A solo trip to experience the nature of Iki

Purpose of the Trip
A trip to experience the nature of Iki!

Schedule
Day 1
Iki has an airport, with two flights per day from Nagasaki. One in the morning and one in the evening.
Fly from Tokyo to Nagasaki. Then, at 3:50 PM, take a 30-minute flight to Iki. I chose a morning flight and used my transit time to visit Nagasaki Onsen "Yunohana" Sun Spa Omura. Along the way, I enjoyed Nagasaki cuisine, including champon noodles and the Queen Cream Puffs at Hachinohe Nagasaki Airport. By the way, I left my suitcase at Haneda, which was convenient.
From Iki Airport, take the airport bus to Honmachi (Gonoura) and then to the Marina Hotel.
Tonight, I had a reservation at a sushi restaurant called Nomoto Sushi, where I was in charge of local fish.

Day 2
I headed to Katsumoto to board a sightseeing boat to Tatsunoshima Island. I took the public bus. We departed on the 10:00 Hiyorimi Terrace bus. We visited Tatsunoshima, one of Japan's "100 Best Swimming Beaches." Enjoy island hopping, viewing Iki's crystal-clear sand beaches, oddly shaped rock formations, and sheer cliffs from the sea. If you combine a sightseeing and ferry trip, you can disembark on the island. We recommend taking the sightseeing and then landing on Tatsunoshima. There's a little trekking on the island, so it's a good idea to bring something other than flip-flops. We returned on the 11:40 AM boat. We had lunch at Ritomaru Cafe Okubo Main Branch. This cafe, located in Katsumotoura, a long-thriving fishing town, reopened in 2008 after being renovated from a traditional house built over 140 years ago. "Okubo Main Branch" was the original name of the shop when it was a seafood wholesaler. The cafe specializes in traditional rice cooked in a clay pot and beef cutlets, and you can enjoy them in a charming, traditional building. From Katsumoto, we took a bus to the local guesthouse. Here, I rented a bicycle and rode to Saruiwa. The guesthouse has a hot spring, and offers day-use baths, so I took a dip.
I took a bus from the guesthouse to Gonoura, where my hotel is located. That night, I bought some sashimi at a supermarket in Gonoura and relaxed at the hotel.

Day 3
From Gonoura, I took a bus to Ashibe Port. Here, I rented a bicycle and enjoyed sightseeing. The highlights of eastern Iki Island are the shrines and other power spots along the coast. Luggage storage is available at the Ashibe Port Ferry Terminal, the gateway to the sea, for a fee. Heading south from Ashibe Port is Kiyoishihama Beach, and continuing on is Konpira Shrine (Umanose). Continuing on, I cycled to Sakyo-hana, enjoying the sea breeze. I circled the cape and headed to Yahataura, famous for its female divers. The Six Jizo of Yahataura are lined with jizo statues wearing red hoods in the sea, and are called "Harahoge Jizo" because their bellies are carved into round shapes. We also came across Kojima Shrine, which experiences ebb and flow similar to Mont Saint-Michel. The approach to this mystical shrine appears just before and after low tide, and you can walk along the path formed by the sea parting to visit, but we missed the low tide, so we only admired it from afar. If you have the time, plan your visit taking into account the ebb and flow of the tides. We visited these spots from Ashibe Port in about four hours. We left Ashibe Port at 2:25 PM and took a boat to Hakata Port at 3:30 PM to Hakata.
Then, we took the Hakata Pier bus to Tenjin Daimaru. From Tenjin, we took the train to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. There are several shops selling the shrine's famous umegae mochi around Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. Since we arrived in the evening, there weren't many people there. After praying and purchasing some mochi, we headed to the Dazaifu Tenmangu Omotesando Starbucks.
This Starbucks was designed by architect Kengo Kuma. You can bring your own umegae mochi. I checked with the staff when I ordered a matcha drink, and they said yes. I enjoyed my Starbucks drink and mochi at my leisure.
After returning to Tenjin, I had ramen at ShinShin's Tenjin main store before heading to the airport. Fukuoka Airport is close to the city center, and the last flight leaves at 9 PM, so I had a leisurely journey home.

Notes
As a remote island, bus services are quite limited. It's recommended to check the timetable carefully before boarding. Shops are limited on Iki. There aren't many convenient stores open at night, so supermarkets and downtown areas aren't open late. Make sure you have plenty of time to buy food.
Sightseeing is dependent on the weather. Flights are small, so they may be canceled, so be aware of this.

Transportation
There are many ports on Iki where you can catch ferries from Fukuoka, so it's best to consider which one is most convenient. Buses on Iki are infrequent, so be sure to check the timetable carefully before visiting tourist spots.

Hotels
If you have a rental car, your options for accommodation will be more diverse. Otherwise, staying in a central location like Honmachi (Gonoura) is more convenient. I stayed at the Iki Marina Hotel for two nights. It was more like a business hotel, but it had all the basic amenities. It was convenient for solo travelers, costing around 7,000 yen. The water dispenser in the hallway was also convenient. The Japanese breakfast was delicious. It's within walking distance of the Gonoura Ferry Port, so it's convenient if you're using that ferry. Buses from the airport also stop here, making it convenient.

Photogenic Spots
Kiyoishihama Beach
Tatsunoshima Island
Recommended for its beautiful ocean.

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