Yonaguni

Japan's westernmost island, boasting unique charms with underwater megalithic formations, hammerhead sharks, and Yonaguni horses.

Yonaguni Town, which comprises Yonaguni Island, is located at the western end of the Yaeyama Islands, not far from Taiwan, China; on clear days, the mountains of Taiwan can be seen in the distance. Cape Irizaki features the Monument of the Westernmost Point of Japan, Yonaguni horses graze freely on the pastures of Cape Higashizaki, and sea-eroded landscapes like Tachigami-iwa and Gunkan-iwa are magnificent. The Underwater Ruins are a famous diving spot whose origins remain debated, and winter offers opportunities to dive with hammerhead sharks. The filming location of the TV drama "Dr. Koto's Clinic" also attracts visitors. The island can be visited year-round, with spring and autumn offering relatively calm seas, while typhoons should be watched out for in summer. The gateway is Yonaguni Airport, or you can take a ferry from Ishigaki Island.

Destinations

• Yonaguni

Itineraries

• Yaeyama Islands & Japan's Westernmost Frontier – Using Ishigaki as a base, stay on Taketomi and Iriomote islands, then fly to Yonaguni to see the westernmost cliffs.