Ishigaki Island is full of attractions! 25 Places to See
Table of Contents
Have you decided where to go on your Ishigaki Island trip yet?
There are many attractive islands in the Yaeyama Islands. One of them is Ishigaki Island, which has many sightseeing spots and beaches where you can enjoy the sea. However, it is also true that I would like to visit many other islands in Yaeyama.... So, here we are,Introducing Ishigaki Island's recommended sightseeing spots and beaches carefully selected to fully enjoy Ishigaki Island in a limited time.The following is a list of islands in the Yaeyama Archipelago that can be visited by day trip. We will also introduce remote islands that can be visited in a day trip, so please make a travel plan to enjoy the Yaeyama Islands.
Here are some popular activities in Ishigaki Island! ↓.
What is Ishigaki Island with its many attractions?
Ishigaki Island is the second largest island in Okinawa Prefecture after the main island and Iriomote Island. It is the main access city to the Yaeyama Islands and welcomes many tourists. Ishigaki Island has a milder climate than the main island of Okinawa, and the sea opens in March, and swimming can be enjoyed until October. Ishigaki Island offers ocean, mountain, and river fun, and there are many places where you can enjoy gourmet food while viewing the spectacular scenery. In addition, Ishigaki Island is one of the islands that attracts the attention of divers from all over the world because of its clear waters and native coral reefs.
Here are popular tours to play in the ocean in Ishigaki Island! ↓↓ Click here
Recommended Beaches in Ishigaki Island
Many beaches are scattered throughout Ishigaki Island alone. Among themFive recommended beachesWe will be happy to help you find the best beach in Ishigaki Island. Enjoy the sea of Ishigaki Island according to your travel plans such as beaches where you can see a lot of corals and colorful fishes, artificial beaches just opened in 2018, and fascinating beaches such as phantom islands with only sandy beaches.
Check out snorkeling tours on Ishigaki Island!
Yonehara Beach
A beach with an expanse of white sand, beautiful coral reefs, and colorful fishThe area is a shallow area. The shallow waters are very shallow and you can see a lot of fish, but because of the fast currents and rip currents, it is a no-swimming zone. There are no lifeguards on duty, so please do not get too carried away with the fish. There is also a campground adjacent to the beach, so many campers enjoy camping while viewing the beautiful ocean. It takes about 30 minutes by car from Ishigakijima Airport.
⇒Yonehara BeachFor more information on
Sukuji Beach
It takes about 10 minutes by car from Kabira Bay, a tourist attraction on Ishigaki Island,Ishigaki Island's representative beachis Sukuji Beach. It is characterized by white sand and shallow, clean waters, and calm waves. Even small children can play safely in the water, and the trees in front of the beach provide shade, making it the perfect beach to enjoy swimming while relaxing and reading a book.
⇒Sukuji BeachFor more information on
Check out SUP tours on Ishigaki Island!
Shiraho Coast
A beach where you can see one of the largest blue coral reef groups in the northern hemisphereThe beach is attracting attention from all over the world as a place where people can enjoy the beauty of coral reefs. Ao coral is a precious coral that can only be seen in a limited area in Okinawa, about 1 km offshore, so you will need to sign up for a tour to actually see it with your own eyes. Although there are no facilities for swimming, Shiraho Beach is also rich in coral and is a favorite beach of the locals. It is recommended for those who want to relax on a local beach.
⇒Shiraho CoastFor more information on
Minaminohama Artificial Beach
It is a freshly opened beach in 2018. It is the closest beach to the Ishigaki Island, which can be reached on foot from the Ishigaki Island Terminal and the city center, which is the base of travel in Ishigaki Island.
The beach is located just beyond the Southern Gate Bridge, where the sunset can be seen beautifully. The newly built facility has clean showers and restrooms, so you can use it comfortably. Even if the ship is cancelled, you can still enjoy the beach of Ishigaki Island, so why not stop by? Also,There is also a nearby place where you can interact with dolphins, which even small children can enjoy.
Click here for related activities
Hamashima, the "Phantom Island
Hamajima Island, located between Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands, has a different shape every day depending on the tide, and is only visible at low tide.Phantom Island.It is nicknamed the "The Island of the Gods". It takes only 30 minutes by boat from Ishigaki Island,Hamashima Island, floating in the vast sea, is a spectacular sight in itself.Since the island is uninhabited, there is no pier, and you have to go down to the sea before landing on the island, so you can experience a sense of adventure. It is a popular snorkeling spot where you can see a lot of coral reefs growing wild around the island and many cute fish that live in the colorful coral reefs. Just strolling along the sandy beach is an enchanting experience, and the beauty of the island will make the time pass by in a blink of an eye.
