Ishigaki Island - Nagura Bay
Check it out and make a reservation early☆.
⬇︎Tuk-tuks and electric trikes are also rapidly gaining popularity☆
What Is Nagura Bay?
Nazura Bay is the largest bay on Ishigaki Island, located about a 20-minute drive from the Ishigaki Island Remote Islands Terminal.
The area around Nagura Bay is home to natural mangrove forests dominated by Yaeyama mangroves and is rich in flora and fauna; as a result, it is the only site in not only Ishigaki Island but the entire Yaeyama Islands to be designated for protection under the Ramsar Convention.
Nagura Bay is a large bay with excellent views, and because the sun sets over the horizon, it’s the perfect spot to watch the sunset.
How to Get to Nagura Bay
Nazura Bay is located about a 25-minute drive from New Ishigaki Airport, about a 15-minute drive from downtown, and about a 30-minute drive from the Ishigaki Port Remote Islands Terminal.
If you head north on Prefectural Route 79, you’ll come to the Nagura Bridge; once you cross it, Nagura Bay spreads out before you.
There's a free parking lot at Nagura Ohashi Bridge, and from there you can also head to Nagura Amparu!
Things to Do in Nagura Bay
When it comes to things to do in Nagura Bay, I definitely recommend sunset SUP and sunset canoeing♪
Watching the sun sink below the horizon from your board while cruising the ocean is one of the best ways to enjoy Ishigaki Island.
As sunset approaches, I head out to the bay and slowly watch the sun sink below the horizon.
There are some dates when this activity isn't available due to the tides, but even so, it's something you'll definitely want to enjoy at least once when you visit Ishigaki Island♪
⬇︎ Taking place in Nagura Bay! Check out these popular tours
Details of Nagura Bay
Nazura Bay is the largest bay on Ishigaki Island, located in the western part of the island.
The Nagura River, which flows from Mount Omoto—the highest peak in Okinawa Prefecture—empties into Nagura Bay.
As a result, mangroves and tidal flats extend along the river mouth.
At low tide, gobies and crabs scuttle energetically across the mudflats.
Since many types of shellfish live here, you can go clamming all year round.
It is also used as a stopover and habitat for wild birds, and is home to a wide variety of wildlife.
Creatures of Nagura Bay
manta ray
The manta ray, known as the southern manta ray, is the world's largest ray.
Ishigaki Island is home to the spot in Japan where you’re most likely to encounter them.
They sometimes visit Nagura Bay, and their graceful swimming is truly beautiful, so if you spot one, take some time to watch it!
The Dragon's Cousin
It is a member of the seahorse family and is a fish as slender as a twig.
They can sometimes appear in large numbers, with several of them tangled together in one spot.
Although it has a very small body, the sight of it clinging to seaweed and other objects with just its tail is truly endearing.
Lionfish
As its name suggests, the lionfish has fins that resemble a straw raincoat or a straw hat, and its elegant swimming in the ocean is truly beautiful.
Despite its beauty, it possesses venom concentrated in its dorsal fin and a sword-like structure between its pelvic fins.
Because they have a fierce and aggressive temperament, you need to exercise extreme caution when diving.
sea turtle
Sea turtles are a species of turtle that evolved from land turtles and adapted to life in the ocean.
Its legs are fin-like to make swimming easier, and its shell is streamlined to reduce water resistance.
As a remnant of their land-turtle ancestors, they breathe through their lungs, and you might even come across them bobbing on the surface of the water!
Recommended Spots Near Nagura Bay
Yamama Village
Yaimamura is Japan's southernmost theme park, located on a small hill near Nagura Bay.
The old-fashioned streets of the Yaeyama Islands have been recreated here, allowing visitors to enjoy a quintessentially Okinawan landscape.
As the sun sets, the sky fills with stars. They also offer a stargazing experience called “Starry Sky Village,” so be sure to check it out!
Location: 967-1 Motonagura, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture
Access: 15 minutes by car from Ishigaki Port
Parking: Available
Meals (nearby): Available
Toilet: Yes
Admission: Adults 1000 yen, children 500 yen (free for children under 3 years old)
Fusaki Beach
Fusaki Beach is a natural beach facing Nagura Bay and is managed by the Fusaki Resort Village.
The facility is well-managed, with on-site lifeguards and nets to keep jellyfish out, so it’s highly recommended for beginners and families with children.
Although it attracts many tourists due to its easy access, the area remains so pristine that sea turtles come here to lay their eggs every year.
Location: 1625 Shinkawa-Tomizaki, Ishigaki City, Okinawa, Japan
Access: Approximately 19 km from Shin-Ishigaki Airport, 35 minutes by car
Parking: Available (free of charge)
Meals (nearby): Available
Toilet: Yes
Kannonzaki
Kanon-zaki is a cape facing Nagura Bay on the west coast of Ishigaki Island.
You can see the crystal-clear, emerald-green sea right before your eyes.
There’s a white lighthouse here that really stands out against the surrounding greenery, making it a popular photo spot!
Address:Shinkawa, Ishigaki City, Okinawa
Access: 20 minutes by car from Ishigaki Port
Details of Nagura Bay
| Location | Nagura, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture (View in MAP) |
| Access | 25 minutes drive from Shin-Ishigaki Airport, 30 minutes from Ishigaki Port Terminal |
| parking lot | Free parking: approx. 15 cars, paid parking available |
| toilet | ant |
| Business Hours | - |
Click here for a list of other SUP tours ↓
Click here for a list of other canoe tours ↓
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