Is it possible to go to Ishigaki island by ferry, taking your own motorcycle on it?
Last year there was a boat going there ONLY for gambling, I think it didn’t even get to the island itself… and I read something about some lines going from Hualien (?).
I think every monday there’s a boat from Suao called 麗娜輪 that goes to Ishigaki. The problem is it will only head out with 400 onboard.
Uhmmm 400 is actually a lot of people. Do you know the name of the company or boat?
麗娜輪 seems to be the name of the boat, but the ferry was damaged by a typhoon, and is not operated till the end of September.
The name of company is
Wagon group
Uni-Wagon Marine Co Ltd
J&T Shipping Co Ltd
Thanks.
Let’s refloat this thread again.
I’m also interested. Just took a look at the website for the ferry mentioned above.
http://rera.tourking.com.tw/rerain/ishigaki20160602.php
It seems he means it won’t leave unless there’s at least 400 people. It doesn’t start it’s service to the islands until July 4th (actually it says Monday but 4/7 is a Wednesday??) and leaves and returns once a week for an estimated 10 trips.
Looks like the only return service is the same day so you have the choice of staying half a day, staying a week or flying back - although actually I’m not sure you can even do that; the tickets might just be for the same day return. Doesn’t look like you can buy a one way ticket
Return ticket costs 7500NTD return, minus 1000 if you buy before 8th June. I think you can bring a bicycle on for free. There’s also 2 different tour options for 3500/4000 (meals, tour guide, stuff like that).
Boat arrives midday and leaves 7:30pm
Those are the main things I could gather. It looks like you’d spend half as much as you would flying but if you can indeed only stay 7 hours then it kinda blows in my opinion.
Coming in September, departing from Keelung.
Update: it’s not a new vessel.
Yes! 
Nice! 
Now why do I want to go there and then into Naha?
Now AI 500 Taiwanese tourists, all large families please.
I agree, Japan is not really a place I am drawn to these days. Have to wait until it’s really expensive again to curb the masses. Lot’s of reports about the Japanese being fed up with foreigners, especially in places like Kyoto. Not sure about those smaller Okinawan islands, though. I always wanted to visit those small and less attractive ones. No great beaches, just some rocks and horses.
Update:
Hopefully R/T. The Arimura ferry from Keelung and Kaohsiung to Naha used to be about 6,000 R/T.
Last year you could fly R/T to Naha for 8,000.
Fantastic looks like Ishigaki is becoming a lot more accessible. One thing I’ve wanted to do for a long time is to travel Taiwan → Ishigaki → Naha → Kagoshima by ferry
Has the ferry service started? There’s a thread of flights now (or soon) available to Ishigaki. I think I would prefer the flight, which I believe is about one hour only, to the ferry, which is an overnight service according to the article. It might be fun, though, to take the ferry.
Almost
