Sakishima Islands

The Sakishima Islands are an archipelago in Okinawa Prefecture in southwestern Japan, comprising the Miyako and Yaeyama island groups. They form the prefecture’s southernmost island chains and are noted for tropical beaches and coral reefs.

The archipelago offers extensive marine recreation - snorkeling, scuba diving and beach tourism around coral reefs and clear waters - and a distinct Ryukyuan cultural heritage. Island-to-island ferries and regional flights connect hubs such as Ishigaki and Miyako-jima to each other and to Okinawa’s main island.

The islands have long been settled as part of the Ryukyu cultural sphere and later incorporated into modern Okinawa Prefecture. Their remoteness from mainland Japan shaped distinct local languages, customs and economic patterns tied to fishing and maritime trade.

The Sakishima Islands lie in the East China Sea southwest of Okinawa Island, administratively within Okinawa Prefecture. Ishigaki Island provides the main airport gateway for the Yaeyama group while Miyako-jima serves the Miyako group.

• Climate and access: Subtropical climate and coral reef ecosystems support extensive diving, snorkeling and beach tourism; access is primarily by regional flights and ferries from Okinawa's main island.
• Remote location: Geographically remote within Okinawa Prefecture - the islands lie well southwest of the main Okinawa Island chain and are the prefecture's southwesternmost inhabited groups.

What to See #

• Island groups: Group comprising two main island clusters: the Miyako Islands to the northeast and the Yaeyama Islands to the southwest, both part of Okinawa Prefecture.
• Ishigaki and Iriomote: Ishigaki and Iriomote - key Yaeyama islands that function as transport and service hubs, with Ishigaki serving as the main gateway airport for the group.
• Miyako-jima: Miyako-jima - principal island of the Miyako group, known for its beaches and as a domestic air connection point to Okinawa's main island.