Kondoi Beach ligger på västkusten på Taketomi Island och erbjuder resenärer obegränsad tillgång till stora turkosa vatten och perfekta vita sandstränder. Kondoi är hem för några av de bästa snorklingarna i området också - men besökare säger att allt har ett pris. Resenärer som vill koppla av vid Kondoi-stränderna bör vara redo att betala ut 1500 yen per dag för tillgång till snorklar, masker och parasoller. Och medan turister säger att stranden är tyst, lugn och perfekt för att fånga solnedgångar, är de flesta överens om att större Okinawa erbjuder andra lika vackra alternativ till mer budgetvänliga priser.
Travelers looking for a more tranquil alternative to the buzzier and more developed Ishigaki (which has its own airport) should consider spending a few days in laid-back Taketomi—Kondoi Beach is the island’s chief attraction. While Taketomi can easily be visited independently, there are also full-day guided tour options, including port transfers and visits to the island’s traditional red-tiled Ryukyu village and crafts museum. Other options include snorkeling excursions or water buffalo-drawn cart rides.
There are on-site restrooms and shower and changing facilities at Kondoi Beach. There’s no natural shade, but parasols and beach chairs are available for rent. Make sure to bring plenty of sun protection.
Don’t be put off by the lack of a coral reef for shore snorkeling. There’s plenty to see here—including tropical fish and sea cucumbers—and the visibility is excellent. Kondoi Beach is also a great option for beginning snorkelers with its shallow waters and gentle currents.
You won’t find many food options at Kondoi Beach, except for one or two mobile vendors and no restaurants or cafés. If you plan to spend the day on the coast, consider bringing snacks or a packed lunch. And be sure to pack enough water to last the day. (You might also want to bring treats for the beach’s resident cat population!)
A sandbar emerges about 300 feet (91 meters) from shore during low tide. One popular activity is to walk out to it on foot—walking on water is an uncanny experience. Kondoi Beach is also a great spot to visit by bicycle. It’s western facing, which makes for incredible sunsets.
Taketomi Island has no bridges, meaning it’s only accessible by boat. Visitors can find ferries departing from Ishigaki every 30 minutes. From Taketomi Port, Kondoi Beach is only a 7-minute bus ride. The closest stop is Kondoi-hama, and the beach is within walking distance. Many visitors fly into Ishigaki via Naha and then continue by boat to access the rest of the Yaeyama Islands.
With its tropical climate, meaning long summers and mild winters, there’s no wrong time to visit the Yaeyama Islands. But you’d do well to avoid the Japanese holiday season known as Golden Week, typically at the end of April until early May, when crowds swell, and prices soar. For the hottest beach temperatures, aim for June through August. From January to February, you can still snorkel with a wetsuit.
The archipelago of Okinawa is divided into three island chains. Yaeyama is the most western and southern, meaning it’s also the most tropical. In addition to Taketomi and the main island of Ishigaki, the region is known for its largest island, jungle-covered Iriomote, famed for its lush mangroves and waterfalls. There’s also picturesque Yonaguni Island, Yaeyama’s westernmost, known for its diving opportunities and pony-sized native horse—the Yonaguni horse.