Kuroshima (Okinawa)
Island Small Okinawan island known for beaches and cattle
Part of the Yaeyama island group, Kuroshima (Okinawa) is a low coral island known for quiet beaches, cycling around flat roads and small cattle herds; visitors come for snorkeling and rural island life.
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Kuroshima is a small coral island in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, part of the Yaeyama island group. It is a low-lying rural island noted for its agricultural character and small permanent population.
Beaches, shallow coral flats and quiet village streets are the main attractions; there are no large hotels or extensive tourist facilities. The island is commonly visited on day trips or short stays for its scenery, sea swimming and to see free-roaming cattle.
Local residents developed the island for small-scale farming and grazing; settlement patterns have remained rural and low density. There has been no large-scale industrial or urban development on the island.
Kuroshima lies southwest of mainland Okinawa within the Yaeyama archipelago and is administered from nearby islands in Okinawa Prefecture. It is reached by ferry from larger Yaeyama hubs such as Ishigaki.
- Access: Regular passenger ferries link the island with Ishigaki and other nearby islands; services are infrequent and schedules change by season.
- Character: The island is known locally for free-roaming cattle and low-density rural landscapes rather than developed tourism.
How to Get to Kuroshima (Okinawa) #
Ferries depart Ishigaki Island for Kuroshima; the crossing typically takes 40-60 minutes depending on service. Schedules are infrequent-check local timetables and book return trips where possible.
Tips for Visiting Kuroshima (Okinawa) #
- Ferry schedules from Ishigaki are infrequent-check return times carefully to avoid an unintended overnight.
- Rent a bicycle on arrival; Kuroshima is small and flat, and cycling reveals beaches and water buffalo grazing roadside.
Best Time to Visit Kuroshima (Okinawa) #
Visit in late autumn through spring to avoid typhoon season and to enjoy calmer sea conditions.
Weather & Climate near Kuroshima (Okinawa) #
Kuroshima (Okinawa)'s climate is classified as Tropical Rainforest - Tropical Rainforest climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and mild winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 16°C to 31°C. Heavy rainfall (2095 mm/year), wettest in August.
January
January is mild with highs of 21°C and lows of 16°C. Significant rainfall (149 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is mild with highs of 21°C and lows of 16°C. Significant rainfall (133 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 18°C. Significant rainfall (135 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 21°C. Significant rainfall (156 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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May
May is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 23°C). Heavy rain (206 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is hot, feeling like 32°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (175 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the hottest month, feeling like 35°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (157 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is hot, feeling like 34°C with oppressive humidity. The wettest month with heavy rain (228 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is hot, feeling like 31°C with oppressive humidity. Heavy rain (217 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 22°C). Heavy rain (209 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 21°C. Significant rainfall (182 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is mild with highs of 22°C and lows of 18°C. Significant rainfall (148 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
