Located nearby Ishigaki, Taketomi is a small island known for its beautiful villages and traditional houses. While the island has some lovely beaches, visitors typically choose to visit as a day-trip from Ishigaki to enjoy the traditional character of life there, exemplified by the distinctive red tiled roofs, stone walls and unsealed roads seen throughout the main village. Visitors to Taketomi can enjoy water buffalo cart rides or simply explore the island by bicycle or on-foot.

Within easy reach of Ishigaki – only 10 minutes by ferry – most visitors headed to Taketomi choose do so as daytrip. For visitors who do wish to stay, there’s only a few accommodation options on the island however what is there is very good. The 5-star Hoshinoya Taketomi is located on the eastern side of the island. One of the best hotels in the Yaeyama Islands, Hoshinoya is without question the best option on Taketomi with a handful of other good options ranging in price located in the centre and to the west of the island.