Are you all enjoying your travels "smartly and affordably"?

We previously introduced LCCs (Low-Cost Carriers) on this "Okinawa Lab" ( see here ), but LCCs are low-cost airlines that have lowered their regular fares by thoroughly streamlining operations, such as simplifying in-flight facilities.

Airfares have become considerably cheaper compared to before, not only with low-cost carriers (LCCs) but also with established airlines. It's now easier than ever to travel, and even a small luxury like "I want to eat Okinawan soba on the weekend" might be possible at an affordable price!

This time, we'll introduce how to get to Ishigaki Island, one of Japan's top diving spots, on a budget. We'll compare routes and fares using low-cost carriers (LCCs) and established airlines.

<Table of Contents>
1. What are some cheap flights from Tokyo to Ishigaki Island?
2. What are some cheap flights from Kansai to Ishigaki Island?
3. What are some cheap flights from Chubu to Ishigaki Island?
4. What are some cheap flights from Fukuoka to Ishigaki Island?
5. It's not just about cheap flights! How to get to Ishigaki Island
Summary

1. What are some cheap flights from Tokyo to Ishigaki Island?

Part 1: What route can I take?

Currently, the major low-cost carriers (LCCs) in Japan are Jetstar Japan, Peach Aviation, Vanilla Air, and AirAsia.
Of these, only two airlines operate flights to New Ishigaki Airport: Peach and Vanilla Air.
Peach operates flights from Kansai International Airport, while Vanilla Air operates flights from Narita Airport and Naha Airport.

If you limit yourself to LCCs, you can either take a direct Vanilla Air flight from Narita Airport, or take a Vanilla Air/Jetstar flight from Narita to Naha, and then transfer to a Vanilla Air flight from Naha.
Actually, Haneda Airport is only served by three airlines: ANA, JAL Group, and Skymark; there are no low-cost carriers (LCCs).
Direct flights from Haneda to Ishigaki Island are operated by two companies: ANA and JTA (a JAL Group company).

The cheapest Vanilla Air flight from Narita to Ishigaki starts at around ¥7,480 one way.
I'd be thrilled if I could buy it at this price.
If I were to go to Ishigaki Island during the off-season, I would definitely want to fly with Vanilla Air.

If direct flights aren't available, a connecting flight from Vanilla Air to Vanilla Air is also a good option.
There isn't much difference in price between direct flights and connecting flights.

Even if you choose Jetstar for the Narita-Naha leg, the price won't be much different, but since Jetstar and Vanilla Air use different terminals at Naha Airport, you should allow at least two hours for the layover.
*Peach and Vanilla Air will use the LCC terminal at Naha Airport.
If you have plenty of time, you could limit your search to low-cost carriers (LCCs), but as of April 2019, there is only one flight per day between Narita and Ishigaki, and only two flights per day between Naha and Ishigaki. So, if you absolutely can't find a suitable option, be flexible and consider other airlines as well!

To ensure you receive sales information, you should definitely subscribe to each company's email newsletter.
Sales are often announced via email newsletters, so if you check them regularly, you can get the latest information on bargains as soon as possible.

[Subscribe to email newsletters from various companies]
Jetstar Japan...My Jetster registration
Peach Aviation...Peach email newsletter registration
Vanilla Air...NEWSLETTER registration(You can register on the Vanilla Air homepage.)

Incidentally, sales often occur at the following times: 1) when new routes are announced and sales begin, and 2) before off-peak seasons (such as autumn to winter, or the rainy season) . Keep these points in mind!

Part 2: Price comparison with existing airlines

Let's compare the fares of connecting flights with low-cost carriers (LCCs) and flights with existing airlines that offer direct flights to Ishigaki Island.

The conditions are that you must use a good flight departing in the morning from either Haneda or Narita Airport, and if a discount fare is available, the discount fare will be applied.
Prices vary significantly depending on the time of year, so please use this information for reference only.

(One-way fare / Click image to enlarge)

If departing from the Kanto region, the checkpoints other than the fare are:

Direct flight or not
A direct flight from Narita to Ishigaki takes only 3 hours. However, a connecting flight takes 5-6 hours.
Furthermore, if you use a different terminal at Naha Airport, it will take an additional 2 hours to 1 day!

Departing from Haneda Airport or Narita Airport?
Depending on where you live, you should also consider access to Haneda Airport and Narita Airport.

From the LCC terminal, you need to take a shuttle bus to the Naha Domestic Terminal, which will take at least 30 minutes.
From there, you have to go through the boarding procedures for ANA/JTA again, so it takes about 7 hours or more to actually arrive in Ishigaki Island.
Naha Airport Terminal's renovation is complete, and all airlines are now located in one massive terminal!
While shuttle bus travel is no longer available, the required layover time in Naha for LCC flights is 90 minutes (including check-in and baggage drop-off procedures).

When comparing prices, I found that ANA/JAL direct flights, which I had assumed were expensive, were surprisingly cheap.
Because such strange things can happen, it's best to list your desired patterns and investigate them thoroughly.

Also, although it's not apparent from the table, another important fact is that LCCs are more expensive during long weekends! They don't get any cheaper.

Time or money? Time is money, as the saying goes.

2. What are some cheap flights from Kansai to Ishigaki Island?

Part 1: What route can I take?

