Island vacations continue to trend: China Airlines launches new direct flights to Ishigaki Island

Reported by You t★ru / Taipei

Island travel remains red-hot during summer vacation season. China Airlines Group today (3rd) launched regular flights between Taoyuan and Ishigaki Island, operating two round-trip flights every Wednesday and Saturday using ERJ190 aircraft, offering 104 full economy class seats. The flight from Taoyuan to Ishigaki takes less than an hour, providing travelers planning a summer island getaway with even more options.


▲The dreamy beach on Kohama Island, just a 20-minute boat ride from Ishigaki Island. (Photo / Reported by You t★ru)

Ishigaki Island belongs to Okinawa Prefecture and is located in the southern waters of Japan, just 270 kilometers from Taiwan’s main island. It serves as the educational, transportation, and economic hub of the Yaeyama Islands. The climate on Ishigaki is similar to that of Taiwan, with pleasant conditions all year round. The island is most famous for its Ishigaki beef cuisine, which rivals Matsusaka and Kobe beef in reputation. With affordable prices and high quality, it attracts many local Japanese visitors and international tourists who come to enjoy the delicious, tender meat. In addition, the annual “Kuroshima Cattle Festival” held at the beginning of each year is a major celebration in the Yaeyama Islands and definitely not to be missed.

With two direct round-trip flights every Wednesday and Saturday, the outbound flight departs at 11:40 AM and arrives at 1:35 PM, while the return flight leaves at 2:30 PM and arrives at 2:25 PM, with a one-hour time difference between Japan and Taiwan. In response to the launch of the direct flights, China Airlines has partnered with premium resorts on Ishigaki Island to offer more leisure activities such as spa treatments, golf, beach volleyball, snorkeling, and guided hiking tours. For those with longer holidays, travelers can also take advantage of the area’s extensive ferry network to visit nearby islands including Kohama Island, Taketomi Island, and Iriomote Island, creating an island-hopping adventure.

Traveling to Ishigaki Island has become even more convenient since the launch of the Taoyuan–Ishigaki route. China Airlines’ Premium Travel offers a 3-night, 4-day Ishigaki itinerary, including round-trip economy class airfare between Taoyuan and Ishigaki, as well as 3 nights of accommodation with breakfast at a local hotel, starting from NT$13,140 per person (tax not included). Customers who purchase the Premium Travel package can also add discounted extras such as self-drive car rentals to explore Ishigaki Island, or opt for experiences like a glass-bottom boat tour in Kariyushi Bay—rated as a three-star top-tier scenic attraction by the Michelin Green Guide Japan—as well as water buffalo cart rides or bicycle tours on Taketomi Island.