Ishigaki Island-Southern Gate Plaza
Early reservations are recommended as they fill up quickly.
◆Tuk-tuks and electric trikes are also popular!
Southern Gate PlazaMeaning
Remote Island TerminalIt is located a short distance southeast of there, andSouthern Gate BridgeIt's a park with expansive green spaces located just across the bridge.
There are green spaces and walking paths, and from the walking paths you can enjoy a panoramic view of Ishigaki Island’s beautiful ocean, allowing you to take a leisurely stroll while taking in the spectacular scenery.
It is also the venue for the “Southern Island Star Festival,” which is held every summer.
There are many cats in the park that are used to people, but please be sure not to feed them!
How to Get to Southern Gate Plaza
Southern Gate Plaza is located about a 5-minute drive from the Remote Islands Terminal.
Exit the Remote Islands Terminal, turn right, and turn right at the first intersection, "730 Intersection."
To get there, head south on National Route 390, turn right at the "Southern Gate Entrance" intersection, and drive through Southern Gate Village.
How to Have Fun at Southern Gate Plaza
Right next to Southern Gate Plaza is an artificial beach called “Minami-no-Hama-machi Artificial Beach,” which opens to the public during the summer with lifeguards on duty.
Also, just beyond the beach, there’s a place where you can see dolphins from a tank, and if you join a tour, you can even interact with them or swim with them.
Since even infants can participate, it’s a great idea to combine this with a dolphin interaction experience.
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Details on Southern Gate Plaza
Southern Gate Plaza is a square located just past the Southern Gate Bridge, which connects Ishigaki Port to Minami-no-Hama Town, an area built on reclaimed land.
The Southern Gate Bridge is a large bridge whose blue color stands out beautifully against the surrounding scenery, and it is known as a symbol of the island.
As a result, it’s also a great spot for meeting up or simply taking in the beautiful scenery at a leisurely pace.
One side of the Southern Gate Bridge is paved, so you can cross it on foot. There are also stairs leading to the top of the bridge.
From the bridge, you can enjoy breathtaking views of various scenes, including sunrises, sunsets, starry skies, and the city’s nightscape.
For this reason, it’s also a popular spot for marriage proposals.
In addition, fishing boats come and go beneath the Hashimoto Bridge, and simply watching them sail across the sea while basking in the gentle sea breeze is a moment of pure bliss.
On sunny days, the blue of the sky really stands out, and the sky seen across the Southern Gate Bridge is incredibly clear.
There's a large parking lot near the plaza, so it's a great place to visit while you're out for a drive.
There is a walking path next to the park, where nearly 100 stray cats live; they are very friendly and come right up to you.
This is a very cute cat, but since it's a stray, please do not feed it under any circumstances.
In addition, Southern Gate Plaza is a green space with a large parking lot, restrooms, and vending machines on the premises, making it a convenient spot to visit.
Every year during the summer season, an event called the "Southern Island Star Festival" is held, drawing crowds of locals and tourists alike.
Like the Southern Gate Bridge, Southern Gate Plaza is also a scenic spot where you can enjoy beautiful sunsets and gaze up at a star-filled sky.
As mentioned above, the night sky here is so beautiful that the Southern Island Star Festival is held here, so please come and enjoy the view.
There’s also an artificial beach nearby with changing rooms, restrooms, and other amenities, as well as a spot where you can interact with dolphins, so be sure to check those out, too.
Recommended Sightseeing Spots Near Southern Gate Square
Minami Nuhama-cho Green Park
Minami-no-Hama Town Green Park is a green space located right next to Southern Gate Plaza.
Since it’s right next to Minami-no-Hama Artificial Beach and a spot where you can interact with dolphins, you can visit them all at the same time.
In addition, the park features a slide and a small observation deck, making it the perfect place to play or take a break with your children.
Since it’s a large park, it’s a great idea to buy a packed lunch or something similar in the nearby town and enjoy it as a picnic.
Like Southern Gate Plaza, it is famous as a spot where you can enjoy beautiful sunsets and starry skies.
Artificial beaches are popular with families with children because they are well-managed, with lifeguards on duty and good facilities.
There is also a tank where you can interact with dolphins.
There are plenty of things to do right near the city center and the remote island terminal, so feel free to stop by.
Address: Nannuhama-cho, Ishigaki City, Okinawa, Japan
Access: 16 minutes on foot or 4 minutes by car from the Remote Island Terminal, 28 minutes by car from Ishigaki Airport
Parking: Available
Toilet: Yes
Observation deck: Yes
Euglena Mall
To get to Euglena Mall, exit Southern Gate Plaza, cross the Southern Gate Bridge, turn left at the Southern Gate Entrance intersection, turn right at the 780 intersection, and continue straight ahead—you’ll find it on your left.
With over 100 shops—including restaurants, souvenir shops, and clothing stores—this is Ishigaki Island’s largest shopping district, a lively place where shopkeepers call out cheerfully to customers walking down the street.
In addition to daily necessities, souvenirs, and restaurants, there are also rest areas, making it the perfect place to relax and recharge after a day of sightseeing and activities!
They sell fresh produce and other ingredients unique to Ishigaki Island, so it’s a great option for barbecues or for taking home via delivery.
Since some stores stay open late, you can stop by to pick up some snacks and drinks when you feel like having a drink at your hotel.
There's such a wide variety of shops that it's fun just to walk around and check them out!
Location: 207 Okawa, Ishigaki City, Okinawa, Japan
Access: 25 minutes by car from Ishigaki Airport, 7 minutes on foot from the remote island terminal
Parking: Available
Meals (nearby): Available
Toilet: Yes
inside the palace grounds
The route inside Miyara Hall follows the same path as the Euglena Mall for part of the way.
After leaving Southern Gate Plaza and crossing the Southern Gate Bridge, turn left at the Southern Gate Entrance intersection, then turn right at the 780 intersection and continue straight.
Once you pass Euglena Mall and turn left onto Miyara-denchi Street, you'll find it on your right.
The Miyara Residence was built in 1819 by Miyara Chikunagami Tōen, a member of the Ryukyuan samurai class, and is a highly valuable cultural asset that preserves the residential architecture of the samurai class of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan for its beautiful landscape—featuring massive Ryukyu limestone boulders scattered throughout the grounds—which was created by Shuri gardener Gusukuma Pechin; the Miyara-den Inner Garden located on the premises has also been designated as a National Scenic Spot.
Address: 178 Okawa, Ishigaki City
Phone Number: 0980-82-2767
Details on Southern Gate Plaza
| Location | Minaminuhama-cho, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture (View Map) |
| Access | Approximately 5 minutes by car from the remote island terminal |
| parking lot | Yes (charged) |
| toilet | ant |
| Business Hours | - |
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