When "Painushima Ishigaki Airport" opened in March 2013, Peach Aviation was one of the first low-cost carriers (LCCs) to operate flights there.
As of April 2019, there is one round trip flight per day.

Other LCC routes with different conditions include those operated by Peach and Jetstar between Kansai Airport and Naha Airport, so there are plenty of variations if you incorporate some LCCs into your itinerary.

Part 2: Price comparison with existing airlines

Let's compare the fares of connecting flights with low-cost carriers (LCCs) and flights with existing airlines that offer direct flights to Ishigaki Island.

(One-way fare / Click image to enlarge)

The fact is, direct flights only depart from Kansai International Airport. From the popular Itami Airport, you have to take a connecting flight with ANA or JAL, but the prices are quite high.

If I'm going to Kansai Airport anyway, I definitely want to fly with Peach, which is the most affordable option!
Previously, it seemed like reservations filled up quickly, but from what I've checked this time, there seem to be quite a few seats available.
If you're going from Kansai to Ishigaki, using Kansai International Airport (KIX) is the best option, and Peach's direct flights are the most economical.

For flights departing from the Kansai region, the price difference between ANA/JAL and other airlines is significant, making it relatively easy to understand.

For the most recent dates, aim for direct flights with Peach or ANA/JAL. If you have more than three weeks until departure and direct flights with Peach aren't available, then connecting flights with Beach or Jetstar (Kansai Airport) or Skymark (Kobe Airport) are cheaper.
Incidentally, flights departing from Itami Airport are only available via ANA/JAL, and the fares are also high.

To reiterate, during long weekends, the price difference becomes almost negligible, so regardless of the airline, look for direct flights.

3. What are some cheap flights from Chubu to Ishigaki Island?

Part 1: What route can I take?

ANA is the only airline operating direct flights, but it's not a regular route, so it's uncertain whether they'll still be operating next year.

Jetstar is the only low-cost carrier (LCC) that operates at Chubu Centrair International Airport.
Low-cost carriers (LCCs) still have a limited number of routes and are undeniably in their developmental stages, but they still allow you to fly at half to a quarter of the price of existing airlines.
It's definitely more economical to actively use the routes that are covered.

Part 2: Comparison of existing airline and connecting flight prices

Let's compare the costs of connecting flights with LCCs (low-cost carriers) and existing airlines, and find out which airline offers the cheapest option.
(One-way fare / Click image to enlarge)

ANA now offers direct flights, and the fares are clearly higher.
JAL does not offer direct flights, so you will need to make a connecting flight.
While some may be fans of JAL's in-flight services, such as free Wi-Fi, the price and flight duration alone might not be the deciding factor.

JETSTAR offers by far the cheapest fares for early bookings. This is because the number of flights decreases during the off-season, and departure times from Chubu Centrair International Airport are later. Arrival in Ishigaki will be in the evening.
Considering the upcoming schedule, Skymark might be the most convenient option.

4. What are some cheap flights from Fukuoka to Ishigaki Island?

Part 1: What route can I take?

Basically, the situation for flights from Fukuoka is the same as for flights from Nagoya. As of April 2019, ANA operates direct flights, but it is unclear whether this will continue once the season changes.
Being able to go there quickly is really convenient and easy, isn't it?

Part 2: Price comparison with existing airlines

Let's compare the prices of ANA direct flights and connecting flights from Naha Airport using LCCs and established airlines.

(Click the image to enlarge)

Jetstar has many flights despite being a low-cost carrier, but the prices are higher than you might expect!
The price will be cheaper if you book for an earlier date, but this is because the flight departure time will be later (around midday).

Comparing these options, I'd like to look for a direct flight with ANA or a connecting flight with Peach or Skymark.
Whether you prioritize convenience or affordability will likely change your perception of the price of direct flights.

Peach and Skymark have comparable fares, but considering the terminals used in Naha, Skymark comes out on top.

5. It's not just about cheap flights! How to get to Ishigaki Island

So far, we've introduced comparisons of airfares from various airlines, but we shouldn't forget about package tours planned and sold by travel agencies as another way to travel to Ishigaki Island cheaply.

The table below shows the prices of Ishigaki Island tours from various departure points, as researched on the travel comparison website "Travel.jp".

If you consider that half of this fare is for a one-way trip, you can see that it may be cheaper than the lowest one-way fare mentioned in the previous section.
Furthermore, with package tours, it's often possible to book up to 7 days before departure, provided there are vacancies in flights and hotels. Therefore, especially if you're planning a trip with dates close to your departure date, we recommend comparing package tours as well.

Summary

We've covered how to choose a cheap flight to Ishigaki Island and some tips for traveling there on a budget. What did you think?
Prices vary greatly depending on the time of year you travel, so be sure to compare them carefully and choose wisely.

Also, it's quite common for the price to go up while you're hesitating, so it's important to just go ahead and buy it!
Enjoy your trip to Ishigaki Island to the fullest while keeping your travel expenses down!

・Kabira Bay | A detailed introduction to the breathtaking scenery of Yaeyama that you must visit at least once!
Choose based on your length of stay! The complete guide to must-see tourist spots in Ishigaki Island!
・Travel to Okinawa cheaply! We've compared LCC fares by route [departing from Tokyo, Kansai, Chubu, and Fukuoka]

Please make your hotel reservation here.

• Rakuten Travel
• Jalan net