Yonaguni Island

One of the islands that make up the Yaeyama Islands, Yonaguni Island is Japan’s westernmost inhabited island. This small island has an area of Approx. 28.9 sq. km and a circumference of Approx. 27.5 km, and is also a border island located just 111 km from Taiwan. It has a warm subtropical climate year-round, with average temperatures of around 64°F in winter and around 86°F in summer, making it comfortable to visit in any season.

The island is dotted with dramatic scenery rarely seen on other Okinawan islands, including Cape Agari on the eastern tip, where 330-foot cliffs rise steeply above the sea, Cape Irizaki on the western tip, known as Japan’s westernmost point and the last place in the country to see the sunset, and the massive Tatigami Rock towering along the southeastern coast.

There are also plenty of activities you can only experience here, such as diving with hammerhead sharks, trying your hand at weaving Yonaguni-ori using threads dyed with local plants, trees, and soil found on the island, and horseback riding on the native Yonaguni horse breed. The open set of the Shikina Island Clinic from the TV drama “Dr. Coto’s Clinic” is also a popular sightseeing spot.