Water Buffalo Cart Rides (Yubu Island) 由布島の水牛車

Traveling between the islands in Okinawa generally means taking a ferry or sometimes a plane. But if you want to get from Iriomote Island to the tiny island of Yubu, you can ride a water buffalo cart.

The Yubu Island water buffalo cart depot on Iriomote Island is about a 20-minute bus ride from Ohara port.

From Ohara, you can also rent a car, motorbike or taxi. Reservations are recommended from Ishigaki Island . Tickets can be reserved for regular high-speed ferries from Ishigaki Island to Iriomote's two ports. The high-speed ferries from Ishigaki take 35-40 minutes to Ohara Port in the south and 45-50 minutes to Uehara Port in the north.

The island of Yubu has a circumference of only 1.5 kilometers and lies just 400 meters off the coast of Iriomote. With plentiful subtropical vegetation and a beautiful botanical garden, it is a great place for a leisurely stroll. Getting there is half the fun. Take the trip in a traditional water buffalo cart while the guide sings you Okinawan songs accompanied by the sanshin, a traditional three-stringed instrument.