The outer islands of the Yaeyama chain are easily reached by ferry from Ishigaki town. Taketomi is the closest and most visited — a tiny flat island with preserved Ryukyuan village architecture, white sand roads, and water buffalo carts. Iriomote, the largest island in the chain, is covered in subtropical jungle and has no paved road around its full perimeter; the rivers running into its mangrove coastline are superb for kayaking. Kohama is smaller and quieter, worth a half-day for its beaches.