Taketomi Island Activities

The island is included within the Iriomote Ishigaki National Park and has beautifully preserved its Ryukyu heritage. There are 30 utaki (holy places) across the island which are marked by low stones (which should not be entered). The information center near the harbor entrance gives some detail of the island's history, the local plants and wildlife and a short informative video.

There are two famous beaches on the island, Kaiji Beach, which has fascinating star shaped sand, and Kondoi Beach, with its beautiful white sand reaching down to the turquoise water. On the eastern coast there is another beautiful star shaped sand beach at Aiyaruhama. In fact the star shapes are not sand but the remains of tiny star shaped Foraminifera.