Ishigaki Port Ritou Terminal | Yaeyama Ferry Schedule, Fares, Access & Parking Guide

In the heart of Ishigaki’s town center, about a 5-minute walk from Euglena Mall, the “Ishigaki Port Remote-Island Terminal” is the gateway for crossing to the seven remote islands of the Yaeyama group. Taketomi, Iriomote, Kohama, Kuro, Hatoma, Hateruma, Yonaguni—ferries to remote islands each with their own distinctive appeal operate from here, dozens of departures every day.

The modern facility, renovated in 2007, has ferry-company ticket counters, souvenir shops, a light-meal corner and coin lockers, serving as a huge help as a base for day-trip remote-island sightseeing. It’s such an important spot that you could say more than half of Ishigaki sightseeing begins with a remote-island tour. In this article, we’ll fully cover the terminal’s basic information, ferry companies, the islands you can reach, and access.

What Kind of Place Is the Ishigaki Port Remote-Island Terminal? The Gateway to the Yaeyama Islands

The Ishigaki Port Remote-Island Terminal is the gateway to the Yaeyama Islands, in Ishigaki’s Misakicho. Also called the “Euglena Ishigaki Port Remote-Island Terminal,” Euglena Co., Ltd. holds the naming rights.

Access to all of the Yaeyama Islands’ inhabited islands is possible from here. Taketomi, Iriomote, Kohama, Kuro, Hatoma, Hateruma, Yonaguni—high-speed ferries and ferries operate to seven remote islands, each with a different appeal. The reason Ishigaki is called “the hub of Yaeyama sightseeing” lies precisely in the existence of this remote-island terminal.

Two ferry companies operate

Company	Contact	Main routes
Yaeyama Kanko Ferry (YKF)	0980-82-5010	Taketomi, Iriomote, Kohama, Kuro, Hatoma
An’ei Kanko	0980-83-0055	Taketomi, Iriomote, Kohama, Kuro, Hatoma, Hateruma

Since they operate competing on the same routes, the nice point is that combining the timetables gives you many departure options in a day.

The Seven Remote Islands You Can Reach from Ishigaki

Remote island	Time needed	One-way fare (guide)	Features
Taketomi Island	About 15 min	About ¥880	Red-tile streetscape, water-buffalo carts
Kohama Island	About 25–30 min	About ¥1,500	Setting of NHK drama “Churasan”
Kuro Island	About 30 min	About ¥1,540	Heart-shaped island, cattle kingdom
Iriomote Island (Ohara)	About 35–40 min	About ¥2,090	World Natural Heritage
Iriomote Island (Uehara)	About 40–45 min	About ¥2,690	Mangrove-tour base
Hatoma Island	About 40 min	About ¥2,690	A snorkelers’ mecca
Hateruma Island	About 60–90 min	About ¥3,910	Japan’s southernmost inhabited island

* Fares are reference prices including the fuel surcharge. Check the official sites for the latest information.

Save with WEB booking & round-trip discounts

A WEB-booking discount is often applied from each company’s homepage (advance payment by credit card required), and using a round-trip discount too saves even more. Advance booking is far more recommended than the counter.

Ishigaki Port Remote-Island Terminal Basic Information & Access

Item	Details
Location	1 Misakicho, Ishigaki City, Okinawa
Hours	Varies by company (first departure 6:30 – last around 18:00)
Closed	None (open year-round)
Facilities	Ticket counters, souvenir shops, light-meal corner, coin lockers
Payment	Cash, various credit cards, e-money, QR payment

Departure point	Time needed	Method
New Ishigaki Airport	About 25 min by car / 30–45 min by bus / about ¥3,000 by taxi	Karry Kanko direct (¥500, 30 min) / Azuma Kotsu (¥540, 35–45 min)
Euglena Mall	About 5 min on foot	Right from the town center
Town hotels	5–15 min on foot	Some have hotel shuttle service

Parking when using a rental car

Near the terminal there are several paid parking lots. For day-trip remote-island sightseeing, using a parking lot is convenient, but as the cost piles up, walking access is the basic approach while staying at a town hotel.

Tips for Using the Remote-Island Terminal

Go on the first departure, return on the last

For remote-island sightseeing, departing on an early-morning boat and returning on an evening boat is recommended. You can savor the island over a full day. For a nearby island like Taketomi, a half-day course is possible too.

Be at the terminal 15–20 minutes before departure

Even with a WEB booking, ticket issuance may be needed, so arriving at the terminal 15–20 minutes before departure is reassuring.

Confirm the response to cancellations too

During typhoons or bad weather, cancellations can occur. Check the ferry company’s operation information the day before or the morning of.

Nearby Spots to Enjoy Together with the Remote-Island Terminal

Euglena Mall | souvenir hunting

Euglena Mall, about a 5-minute walk from the terminal. You can enjoy souvenir hunting and lunch in the time before or after a ferry.

The Gushiken Yoko monument

The golden Gushiken Yoko monument in front of the terminal. A popular photo spot, a statue of the former pro boxer from Ishigaki.

730 Crossing | a town symbol

The 730 Crossing, about a 5-minute walk from the terminal. A symbolic crossing of Ishigaki’s town center, commemorating the day in 1978 when cars switched from right-side to left-side traffic (Nana-san-maru).

Ishigaki Port Remote-Island Terminal FAQ

Is advance booking necessary?

You can buy same-day at the counter, but a WEB booking often applies a discount and is better value. It can sell out in peak periods, so advance booking is recommended.

Is it reassuring with kids?

Yes—the facility is barrier-free and strollers are OK. Infants are free on a lap, one per adult (beyond that they’re treated as children).

I’m worried about seasickness…

High-speed boats can rock, so taking motion-sickness medicine in advance is reassuring. Securing a window seat lets you see outside and is less likely to make you sick.

What if it’s cancelled?

Check the operation information the day before or the morning of. In a cancellation, a refund or transfer to another departure is possible. Leave room in your schedule for an alternative day.

Summary | To the Islands of Yaeyama from the Ishigaki Port Remote-Island Terminal

The Ishigaki Port Remote-Island Terminal is the gateway to the seven inhabited remote islands of the Yaeyama group. It’s another main spot of Ishigaki sightseeing, where you can access the appeal of remote islands you can’t taste on Ishigaki alone—Taketomi, Iriomote, Hateruma and more.

A 5-minute walk from Euglena Mall, the convenience of the town center, and year-round operation. On your next Ishigaki trip, be sure to board a ferry and experience the journey of island-hopping.