Here are some popular plans to visit Phantom Island!
Check more plans to visit Phantom Island
Recommended Sightseeing Spots in Ishigaki Island
If you travel to Ishigaki Island, the remote islands are nice, but first, please visit the tourist spots that represent Ishigaki Island. There are many other places to enjoy Ishigaki Island besides the ocean.
Kabira Bay
If you are going to travel to Ishigaki Island, you should visit at least once.Kabira Bay, awarded three stars in the Michelin Green Guide JapanIt is. The contrast created by the emerald green sea, clear sky, and small islands that seem to float in the bay leaves everyone speechless....
There is also a glass boat that allows visitors to look into the waters of Kabira Bay without going into the ocean, SUP and kayak cruises around the bay, snorkeling on beaches with few waves, and a variety of other activities.The colors change with the time of day, so you can enjoy the scenery all day long, or you can see Kabira Bay in various forms in between activities. It is a representative scenic spot of Ishigaki Island, which is also famous for the cultivation of black butterfly pearls.
Popular activities in Kabira Bay are
Check out more about Kabira Bay!
Neizo Anpal
Registered as a Ramsar Convention site in 2005, Nagura Amparu allows you to enjoy the vast mud flat and mangrove forest. Ishigaki Island tends to be all about the ocean, but you can discover creatures that cannot be seen in the ocean and see various wild birds flying in and out of the island. Even children can play safely at low tide, and they will be absorbed in looking for crabs.
Here are some popular activities to enjoy in the mangroves ↓.
Check out the details of the Meizo Ampal!
Blue Cave
The Blue Cave in Ishigaki Island is so beautiful that it can be said to be the most beautiful photo opportunity among all the "Blue Caves" in Japan. It takes about 30 minutes by car from the remote island terminal, and you can see the blue glow of the sea when many conditions are met, such as the shape of the cave created by nature and the angle of the sun light. You can walk through the caves and see up close the walls that have been carved by the waves. If you join the tour, you can also enjoy the blue cave from the surface of the water by SUP or kayak, and enjoy the sea of Ishigaki Island at a leisurely pace.
Here is a popular plan for the Blue Cave!
Check out more plans for Blue Cave
Southern Gate Bridge
The Southern Gate Bridge is a bridge that allows visitors to cross to the man-made island of Minami-Nushima Town. Cars can pass through, but it is also possible to walk from the city center, so it might be a good idea to cross the bridge on foot for a stroll. When you reach the middle of the bridge, there is a spectacular view and you can see ships coming and going. There is a park on the island, which is a good spot to take children for a stroll.
Check out the details of the Southern Gate Bridge!
Tamatorizaki Observatory
If you want to enjoy panoramic view in Ishigaki Island, Tamatorizaki Observatory is recommended. It is located in the middle of Ishigaki city toward the northern part of the island, and it takes about 40 minutes to get there by car. From the observatory, you can see beautiful white sand beach, cobalt blue ocean, and lush green Banna-dake.
Surrounded by hibiscus flowers that remind you of a tropical country, you will surely forget your daily busyness and refresh yourself in the time flowing slowly while feeling the Okinawan breeze. It takes only a few minutes to walk from the parking lot to the observatory. You will be there in no time while enjoying the scenery.
⇒Tamatorizaki ObservatoryFor more information on
Check out the details of Tamatorizaki Observatory!
Remote islands and recommended spots that can be reached by day trip from Ishigaki Island
We will introduce some of the recommended islands that can be reached from Ishigaki Island's outlying islands terminal by day trip. The atmosphere and characteristics of the islands other than Ishigaki Island are different, so please find time to visit them.
Iriomote Island (Okinawa)
Iriomote Island, which has a larger area than Ishigaki Island, can be reached in about 40 minutes by high-speed boat. About 90% of the entire island is covered with virgin forest, and you can feel the great nature. Besides the sea, you can enjoy mangroves and waterfalls.
Ishigaki Island-Iriomotejima Ferry" and "Iriomotejima Activities" are included in the package.Cheap Tour (Set Plan)Then, you can enjoy Iriomote Island sightseeing easily without the hassle of purchasing a separate ferry!
Rather than booking each ferry and activity separatelyeconomicalIt is!
Click here for popular Iriomote Island tours (set plan)
Check out more details about Iriomote Island tours from Ishigaki Island!
All the fun of Iriomote Island is here↓.
Pinaisara Falls
With a drop of 55 meters, it is the highest waterfall in Okinawa Prefecture. In the local dialect, pinai means "beard" and sahra means "something that has fallen," and it is said that the name was given to the waterfall because it looked like a long beard growing from the chin of an old man. Pinaisara Falls can be seen after kayaking or trekking through the jungle. It feels great to cool off in the waterfall basin after a long day of physical exertion, and there are many ways to enjoy the waterfalls, such as jumping in and playing or being healed by the negative ions.
