Ishigaki and Iriomote

Written by DiveJourney. Built from public sources and local operator knowledge. Last updated Nov 3, 2026.

• Okinawa Tourism: Ishigaki Island - Official tourism grounding for Ishigaki airport, city, Kabira swimming ban, Maesato, Shiraho Reef, manta season, cultural activities and stargazing.
• JNTO: Ishigaki Island Diving - Government tourism source for Manta Scramble, Osaki Hanagoi Reef, year-round reef marine life, spring to autumn core diving and winter sea caveat.
• Visit Ishigaki: Scuba Diving - Local tourism guidance for seasonal manta site access, September to early October preference, winter alternatives and cuttlefish courtship.
• Viking Scuba Kabira: Current Dive Service - Direct Ishigaki operator showing certified fun dives and introductory dives from Kabira, with seasonally selected coral, turtle and manta sites.
• Viking Scuba Kabira: FAQs - Direct operator clarification: not a snorkeling business; manta sites weather-dependent; year-round alternate dive circuits.
• Viking Scuba Kabira: Pricing - Direct operator benchmark: two certified dives JPY 15,000 and full equipment rental JPY 5,000, current page at research.
• Visit Ishigaki: Snorkeling - Reef and snorkeling guidance: Yonehara near-shore reefs, hazards, manta points only by boat, never swim offshore from shore.
• Diving Team Unarizaki: Iriomote Service - Iriomote Uehara based dive operator with guided fun diving, trip planning and explicit statement that introductory diving and snorkeling are currently NOT offered.
• Diving Team Unarizaki: Ogan Operations - Primary operator evidence for occasional advanced drift outings to Ogan, entry screening including 100 logged dives, exclusion of beginner divers, no landing, current-driven cancellations.
• Diving Team Unarizaki: March-April - Iriomote spring conditions: west/south lee-side routing in north winds, cuttlefish, macro, Yaeyama fireflies and operator water temperatures.
• JNTO National Parks: Diving Iriomote - Official description of Iriomote Uehara area guided two and three dive day boats; published excursion prices are indicative, not guaranteed current.
• Blue Space Ishigaki: Freediving - Direct Ishigaki training supply: PADI Skin Diver, Basic Freediver and Freediver with supervised open-water exercises and weather-selected sites.
• Kahoo Ishigaki: AIDA Freediving - Direct Ishigaki operator offering AIDA 1 and 2 courses, site substitutions for weather, and separate free-diving gear/fees; not evidence of Iriomote school.
• Kahoo Ishigaki: Winter Surface Manta Snorkeling - Specific operator winter surface-manta activity at its own boat site; operator prohibits breath-hold dives at manta site and makes no sighting guarantee.
• Kahoo Ishigaki: Summer Manta Snorkeling - Specific operator spring-autumn manta snorkeling by Ishigaki boat, including Kabira/Ishizaki and Panari on selected trips, weather dependence and no-guarantee caveat.
• Iriomote Barasu Snorkeling Operator Umineko - Direct Uehara area operator with Barasu Reef and Hatoma itineraries; its site warns that landings on the exposed Barasu coral bank were almost impossible in March 2026.
• Iriomote Imsher: Snorkeling Itineraries - Direct Iriomote-based snorkeling provider listing Barasu-Hatoma and separate western Iriomote-Funauki outings; no unsupported independent cay dive base assumed.
• Okinawa Tourism: Seasonal Climate - Official seasonal evidence: May to June rains, typhoon potential June to September, cooler winter seas and warmest summer water.
• Anei Kanko: Ishigaki to Uehara - Primary scheduled passenger route, 45-55 minute direct passage, Hatoma routing and route-specific bus changes in 2026; fares may change.
• Anei Kanko: Ishigaki to Ohara - Primary scheduled passenger route, 40-50 minute direct passage, possible via-Taketomi detour and limited Uehara connection on affected trips; fares may change.
• Iriomote Ecotourism Council: Restricted Field Entry - Taketomi Town local ecotourism administration: advance field approval, licensed/registered guiding at Hinai/Pinaisara and Nishida, numerical visitor limits, JPY 500/person guide-based application fee.
• Ministry of Environment: National Park Manners - Environmental rules: no coral damage or collection, no wildlife feeding, avoid invasive species, waves and high-water hazards, care for sensitive island habitats.
• Ministry of Environment: Iriomote Cat Conservation - National park wildlife protection and recommendation to drive at island speed 40 kph or slower to reduce Iriomote cat roadkill.
• Okinawa Tourism: Marine and Outdoor Safety - Official emergency 119/118/110, current/reef rip/stinger risks, flotation and buddy recommendations, no same-day flying after scuba.
• JNTO: Iriomote Island - Official island description and ground experiences; unpatrolled beaches with jellyfish hazard; Yubu Island and mangrove and river tourism.
• JNTO National Parks: Explore Iriomote-Ishigaki - Official park locations, Nakama and Urauchi river cruise settings, Pinaisara, Yubu Island, Shiraho coral.
• JNTO: Pinaisara Falls Canoeing - Government tourism context for guided canoe and trekking to Pinaisara; current required access approvals supersede its older general booking advice.
• Okinawa Tourism: Ishigaki National Park Safety and Access - Official park access guidance: flight to ISG then ground transfer to Ishigaki Port, separate Iriomote ports and limited local public transport.
• Japan MOFA: Visa Exemption - Official current nationality-dependent temporary visitor visa waiver eligibility; 90 days typical for most exempt nationalities but exceptions apply.
• Painushima Ishigaki Airport: Transport - Direct airport transport choices including airport buses and taxis, separate from ferry terminal.
• Okinawa Tourism: Local Power and Tipping - Official Okinawa AC 100V, 60Hz two-pin sockets and no typical tipping culture.
• Visit Ishigaki: ATM and Cash - Local tourism evidence for Ishigaki post-office and convenience-store ATM choices and need to carry cash on outlying islands.
• Yaeyama Prefectural Hospital: Emergency - Ishigaki hospital publishes emergency care 24 hours and main telephone +81-980-87-5557; no verified local recompression chamber.
• Divers Alert Network: Contact and Japan - Dive emergency DAN Japan +81-3-3812-4999 and 24/7 international line +1-919-684-9111; local EMS is first call.
• Kahoo Ishigaki: Summer and Winter Surface Manta Site Rules - Operator reports special rules against diving below surface at its winter manta site; species and access are not guaranteed.
• Iriomote Marine Hotel: Guided Snorkel Route - Direct hotel program describing Barasu surrounding reef snorkeling and western Iriomote/Funauki trips with seasonal schedules and licensed tour guide intermediaries.
• Okinawa Tourism: Cultural Customs - Official no-tipping and coral-safe local etiquette, shoes and protected-area respect.
• MOE: Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center - Government wildlife education site at Komi and free-entry center, with official public opening hours.
• Kabira Bay Visit Ishigaki - Local tourism account for non-swimming Kabira shore and its glass-bottom sightseeing boats.
• Destination hero photo by Roméo A. - Unsplash License. Photographer profile: https://unsplash.com/@gronemo | Location: Kabira Bay, Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan