Okinawa is one popular tourist destination in Japan.

 

If you love ocean, if you love hot weather, if you love healthy food, and if you never visited so far, you should definitely go.  

 

In 2017 around 9 million people visited (can you imagine, this is more than the visitors to Hawaii) and most likely 10 million in 2018.

Funauki, a hidden jungle on Japanese iriomote island with only 40 ppl. Jungle and beach in the big beautiful nature. How to get there and where to stay? 

 

One of the biggest summer resorts in Japan is no doubt Okinawa islands. Amongst the islands,  you must visit Iriomote island. The Michelin Green Guide 2 star island is quite rich in the nature with unique animals such as Iriomote cat, Crested serpent eagle and Golden-headed turtle. It boasts many waterfalls and rivers like Mariyudo water fall.

 

With this article, you learn about Iriomote island and its hidden area called Funauki. 

 

Brief info: Funauki is a small area on Iriomote island. There are  residents, three inns and two restaurants. It is quite a mangrove with a beautiful water fall, Mizuochi no taki "水落の滝". On Iriomote island, the area is completely cut off on the ground ( literally there is not road to the area so you must take ship)

 

Of course there is a big sand beach Ida no hama beach " イダの浜 " which is around 10 mins walk from Funauki port.

 

Great thing about the island is that there are many places you have no mobile phone signal reception. 

 

<< If you are interested in learning about more islands in Japan, you can check our comprehensive Japanese island list here. >>

 

Before you get Funauki, you need to get Iriomote island (Iriomote jima) of which Funauki is part.

You fly to Naha airport (of the main island in Okinawa) from an airport. Then from there, you fly to Shin Ishigaki airport.

 

Thereafter, you follow the below.

First get a ferry from Ishigaki island to Uehara port "上原港" of Iriomote island.

 

Then from Uehara port, get a bus to Shirahama port from which you take another boat to Funauki.

Here is the ferry timetable between Ishigaki port and Uehara port.

 

There are two ferry companies at Ishigaki selling tickets to Uehara port.  Anei (安栄観光) and Yaeyama ( 八重山観光 ). Both provides the bus from Uehara to Shirahama but the time table is limited at Yaeyama bus line. So you suggest you to use Anei bus (flexible shuttle bus).

 

Therefore, when you buy the ferry ticket, very very important to buy the ferry ticket at Anei line and told the staff that you want to go go to Shirahama port. Then, you can get the shuttle bus ticket for free.

When buying ticket, you say " Please give me the bus ticket to get Shirahama " = " Shirahama homen he ikitai no de basu ken wo onegaishimasu / 白浜方面ヘいきたいのでバス券をお願いします" (just show this to the staff when you buy the ferry ticket at Anei if the staff did not understand you).

 

To book the ferry ticket 

 

Price: 2060JPY one way 3910JPY round trip for adult (from 12 years old)

1030JPY one way 1960JPY round trip for kid (age between 6 and 11 years old)

1030JPY one way 2060JPY round trip for people with disability

You can reserve from this official website

 

(tax incl. as of Feb 2017 subject to change )

 

From Ishigaki port	From Uehara port
07：10	08：00
08：30	09：30
09：30	10：30 via Hatoma
10：50	12：00
13：30	14：30
15：30 via Hatoma	16：40
16：40	17：40

【Winter season】Oct 2016-March 2017

 

(as of Feb 2017 subject to change )

So if you read carefully our above advise, now you have the shuttle bus ticket to get Shirahama port. You take it to get Shirahama port. It is around 1.5 hours bus trip.

 

If you get the ticket at Yaeyama line by any chance, do not worry! There is also anyway a way to get Shirahama. There is a bus called Iriomote Kotsu bus (西表交通バス). The bus runs every 2-3 hours and ends quite early. It is not so convenient. Good luck!

From Shirahama port, you take a boat to Funauki. You are almost there!!

 

Funauki Line

Tel: +81 980-85-6552

 

10 mins cruise per one way.

 

One way 500JPY per adult person  

round ticket 950 JPY per adult person

Child: 250 JPY per person

 

From Funauki	From Shirahama
07：50 (1Dec-28Feb)	08：35 (1Dec-28Feb)
08：15 (1March-30Nov)	08：35 (1March-30Nov)
10：35	10：55
12：50	13：20
15：30(21July-31Aug)	15：50 (21July-31Aug)
17：10	17：50
n.a.	n.a.

Note: Time table subject to changes due to the time, season, sea condition. Please call the company Funauki line before you take. Tel: +81 980-85-6552 

 

(as of Feb 2017 subject to change )

Where to stay

 

1. Kamadomaso (民宿かまどま荘)  

 

Address: 2463 Iriomote, Taketomi-chō, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa-ken 907-1542 ( 907-1542

沖縄県八重山郡竹富町字西表２４６３)

 

Tel: +81 980-85-6165

 

6000JPY per one adult with breakfast and dinner 

3000JPY per one kid with breakfast and dinner 

 

4500JPY per one adult with breakfast (No dinner)

 

5000JPY per one adult with dinner (No breakfast)

3500JPY per one adult with No dinner and No breakfast

(there is a kitchen) 

 

(all info subject to possible change, please check the inn when you book) 

 

2. Funauki-so ( ふなうき荘)

 

Address:　2458 Iriomote, Taketomi-chō, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa-ken 907-1542 ( 〒907-1542 沖縄県八重山郡竹富町字西表 2458 )　 

Tel: +81 980-85-7155

Tel: +81 980-85-6161

 

Price: One night with Breakfast and dinner　

6000JPY per person （no bath and no toilet in the room）

7000JPY per person（bath and toilet in the room. 3 Japanese rooms and 1 western style room available.）

 

Laundry machine, TV, towel, hair dryer, AC equipped

No tooth brash, no PJ

 

(all info subject to possible change, please check the inn when you book) 

 

3. Oyado Okuiriomote (御宿 奥西表)

Address: 2437 Iriomote, Taketomi-chō, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa-ken 907-1542 ( 沖縄県八重山郡竹富町字西表2437 )

Price: 15000JPY per room per night

One weekplan also available 70000JPY (90000JPY high season i.e. winter holiday, summer holiday, goldenweek) per room per week

One dinner:2500JPY per one adult, 1500JPY per one kid (up to primary school age)

Breakfast: 800JPY

Checkin : 14:00

Checkout: 11:00

WIFI, laundry machine, TV, towel, hair dryer, AC equipped

 No tooth brash, no razor, no PJ

 

(all info subject to possible change, please check the inn when you book) 

We hope you have now all the necessary information as you need.

 

Have a nice trip!

 

<< If you are interested in learning about more interesting islands in Japan, you can check our comprehensive Japanese island list here. >>

Onegai Kaeru wants you to enjoy Japan trip.

 

If you are looking for more traveler"s info and can not find one, please let us know. We will try to help you with Japan Traveler Help Service (we help you make the customized travel plan, arrange, book, find info you need). Feel free to contact us!

 

Looking for a cool island near Tokyo? How about Hachijojima? Click here to find out more?  

 

Have you heard of "Cat islands" and want to know how to get there, please check here!

 

Onegai Kaeru, a group of passionate travelers, bring happiness to the world with its shopping support service and original super cute items!

 

Source: Wikipedia, Anei Kanko, Yaeyama Kanko, Funauki line

 

Disclaimer: Even though we try to make the info as updated and accurate but the accuracy of the information herein is not guaranteed by us. If you have any uncertainty, please contact the information source.