Best things to do in Taketomi-jima

At Kondoi Beach, explore the expanse of white coral sand and take a swim in the Pacific's warm turquoise waters. Equipped with changing rooms and showers, the crescent-shaped beach offers excellent conditions for bathing and relaxation. Head out to the wooden piers, which jut out into the shallow sea, for a clear view of the horizon. Amenities include umbrella rentals, and nearby shops and food stands sell cold beer and snacks. Round out your visit with a leisurely stroll through the nearby village, where unpaved lanes of sand lead past traditional houses with red clay roofs, grand flower beds, guardian shisa lions, and low walls made of volcanic stone. Respect the Okinawan holy places for venerating the gods (utaki) by not crossing their thresholds uninvited.

Head to Kaiji Beach, a small beach located on the northern tip of the island. With its name translating as "Star Sand Beach," the stretch of coastline has become known for its many tiny, star-shaped forms, which look like sand. In fact, those forms are the exoskeletons of one-celled organisms called Baclogypsina sphaerulata, a kind of coral that lives in sea grass. Washed up in large numbers onto the beach, the strikingly shaped forms have long been the subject of myths among the local populace, who believe the star shells to be the tiny children of the Southern Cross and the North Star, slain by a serpent offshore.

Take a walk out above the water on Nishi Pier for an impressive view of the shoreline and sea. The simple strip of concrete leading out from a remote beach blends in with the landscape, allowing the scenery to speak for itself. Walking out a few yards into the sea offers sights of different aquatic life at the edge of the pier, including sea cucumbers, shrimp, fish, crabs, and eels. With no facilities or businesses nearby, the pier remains a quiet place of relaxation and reflection in nature.

Tour a traditional village island on a wagon pulled by a water buffalo starting from Taketomi Port, terminus of the 15-minute ferry ride from Ishigaki Port. Located on a coral atoll island and surrounded by a long coral reel, the port offers great seabed sightseeing opportunities with glass-bottom boats. Admire a carefully preserved Ryukyu village with stone-walled, one-story houses and traditional gardens, guarded from evil by lion-dog statues perched on red-tiled roofs. A number of home-style restaurants provide great local food, and shops offer locally made handicrafts.

A panoramic view from an unusual vantage point is yours to discover at Nagomi Tower. With an unconventional design and a viewing platform fit for two, the tower benefits from the island's flat landscape, which helps makes it one of the highest points in the area. From the top, witness the island's scenic beauty, but be prepared for a short queue and steep, precarious steps.