Ishigaki Island Sightseeing Guide - Basic Edition
Table of Contents
- 1 Various ways to enjoy Ishigaki Island
- 2 There are many scenic spots and attractions in various parts of Ishigaki Island!
- 3 Seasonal flavors, deep encounters with nature
- 4 How to taste the goodness of Ishigaki Island in your own style?
- 4.1 Sightseeing drive while enjoying nature
- 4.2 Leisurely island tour by bus
- 4.3 Day trip is also available! High-speed boat to the remote islands for sightseeing
- 4.4 Enjoy activities in nature
- 4.5 Enjoy shopping and dining in the city center
- 4.6 From resort hotels to budget hotels! Double the fun of your trip by choosing the right lodging!
- 5 summary
With the opening of "Painushima Ishigaki Airport," Ishigaki Island has become a popular tourist destination for medium-sized and long-haul flights. With direct flights from Haneda Airport (3 hours) and Kansai Airport (2.5 hours), Ishigaki Island is becoming more popular as a tourist destination that can be easily visited. With the recent addition of LCC flights, Ishigaki Island has become even easier to get to.
Various ways to enjoy Ishigaki Island
Blessed with unique nature and flora and fauna created by the subtropical climate,88The first Dark Sky Park in Japan to be certified as a starry sky reserve where as many as 84 of the constellations can be seen.Ishigaki Island.There are numerous tourist attractions throughout the island, from the sea to the mountains, that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. This makes it possible for visitors to spend their time according to their preferences, lifestyles, stay schedule, and budget.
Click here for a list of night tours available on Ishigaki Island.
There are many scenic spots and attractions in various parts of Ishigaki Island!
The beautiful sea of Kabira Bay, awarded three stars in the Michelin Guide, the calm Nagura Bay, Yonehara Coast with its clear beaches and blue caves, and Shiraho Coast, known worldwide for its rare blue coral, are the most attractive features of Ishigaki Island.
There are many places of interest scattered throughout Ishigaki Island, such as Hirakubozaki with its spectacular view, Tamatorizaki Observatory overlooking the calm Pacific Ocean, Fukidoo River and Miyara River where mangroves grow, Yaeyama palm colonies, and limestone caves formed by coral reefs rising up over a long period of time.
Other must-see attractions include the red-tiled Okinawan houses that still remain in the town, important cultural properties that retain their traditional atmosphere such as Miyara-donchi and Momorinji Temple, and unique Okinawan power spots such as Utaki, where seasonal rituals are held.
Seasonal flavors, deep encounters with nature
The Yaeyama fireflies, which display their fantastic dance from March to June, and the fantastic sagaribana flower, which blooms at night for only one day from June to August and drops its flowers the next day, are rare and memorable experiences. The Southern Cross, with its beautiful cross shape, is also a must-see.
Click here for seasonal tours to see sagaribana fireflies.
How to taste the goodness of Ishigaki Island in your own style?
Some first-time visitors may have difficulty imagining what they will enjoy when they actually visit. Here are some sightseeing plans we recommend for those people.
Sightseeing drive while enjoying nature
If you want to see the natural beauty of the southern islands in a relaxed atmosphere, why not rent a car and drive around to see the sights? If you want to see the natural beauty of the southern islands in a relaxed atmosphere, why not rent a car and drive around to see the sights?Ishigaki Island, with a circumference of 140 kilometers, is the perfect size for a leisurely drive around.There are also stylish cafes scattered throughout the area, making it a good place for relaxing and sightseeing.
In addition to the hilly inland areas where sugarcane fields and tropical fruit trees are cultivated, it is recommended to simply drive along the roads that surround the entire island to enjoy the island scenery. Many people say that they encountered rare creatures such as the semaruga turtle, a protected species, and crested serpent eagles while driving around the island! There are many stories about this.
Leisurely island tour by bus
For those who want to travel at a leisurely pace, we recommend using local buses to tour the island. Ishigaki Island has a network of local buses that travel around the island, including the Airport Line that leads from the New Ishigaki Airport to the bus terminal in town, and the Resort Line that leads to Kabira Bay. Touring the island by local bus is sure to be an impressive trip where you can feel the relaxing island time.
Day trip is also available! High-speed boat to the remote islands for sightseeing
Ishigaki Island is a base for outlying island tourism, with high-speed boats departing for islands called Yaeyama, including Taketomi Island, Kohama Island, Kuroshima, Iriomote Island, Hateruma Island, and Yonaguni Island. Some islands, such as Taketomi Island and Kohama Island, can be reached by a day trip, so we recommend that you go out to the remote islands with a more rustic atmosphere.
Especially recommended is Iriomote Island, the "Galapagos of the East. There is probably no other spot in Japan that is so rich in nature, surrounded by mangroves and the crystal clear ocean. You can enjoy a day trip from Ishigaki Island, so it is recommended to taste Iriomote Island once you come to Ishigaki Island.
Click here to play in Iriomote Island↓.
Iriomotejima Tours
Enjoy activities in nature
For those who want to get familiar with the ocean, we recommend snorkeling tours that are easy to join, or SUP, a marine sport that has been gaining attention in recent years. Even if you are not confident in your physical strength or swimming ability, you can participate in this activity.
For more information about snorkeling tours in Ishigaki Island and a list of plans, click here↓.
For those who want to experience the ocean of Ishigaki Island more deeply, scuba diving is the way to go. Ishigaki Island offers a variety of tours for both beginners and experienced divers, so you can enjoy it according to your time and budget. Ishigaki Island is known for its rare coral reefs and high chances of encountering manta rays and sea turtles.
For details and a list of diving tours available in Ishigaki Island, click here↓.
Enjoy shopping and dining in the city center
In the Euglena Mall, Ishigaki Island's shopping district, there is the Ishigaki Island Public Market where you can see and feel the richness of Ishigaki Island's food products such as mangoes, pineapples, dragon fruits, and red potatoes.
The area around the public market is home to many souvenir stores, restaurants, famous Yaeyama soba noodle stores, Okinawan local pastry stores of sataa andagi, Italian and natural food cafes, Indian curry stores, Chinese restaurants, taverns, bars, general stores, and other fashionable stores.
It is a great place to enjoy shopping and eating delicious food, and we recommend that you spend some quality time just wandering around after you have finished sightseeing.
From resort hotels to budget hotels! Double the fun of your trip by choosing the right lodging!
Ishigaki Island offers a wide variety of lodging options, from comfortable resort hotels with private beaches to easy-to-use business hotels, guest houses where you can casually mingle with other guests, and budget inns with dormitories where you can stay at a reasonable price. You can choose your favorite accommodation according to your budget, length of stay, and travel style to make your trip more enjoyable.
summary
Ishigaki Island is full of attractions that will make you want to go back and visit again and again. Everyone has their own way to enjoy♪ Please find your own way to enjoy!
All the fun in Ishigaki Island is here↓.
Ishigaki Island Tours
