Access

Iriomote Island is near at the southwest end of Japan and almost all participants have to fly to Ishigaki Island and travel by ship to Iriomote.

Flights to Ishigaki Airpot

There are direct flights from Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Okinawa to Ishigaki Airpot. Because all participants get together at Iriomote in the evening of 17th Oct., you should arrive at Ishigaki Island by around 15:00 on 17th Oct at latest.  Otherwise you may not be in time for the last ship from Ishigaki to Iriomote scheduled at 16:40.  (Notice: You need to move to Ishigaki Port by bus or taxi and it will take more than 30 min. See the section for Ground Transportation). One of our Japanese participants will arrive at 14:25 on 17th Oct. and can guide you to move together to Ishigaki Port.  Earlier arrival to Iriomote is of course welcome.
IMPORTANT:  All invited participants have to submit your boarding passes and other receipt for transportation to our office. Please don't lose them.

Ground transportation: from Ishigaki Airport to Ishigaki Port ("Ritou Terminal")

If you arrive at Ishigaki Airport around 14:25 on 17th Oct., please find one of our Japanese participants and move to Iriomote together. He will suggest you to use a taxi or bus.
If you arrive earlier at Ishigaki please use one of the following ground transportation.

• BUS:  Shuttle Service between Ishigaki Airport and Ishigaki Port by Karry Kanko Bus.  When you move out from the exit of the airport, turn left and walk to the end of walk way to find the bus below (White body with Orange lines).  Do not take the bus with Blue body even if people around the bus invite you to ride (this is a local bus and stop by stop at many bus stops and sometimes very crowded).
  The bus starts at 10 and 40 of every hour and it will take 30min to the Ishigaki port (if you take the blue bus, it will take more than 45 min). A round ticket costs 1,000 JPY.
  Return bus from Ishigaki Port starts at 20 and 50 of every hour.  (Don't lose your return ticket if you buy a round ticket.)
  
  
  
•  TAXI: You will find Taxi stop near to the main exit of the airport. It will take about 25 min to the Ishigaki Port, and the fare is about 3,000 JPY. 

Ship: from Ishigaki Port to Iriomote (Uehara)

Go to the ticketing counter of Anei Kanko at the Ishigaki Port. The counter is at the right hand side if you enter from the main entrance after passing by cash machines and vending machines. There are some notice to buy tickets. 

• Please buy round trip ticket to Uehara (fare 3,910 JPY) even if Uehara line is cancelled by bad weather.
  If Uehara line is cancelled, you will take a ship to Ohara and take a free bus service by Anei Kanko to Uehara Port if you ask free bus ticket at the counter.
  
• If you move with Japanese participants who arrive at Ishigaki Airpot at 14:25, you may take a ship from Ishigaki port at 15:30 or 16:40.  We will pick you up at the Uehara port.  If you come by yourself, please receive a free bus ticket at the ticketing counter, and ask to the bus driver of Anei Kanko at Uehara port to take you to "Ryudai Nekken"
  
• We will keep in touch with you by e-mail or by skype about your departure from Ishigaki Port.  Free Wifi is available at both Ishigaki Airport and Ishigaki Port.
• Be careful: the timetable of ship will be for winter season from 1st Oct.  Perhaps the last ship from Ishigaki to Iriomote (to Uehara and to Ohara) will be 16:40.
  If you miss the last ship, you will stay at Ishigaki and come to Iriomote by the first ship at 07:10. We will help you to find a hotel in Ishigaki in this poor case.
  

Accommodation

We book rooms for your stat at our accommodation at Iriomote Station. There are single or twin rooms (with bath)  and dormitory rooms (shared bath). We will inform you which room you stay and room rate by e-mail.  

Meals

We have meal service at our accommodation for breakfast and dinner. We will inform you later if we use this service or not later. Nearby restaurant is about 10 min walk and nearby supermarket is about 20min walk.

Travel tips to Iriomote

• There is NO cash machine (ATM) near to the Uehara Port and Credit Card is not accepted in most of restaurants and shops.  The nearest cash machine is at the Post Office of about 20 min drive from our station. Please prepare cash by yourself before starting from Ishigaki Island.  There are cash machines at Ishigaki Port and Airport.
  You will need to pay by cash for example (all in JPY) (even though most of you will get those travel fees paid back by Univ. Ryukyus to your bank account if you are an invited participant, you have to pay them by cash on site) :
   - Workshop reception and excursion fee: 5,000
   - Four night stay (single room): 1,100 x 4 + 1200 = 5,600
   - Four dinner (800) and breakfast (400) and lunch (800?) =  8,000
   - Drinks: one PET bottle of softdrink: 150;  Draft Beer at restaurant: 500
• We wish we will have quite fine day, and if so, it will be very hot with strong sun shine. Hats, sunscreen and sun glasses may help you in outdoor activity.
• Fin, mask and snorkel are available at our station if you prefer to use them during you stay.