⇒Pinaisara FallsFor more information on
Check out SUP tours on Ishigaki Island!
Coola Falls
Going further into the Koola River near Uehara Port, you will find Koola Falls with a drop of about 5 meters. The word "Koola" is said to mean "to bring happiness," and is still revered by the local people. A mysterious path lined with lush vegetation leads to the Koola Falls, where visitors can enjoy trekking while feeling the power of nature.
⇒Coola FallsFor more information on
Star Sand Beach
Named Hoshi-suna Beach (star sand beach) because of its star-shaped sand, this popular beach is only a five-minute drive from Uehara Port. There are two islands right in front of the beach, which can be swum across. The shallow waters allow even small children to play, and the islands keep the waves at bay even on windy days. This is a beach for familiars who can look for star sand and see coral and fish.
⇒Star Sand Beach (Star Sand Beach)For more information on
Check out snorkeling tours on Ishigaki Island!
islets of Ogasawara (islands)
Kohama Island, which was used as a filming location for an NHK TV drama series, can be reached from Ishigaki Island in about 30 minutes by high-speed boat. It is one of the remote islands that are easy to access as there are also shipping routes connecting to Taketomi Island and Ohara Port in Iriomote Island. It is a nice and relaxing island where you can enjoy the sugarcane fields unique to Okinawa.
All the fun of Kohama Island is here↓.
Kohama Island Tours
large, high mountain
From the highest point on the island at 99 meters above sea level, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Yaeyama Islands. When the weather is fine, you can see Hateruma Island in the distance, and if you look closer, you can also see Kohama Island with its expansive sugarcane fields.The best spot to enjoy a 360° panoramic viewIt is.
sugar road
It is no exaggeration to say that Kohama Island is known for its sugar road, which is such a popular tourist spot. The road is lined with sugarcane fields on both sides, and it feels great to ride a bicycle through the fields, with many tourists taking pictures of the unique Okinawan scenery. The road has been used in TV dramas, and is a spot where you can feel the wind of Kohama Island.
⇒sugar roadFor more information on
Taketomi Island
It takes only about 15 minutes from Ishigaki Island by high-speed boat, making it an easy island to visit even for beginners or those with limited time on the islands. It is a compact island where you can get anywhere on the island in 15 minutes by bicycle, but it is full of attractions and a spot where you can see the rows of houses with red tiles and stone walls that are typical of Okinawa.
Click here for fun in Taketomi Island↓.
Taketomi Island Sightseeing Tour
Kondoi Beach
Koi Doi Beach is an attractive beach with clear blue waters because the sandy beach extends offshore. Although there is not much coral, so you cannot see many tropical fish, it is a good beach to enjoy playing in the water because of its shallow depths. The contrast between the white sand and the emerald green is wonderful, and it is a relaxing spot where you can forget about time and relax.
⇒Kondoi BeachFor more information on
Here are some popular activities you can do to explore Taketomi Island! ↓↓.
west pier
The pier is no longer in use, but once you reach the end of the pier, you will be rewarded with a spectacular view. The pier is located on the west side of the island and is a popular spot for sunset. Sitting on the pier and watching the sun set is a great way to end the day.
⇒west pierFor more information on
Village of Taketomi Island
Selected as a national Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 1964, the villages of Taketomi Island still preserve their beautiful scenery. You can view the village from the hill where houses made of traditional Ryukyuan architecture such as red tiles and stone walls are lined up, or you can take a sightseeing tour of the island on a buffalo ride.
⇒Village of Taketomi IslandFor more information on
Here are some popular activities you can do to explore Taketomi Island! ↓↓.
summary
Ishigaki Island has many beaches and tourist spots, and is one of the most popular tourist areas because even small children and the elderly can drive around and play in the water at the beach in a relaxed atmosphere. You can also visit the islands on a day trip, so honestly speaking, there is not enough time to get to know the Yaeyama Islands in a single trip.
Therefore, it may be a good idea to make an itinerary that allows you to visit the Yaeyama Islands slowly without overdoing it, and to save the pleasure of visiting the Yaeyama Islands again next time. Please enjoy the Yaeyama Islands as much as you can in the limited time you have.
Related columns are here↓.
Ishigaki Island Sightseeing Spots! 30 recommended sightseeing spots
Play on Ishigaki beaches! 9 beaches for snorkeling and swimming!
All the fun of Ishigaki Island is here↓.
Ishigaki Island Tours
