Yubu Island is a tiny island just off the eastern coast of Iriomote Island in Okinawa’s Yaeyama Islands. With a circumference of approximately 2.1 kilometers and an elevation of only about 1.5 meters above sea level, the island is surrounded by shallow tropical waters and lush subtropical vegetation.
Yubu Island is best known for its unique transportation experience: a traditional water buffalo cart that slowly crosses the shallow sea between Iriomote Island and Yubu Island. The peaceful journey takes around 15 minutes and has become one of the most memorable experiences in the Yaeyama Islands.
The sea between Iriomote and Yubu Island is extremely shallow. Even at high tide, the water is only around 1 meter deep. When the tide is low, it is sometimes possible to cross the channel on foot or by vehicle.
For visitors, however, the traditional water buffalo cart is the most distinctive way to make the crossing. A powerful but gentle water buffalo pulls a wooden cart slowly through the shallow water while passengers sit back and enjoy the scenery.
The journey takes approximately 15 minutes. Rather than simply being transportation, the ride is a leisurely experience that allows visitors to appreciate the peaceful atmosphere of the islands and the surrounding sea.
The experience is made even more memorable by sanshin performances on the cart. The sanshin is a traditional Okinawan three-stringed musical instrument, and local songs create a distinctly Okinawan atmosphere as the cart moves slowly through the water.
Traveling alongside a water buffalo with its gentle, expressive face, listening to traditional music, and watching the shallow sea spread around you creates an experience that is difficult to find anywhere else.
Water buffalo are an essential part of Yubu Island’s tourism culture. At the Water Buffalo Pond, visitors can see the animals resting after their work. Depending on the season, you may also have the chance to see adorable young water buffalo.
The animals are an important part of the island’s character, and watching them calmly resting in the tropical surroundings offers a glimpse into the slower pace of life on Yubu Island.
Yubu Island is also home to attractions where visitors can discover the region’s fascinating natural environment. At the Butterfly Garden, visitors can observe the striking golden pupae of the large tree nymph butterfly, known in Japan as Ohgomadara, throughout the year.
The golden pupae are particularly impressive, resembling small pieces of polished gold as they hang among the plants. The garden provides an opportunity to appreciate the distinctive insects and subtropical nature of the Yaeyama Islands.
The island’s Shell Museum displays a wide variety of shells, including unusual deep-sea species. The collection introduces visitors to the remarkable diversity of marine life found around Okinawa and the surrounding waters.
At Manta Beach, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding islands and the Yonara Channel, a stretch of water known as a route where manta rays travel.
The wide views across the sea make this another enjoyable place to appreciate the natural beauty of the Yaeyama Islands. The combination of tropical waters, distant islands, and marine life gives Yubu Island a strong sense of being surrounded by nature.
Yubu Island’s extremely low elevation and shallow surrounding waters have shaped its distinctive character. The narrow channel between the island and Iriomote is transformed by the tides, creating a constantly changing landscape as the water level rises and falls.
At low tide, the exposed shallows emphasize just how gently the island rises from the surrounding sea. At high tide, the water buffalo carts appear to float through the water as they make their way between the two islands.
Yubu Island offers a very different experience from the larger and more rugged Iriomote Island. There are no large urban areas or busy streets. Instead, the island invites visitors to slow down and enjoy its tropical landscape, traditional culture, animals, and surrounding sea.
The journey itself is part of the attraction. Sitting on a water buffalo cart, listening to a sanshin performance, and slowly crossing the shallow sea creates a peaceful moment that captures the relaxed atmosphere of Okinawa’s remote islands.
For travelers exploring the Yaeyama Islands, Yubu Island is a place where the journey becomes the destination. The gentle pace of the water buffalo cart, the shallow turquoise sea, traditional Okinawan music, and tropical scenery combine to create one of the region’s most distinctive sightseeing experiences.
Whether you visit the butterfly garden, explore the shell collection, admire the view from Manta Beach, or simply enjoy the slow crossing between Iriomote and Yubu Island, the island offers an unforgettable taste of Okinawa’s peaceful island life.
9:30-16:00
Open all year round
Round-trip buffalo cart & park entrance fee
Adult (junior high school student and older) 2,000 yen
Child (elementary school student) 1,000 yen
Walking & Park Entrance Fee
Adult (junior high school student or older) 700 yen
Child (elementary school student) 350 yen
Free for children under elementary school age
Take a buffalo cart, which is a famous means of transportation from Iriomote Island to Yubu Island, or walk across the island.