Yonaguni

城市概覽

Also known as Dunan (どぅなん) in the local language, Yonaguni is a small island (28 km2) 107.4 km (66.7 mi) from Taiwan at their closest points and 127 km (79 mi) from Ishigaki. The main population centers are Sonai (祖内) on the north coast, the smaller port town of Kubura (久部良) on the west coast, and tiny Hikawa (比川) in the south. The total population is about 1700. Unlike many remote Japanese islands, Yonaguni's population is growing, boosted by a Japanese military base established in 2015 to keep a wary eye on China. Although it lacks the resorts of the larger Yaeyama islands and its few visitors are mostly divers coming to witness the island's mysterious sunken "ruins" and hammerhead sharks, the island has beautiful yet uncrowded beaches, cultural attractions, and various mysteries of history.

Tourist information The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

如何抵達

Yonaguni is among the remotest inhabited spots of Japan and getting there is inconvenient and expensive. Flights and ferries may be cancelled at short notice if the weather is bad, particularly around the fall typhoon season, so allow some buffer in your plans. (Oddly, despite the island's close proximity to Taiwan, as of 2024 there are no flights or even cruises between the two. There are plans to start fast-boat service between Suao or Hualien and Yonaguni, though.)

By plane 1 Yonaguni Airport (OGN IATA). Expanded in 1999 to allow jets to land, there are 1-2 flights daily from Ishigaki (30 min) and Naha (1 hour) on JAL subsidiary Ryukyu Air Commuter, which can be booked the JAL website. With the insolvency of TransAsia Airways, Yonaguni has lost its only international flight.

By boat Fukuyama Kaiun (福山海運), ☏ +81 980-87-2555. Runs boats from Ishigaki on Tuesdays and Fridays (departing at 10:00), with return trips on Wednesdays and Saturdays (at 10:00, can change depending on the season). The ship docks at Kubura port on the western end of Yonaguni. The trip takes four hours on a good day and costs ¥3500 one-way, or about ¥6500 round-trip. Most of the journey is across the open sea and people prone to seasickness may wish to steer clear, though it's a large ship and relatively stable. A cargo boat also offers an irregular (unscheduled) service to Naha. (updated Apr 2019)

當地交通

There are 9 buses per day between Sonai and Kubura, 3 of which continue on to make a full circuit of the island of the west half of the island, but there is no public transport on the eastern side. Somewhat incredibly, all buses are free. 2 taxis are also available, and a circuit of the island by car takes about an hour. There are at least 4 or 5 different rent-a-car places, including SSK right in front of the airport (from ¥5000 for a full day), and motorbikes and bicycles are also readily available. More or less all diving shops and lodgings offer free transfers to and from the airport or ferry pier if you book ahead.

必看景點

Capes, cliffs and beaches

1 Cape Irizaki (西崎). Yonaguni's main aboveground sight of any interest is the marker for the westernmost point of Japan (日本最西端の碑) at the westernmost tip of the island, about a kilometer from Kubura (15 minutes on foot). Despite the marker being located on the island, the official westernmost point of Japan and the closest point to Taiwan is Tuishi (トゥイシ), a rocky reef about 120 m northwest of the shoreline that remains barely above sea level at high tide. It's 107.3 km from there to swim directly across to Wuyanjiao (烏岩角) in Suao, Taiwan. 2 Cape Agarizaki (東崎), at the east tip of the island. The kanji mean East Cape, but the reading of the name refers to the rising sun. You can observe it from a cliff. On a clear day, if you're lucky, you can see the coast of Iriomote. Also a grazing area, many Yonaguni horses can be found here. 3 Kuburabari (久部良バリ). This cliff near the northern side of Kubura's port offers views of the last sunset in Japan, and on a good day it is possible to see the shadow cast by Taiwan in front of the setting sun from here. This is also the site where, in the rough period when residents of the island were forced to pay an alarmingly expensive head tax after the Ryukyu Kingdom was conquered by the Satsuma clan from the Japanese mainland, pregnant women were sometimes made to jump to their death to avoid an increase in population. Ubudumaihama (ウブドゥマイ浜). From the cliffs here, there's an impressive view of much of Yonaguni's beautiful northern coastline. Hikawa Beach (比川浜 Hikawahama), the southern shore of the island in Hikawa. Shaped like a crescent, it is the island's largest beach. Suitable for swimming. Very quiet, little-to-no waves because of a coral reef.

Rock formations Kuburadake (久部良岳). Kuburadake is a Natural Conservation District in the west of Yonaguni, about 188 m (617 ft) above sealevel. It is valuable because it contains a Chinquapin mountain forest and a lowlands forest, home to such natural

體驗活動

Scuba diving is without a doubt the main draw for most visitors to Yonaguni. However, the island's location in the middle of the open sea without protective reefs means that waves can be high and currents can be strong, so most diving here is drift diving and many of the more interesting dive sites are only accessible to experienced divers.

Open Coast Travel, Los Angeles, CA, ☏ +1-310-433-6653 (USA number). Open Coast Travel is the only US based travel agency specializing in guided scuba tours to Yonaguni for Western travelers. All bilingual guides have lived in Japan. (updated Nov 2022) Yonaguni Diving Service, ☏ +81 980-87-2658. Kubura. The oldest and largest dive shop on the island, quite professionally run: they will cater to your experience level and will not head out to sites if the weather does not permit (in which case your money is refunded). Two boat dives start from ¥12000, full gear rental for a day is ¥6500. No credit cards accepted and only limited English spoken. Quite popular, so book ahead. SOUWES Diving Service, ☏ +81 980-87-2311. Yonaguni. The dive shop of Mr. Kihachiro Aratake. Mr. Kihachiro Aratake is a diving instructor who first discovered the underwater ruins. Snorkeling is possible in from some beaches, and can be quite good, though there may not be any spot ideal for beginners. The sheltered channel on the east side of the bridge at Sonai harbor is a relatively safe place to swim around and see some tropical fish, best accessed from a tiny beach near Urano Cemetery. There can be a significant current here during the changing tides, but there's nowhere for you to get pulled out to - you'll either end up at the boat ramp or back at the beach. The outer lagoon on the other side of the concrete reinforcements is even better, but you should be very careful of currents and high surf. Never swim in the ocean without first learning what to do if you get caught in a rip current.

Yonaguni Monument

Yonaguni's unique attraction is the mysteri

購物

The most popular Yonagunian souvenir by far is h