Yoron Island Travel Guide

A small coral island just north of Okinawa, Japan — written by Hana, a local guide and photographer who has lived here for about 20 years.

About Yoron Island

Yoron Island (Yoronjima) is a tiny island in Kagoshima Prefecture, at the southern edge of the Amami Islands. It is closer to Okinawa than to mainland Kagoshima, and it is loved for its clear turquoise sea, white sand beaches, and slow island time. The island is small — about 24 km around — so you can see most of it in a day or two.

How to Get Here

By air: Direct flights to Yoron Airport from Naha (Okinawa, about 40 minutes) and from Kagoshima (about 1 hour 20 minutes).
By ferry: Most visitors come from Okinawa — about 5 hours from Naha, or about 2 and a half hours from Motobu Port. There is also a long ferry route from Kagoshima that stops at the Amami islands along the way (about 20 hours).

Ferry and flight schedules change with the season and the weather, so please check the latest timetable before you travel.

Don't Miss

Yurigahama — a pure white sandbar that appears offshore at low tide. It changes shape with the tide and the season, and on some days it does not appear at all. That is part of its magic.
Beaches everywhere — Okaneku Beach for the Yurigahama boats, quiet local beaches like Terasaki and Hamigo, and sunsets on the west coast.
Island food — mozuku seaweed, island tofu, brown sugar sweets, and small local eateries run by island families.

Explore with a Local Guide

Hana offers a private island tour (about 3 hours) for women, couples, and families. She drives you to the best spots of the day, takes photos of you along the way, and shares the island's everyday life — not just the famous views.