonehara Camp Jo at 4:21 PM
Return to the Bus Terminal bus stop at 5:17 PM

Getting to Yonehara Beach by Taxi

There is no taxi stand at Yonehara Beach. If you call a taxi, please be aware that it may take around 30 minutes to arrive, as it comes from the city center.

You can use taxi app DiDi to call a cab.

Taxi Fares and Duration
  Approximate Fare  
Airport Yonehara Beach : 4,000
Bus Terminal Yonehara Beach : 4,500


  Duration  
Airport Yonehara Beach : About 25 minutes
Bus Terminal Yonehara Beach : About 30 minutes

Getting to Yonehara Beach by Rental Car

The Omoto Tunnel, located on the route from the airport to Yonehara Beach, is the only tunnel on Ishigaki Island.

Using a MAPCODE mapcode is a convenient way to set your destination in a car navigation system.
MAPCODE is a numeric code that represents the latitude and longitude of a location in Japan.

Getting to Yonehara Beach by Rental Car
  Address  
446-1 Fukai, Ishigaki-shi, Okinawa
mapcode : 366 397 734*54


  Duration  
Airport Yonehara Beach : About 25 minutes
Bus Terminal Yonehara Beach : About 30 minutes


  Parking  
Paid parking available


Facilities at Yonehara Beach

Yonehara Beach is free to access and open year-round. While you’ll find showers, restrooms, and restaurants nearby, please note that there are no lifeguards or jellyfish nets.

Yonehara Beach

Business Hours Open daily, 24 hours
Admission Free
Closed Open every day
(No scheduled closing days)
Website
Parking
Free: approx. 7 cars /
Paid: approx. 30 cars
Restrooms (Multipurpose restrooms :
Changing Rooms (Located inside the shop)
Showers (Fee required)
Temporary Baggage Storage Available at the shop (Shouten), but too small for suitcases.
Lifeguards
Jellyfish Net
Beach Item Rentals

Map of Yonehara Beach

Yonehara Beach Map
Download MAP (PDF:0.1MB)


How to Use the Showers at Yonehara Beach

There are paid shower facilities available on the beach. The space is large enough to change clothes comfortably.
Here’s how to use them.
ShowerRoom at Yonehara Beach
1. Prepare coins.
Only 100 yen coins are accepted for the showers. There is no bill changer near the beach, so please make sure to exchange your money beforehand.

2. Insert a coin.
Water will start flowing as soon as you insert the coin.


Where to Store Your Baggage Temporarily

Please note: The baggage storage service mentioned below was no longer available as of our check in November 2021. There are no lockers at Yonehara Beach that can accommodate large items such as suitcases.
We recommend using a Baggage Delivery Service instead.

There are no lockers on Yonehara Beach, but there are stores that can store your baggage. It’s Jerry Fish, a beach items rental shop.

Jerry Fish is a member of a baggage storage service called Ecbo Cloak. Please check the Ecbo Cloak website for how to use it.


Restaurants Near Yonehara Beach

There are several restaurants near the beach, perfect for grabbing lunch before or after a swim.
Why not try Japanese tonkatsu for lunch?

What is Tonkatsu?
Tonkatsu is a popular Japanese dish made by coating thick slices of pork in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, then deep-frying them until golden and crispy.
It’s a delicious Japanese take on a classic cutlet!

Please note: Business hours may vary. We recommend checking in advance.

Tonkatsu-riki

Tonkatsu

This is a well-known tonkatsu restaurant, loved by both locals and visitors.

Business Hours 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Closed Sundays and Mondays
Menu (Japanese only) ・Pork Loin Cutlet Set
・Pork Loin Cutlet with Japanese Curry
Location 3-minute walk from the beach
Ocean View
Credit Cards Accepted No
English Spoken A little
Web Tabelog
Instagram Instagram

Cafe & Restaurant imagine

This restaurant appears to be permanently closed (as of 2021).

A cosy restaurant

Business Hours 11:00am to 4:00pm
Closed Irregular closing days
Menu (only in Japanese) Hamburg steak set (Ishigaki beef) : 1,380yen
Pizza Margherita : 1,400yen
Location 2-minute walk from beach
View ×
Accepted Credit Cards
English
Web Tabelog

Accommodations Near Yonehara Beach

There are no supermarkets near Yonehara Beach, and most shops close by evening, so dining options at night are very limited.
If you’re booking accommodation in this area, we recommend choosing a plan that includes dinner.
There are only a few buses serving this area, so public transportation is quite limited. Renting a car is highly recommended if you want to explore the area conveniently.

Hanashiro

Hanashiro

This is a Minshuku located near Yonehara Beach.

Address 644-38 fukai, Ishigaki-shi
mapcode_short MAPCODE 366 427 146*38
Bus Access Nearest Bus Stop : Yonehara
2-minute walk
Routes : No.2, 3, 8,11
From Bus Terminal : 5 buses per day
From Airport : 3 buses per day
Price Range Budget-friendly
Room Type Japanese-style rooms
View No scenic views available
Wi-Fi Available
Parking Available
Accessible Rooms Not available
Website Official website 
(Japanese only)
Instagram Instagram

JUSANDI

TThis is a luxury hotel that even the author would love to stay at.

Address 470 fukai, Ishigaki-shi
mapcode_short MAPCODE 366 428 239*57
Bus Access Nearest Bus Stop : Yonehara Palm tree
7-minute walk
Routes : No.2, 3, 8,11
From Bus Terminal : 5 buses per day
From Airport : 3 buses per day
Price Range Luxury
Room Type Western-style rooms
View Ocean view
Wi-Fi Available
Parking Available (up to 5 cars)
Accessible Rooms Not available
Website Official website
Instagram Instagram

Rich Reson Ishigaki

This is an affordable hotel with good value.

Address 474-1 fukai, Ishigaki-shi
mapcode_short MAPCODE 366 428 075*28
Bus Access Nearest Bus Stop : Yonehara Palm tree
4-minute walk
Routes : No.2, 3, 8, 11
From Bus Terminal : 5 buses per day
From Airport : 3 buses per day
Price Range Budget-friendly
Room Type Western-style rooms
View No scenic views available
Wi-Fi Available
Parking Available
Accessible Rooms Available
Website Official website  
(Japanese only)
Instagram

Beach Equipment Rentals Near Yonehara Beach

There are several shops around Yonehara Beach where you can rent beach items.

JellyFish

JellyFish Rental Shop for beach items

It is a shop that offers marine tours and lunch. In addition, there is a paid parking lot in front of this shop.

Business Hours 9:00am to 6:00pm
Closed Always open
Location 1-minute walk from beach
Rental Goods ・Snorkel and mask
・Life jacket
・Parasol
Changing rooms
Shower 〇 (Not Free)
Accepted Credit Cards
English unclear
Web Official

Yoneko-yaki Seesah Garden: A Must-Visit Spot

Shisa garden

Yoneko-yaki Seesah garden is located near the Yonehara bus stop and is a garden where large colorful *Shisa are exhibited. Shisa with various expressions and colors is fun. You can freely visit it for free.

ShisaFarm Wide

*Shisa
The Shisa is an Okinawan lion dog statue. Shisa has the meaning of amulet and is installed in many buildings in Okinawa. There are many Shisa on Taketomi Island where you can see traditional Okinawan buildings.

 Business Hours 
9:00 to 4:30pm
 Admission 
Free
 Closed 
No Closing days
 Web 
Official
Instagram


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