How to get to Ishigaki Island, how to play, and recommended spots!
Table of Contents
What is Ishigaki Island like?
Ishigaki Island is Japan's southernmost resort island, located about an hour south of Okinawa by air. There are 10 inhabited islands and about 20 uninhabited islands in the Yaeyama Islands,Ishigaki Island is the center and most prosperous of them all.Ishigaki Island is the third largest island in Okinawa Prefecture after the main island and Iriomote Island, and is the center of the Yaeyama Islands' transportation network, with both domestic and international airports and a ferry terminal port connecting each inhabited island.
Nature of Ishigaki Island
Ishigaki Island is rich in nature, with most of the island designated as a national park, Yonehara Yaeyama palm colony, mangrove forests in Fuki-tsukigawa River, the sea including Kabirawan, which is one of only 17 places in Japan and the only place in Okinawa Prefecture to receive three stars from the Michelin Green Guide Japon, and Omotodake, the highest peak in Okinawa Prefecture. （The area is rich in nature, including Omotodake, the highest peak in Okinawa Prefecture.
It is also a mecca for diving, attracting divers from all over the world, and is famous as the best diving spot in Japan.For this reason, there are more than 150 diving services (stores where you can experience diving) alone! There are also many other tours that allow you to experience various aspects of nature.
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Places to visit on your trip to Ishigaki
Oceanic Favorite Spot: "Phantom Island" Hamashima
Ishigaki Island has many famous marine spots such as Kabira Bay, Nagura Bay, and Blue Cave, but the only place you should visit is the "Phantom Island" Hamashima. Hamashima is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ishigaki Island. The white sandy beach and the blue ocean as far as the eye can see are spectacular. If you come to Ishigaki Island, you should enjoy seeing and snorkeling.
Click here for tours to the "Phantom Island" Hamashima.
Check here for recommended spots in Ishigaki Island! ↓↓.
Snorkeling in Ishigaki Island, Japan! List of recommended snorkeling spots
Mangrove Isthmus: Fukidori River & Miyara River
Speaking of mangroves, you may have an image of Iriomote Island, but Ishigaki Island also has mangrove spots as wonderful as Iriomote Island. Two famous mangrove rivers in Ishigaki Island are Fukidori River and Miyara River. The course to Fukidori River is a little bit hard, but the tour to the waterfall by mangrove canoe (SUP) and trekking is popular.
The Miyara River is also a spot where visitors can feel close to the mangrove jungle, with its natural treasure hirugi forests and caves, even though it is close to the city center. Canoeing and SUP tours are popular.
Click here for a list of canoe tours in Ishigaki Island.
Click here for a list of SUP tours in Ishigaki Island.
Mountain Isthmus: Mount Omotodake & Mount Nosoko
Did you know that Ishigaki Island actually has the highest mountain in Okinawa? It is called Omotodake (おも登岳) and is about 526 meters high. There is also a spot called Nosoko Marpei where you can see 360 degree view of Ishigaki Island. Nosoko Marpei is close to Fukidori River, and the combination plan of mangrove canoeing (SUP) and trekking is popular.
Downtown Ishigaki Island
Ishigaki Island is gradually developing downtown including restaurants & resorts. Restaurants and souvenir shops are mainly located around "Ishigakijima Port Terminal".Especially on 730 Street, including Euglena Mall, there are not only taverns but also convenience stores and hamburger chains, so it is convenient in case you need something!
If you want to relax in the midst of nature, you can go to a dark place with no light and stargaze!
Hotel Situation in Ishigaki Island
Ishigaki Island is a tropical resort area, and there are various types of hotels such as resort hotels, pensions, and minshuku. When choosing a hotel, please pay attention to the location as well as the grade. Ishigaki Island is a big island, so if you choose the wrong location, it will be very inconvenient. Basically, there are only restaurants around the city center (near the remote island terminal), so if you want to enjoy the night, we recommend you to go around the city center.In addition, many tours outside of the city center do not offer hotel pick-up service, so a rental car is essential.
Environment of Ishigaki Island
atmospheric temperature
Ishigaki Island, including the Yaeyama Islands, is in the subtropical zone, unlike Honshu, which has a temperate climate. Therefore, you can enjoy a comfortable climate all year round. Particularly attractive is the small temperature difference during the year. Even in midsummer, the temperature stays in the low 30's Celsius, and the average annual temperature is warm at about 23℃ and 4It is a very comfortable place to live because the average temperature is over 20 degrees Celsius for about 8 months from June to November. Therefore, many people live in short sleeves all year round (laugh).
In January, the coldest month, the average temperature is about 18 degrees Celsius, which is about the same as in May in Honshu. Moreover, the water temperature is said to be about 3°C higher, so it is possible to enter the ocean even in the coldest winter (if you feel cold, just put on a wetsuit).
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Why is Ishigaki Island recommended for sightseeing in winter?
season
Ishigaki Island has an image of "everlasting summer paradise", but summer is not necessarily the only season! The Yaeyama Islands are in the subtropical zone, so the winter temperature is comfortable and you can experience the peak of Ryukyu violets such as "Ryukyu Violets" and breeding scenes of plants and animals that you can only see during this season.
Winter and spring in Ishigaki Island are the best seasons to see the starry sky, which is said to be the most beautiful in Japan, and Yaeyama fireflies, which are called "carpet of light"!
For details and a list of Ishigaki Island Night Tour plans, click here↓.
daylight hours
You may feel that Ishigaki Island has long daylight hours due to the late sunset. In summer, it sometimes does not get dark even after 8 o'clock! There is about 1 hour time difference between sunrise and sunset between Tokyo and Ishigaki Island. So in the morning and at night, you can feel a little bit different and extraordinary as if you are in a foreign country!
How to get to Ishigaki Island
How to get to Ishigaki Island by plane
Ishigaki Island became very convenient with the opening of Japan's southernmost airport in 2013 under the name of "Nannujima Ishigaki Airport". There are direct flights from Tokyo (Haneda/Narita), Osaka (Kansai), Nagoya (Chubu), and other major cities to Ishigaki Airport from the mainland. It takes about 3 hours from Tokyo and 2 hours and 50 minutes from Osaka to reach Ishigaki Airport. From Osaka and Narita (from July 2018)With LCCs flying in, a round-trip trip can be made for 10,000 yen or less if the season is not in season.Overnight stay may be included in the package plan!
How to get to downtown "Ishigakijima Port Terminal" from Ishigaki Island
After arriving at "Nannujima Ishigaki Airport", you will most likely head to the "Ishigakijima Port Terminal" area where the downtown area and hotels are located. There are four means of transportation: cab, bus, rental car, and free hotel pick-up.
- If you go by cab: It costs less than 3000 yen, so if there are 4 of you, I recommend it because there is no waiting time. It is also a good idea to ask the driver in the cab for more information.
- By bus: 500 yen to 540 yen; there are about two buses per hour and it takes about 40 to 50 minutes.
- Car rental: There are many car rental companies near the airport and they can pick you up at the airport or at Ishigaki Airport if you make a reservation in advance.
- Free hotel pickup and drop-off: Some major hotels may include this in their hotel packages.
How to get to other islands
Six outlying islands (Taketomi Island, Kohama Island, Iriomote Island, Kuroshima Island, Hateruma Island, and Hatoma Island) can be reached from Ishigakijima Port Terminal. Iriomote Island, the most popular activity spot "Galapagos of the East," is especially popular. It is recommended to visit Iriomote Island because you can return home in a day and experience the mangroves and the sea!
If you want to play in Iriomote Island day trip from Ishigaki Island, click here↓.
Iriomote Island Day Trip Tour List
How to play on Ishigaki Island
The main ways to play on Ishigaki Island are,
1. tour around the tourist attractions of Ishigaki Island by rental car.
2. join a tour to experience the ocean, mangrove river, and subtropical jungle of Ishigaki Island.
3. enjoy Ishigaki Island's unique cuisine. Especially in Ishigaki Island where nature is abundant, snorkeling, canoeing, and SUP, which is very popular nowadays, are recommended!
rent-a-car
If you rent a car for sightseeing, it takes about 3 hours for a round-the-island tour. If you include sightseeing and meal time, it takes about 8 hours to go around the island. If you want to see the best view of Ishigaki Island, we recommend you to visit here!
Click here for a list of Ishigaki Island Sightseeing Spot Driving Courses
Around the island visiting popular sightseeing spots in Ishigaki Island♪ Royal Road Driving Course
Activities
If you are traveling to Ishigaki Island, you will definitely want to participate at least once during your trip! There are over 100 activities in Ishigaki Island, so make sure to experience them and make the best memories.
Click here for a list of sightseeing & play spots in Ishigaki Island.
Ishigaki Island Sightseeing Spots! List of Recommended Sightseeing & Fun Spots
meal
The best meal to eat in Ishigaki Island is Ishigaki beef. The grass grown in the sea breeze of Ishigaki Island is rich in minerals, so the lean meat has a strong flavor and the fat is surprisingly light. There is also Misaki Beef which is as popular as Ishigaki Beef.
summary
Have you got an idea of what to expect when you travel to Ishigaki Island?" Ishigaki Island, a "tropical paradise", is one of the few tourist spots where you don't feel inconvenienced in the midst of the great nature. If you go to the center of town, you will find the downtown area, and if you go outside for a while, you can see the night sky which is said to be the best in Japan. Please make the best memories when you come to Ishigaki Island.
All the fun in Ishigaki Island is here↓.
Ishigaki Island Tours
