About the opening of the sea in Ishigaki Island! We also introduce our recommended sea!

What is the opening of the ocean on Ishigaki Island?

The sea opening in Yaeyama, including Ishigaki Island, is known as the earliest in Japan, and is held in mid-March in Ishigaki City, Taketomi Town, and Yonaguni Island in Okinawa Prefecture, taking place in turn each year. On the opening day, a safety prayer is held, followed by the first swim and various events. In addition to local events such as Miss Yaeyama and local performing arts, there are also events that both locals and tourists can enjoy together, such as live comedy and music performances, and beachside treasure hunts.

Ishigaki Island's Ocean Opening Season

As mentioned above, the ocean opening season on Ishigaki Island is mid-March, and swimming is possible between March and October, when the ocean opens. March in Ishigaki Island is equivalent to early summer on the mainland, but the water temperature may be low. In such a case, we recommend you to wear a wetsuit. You will hardly feel the cold and you will be able to swim freely because of the buoyancy. It is recommended for both activities and swimming. The ocean of Ishigaki Island is shallow and calm, so small children can enjoy playing in the water safely.

Ishigaki Island's ocean-opening venues

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the Yaeyama beach openings are held in Ishigaki City, Taketomi Town, and Yonaguni Island, taking turns each year. Incidentally, this year 2020 was held at Sukuji Beach on Ishigaki Island. Details are as follows.

The Yaeyama Sea Opening is a major event in Yaeyama that attracts many people from both inside and outside the island!
Be sure to check out the many attractions, from safety prayers to the first entry into the water and events!

Notes on the Opening of the Ishigaki Island Sea

There are several points to note about the ocean opening. Since the opening of Ishigaki Island is held in March, it is not the season when dangerous creatures such as habu jellyfish abound, but species that can be found in the cold waters of the open ocean, such as bonito eboshi, appear regardless of the hot season. The probability of encountering them is low because they are not as abundant as jellyfish, but one must be careful because they possess a deadly neurotoxin. The following article introduces the creatures of Ishigaki Island, so please take a look before visiting Ishigaki Island. You will be able to enjoy swimming and snorkeling more because there are other species introduced besides the dangerous ones. Another danger of the ocean opening is that the water temperature is low for the summer season. On sunny days, the water temperature is relatively high, but if the weather is not favorable, both the temperature and the water temperature do not rise as much, so the sensation of temperature is also lower. Women and children are especially vulnerable to losing body heat, so be sure to take precautions such as wearing a wetsuit!
In addition, it is the busy season, so be sure to stay with your child at all times to avoid getting separated from him or her.

The 10 best seas of Ishigaki Island

(1) Ishigakijima Sunset Beach

Ishigaki Island Sunset Beach is a well maintained and beautiful man-made beach located on the west coast of Hirakubo Peninsula that extends to the northern part of the island. It is a safe beach for children with a lifeguard and nets to prevent jellyfish. As the name "Sunset Beach" suggests, you can enjoy a beautiful sunset in the evening and a star-filled night sky in the evening.

Ishigaki Island-Ishigakijima Sunset Beach   What is Ishigaki Island Sunset Beach? The beach is located on the west side of Ishigaki Island, and as the name suggests, you can enjoy spectacular sunset. Of course during the daytime, swimming in the ocean with a view of Hirakubo Peninsula is a blissful moment! The beach is always supervised [...].

(2) Sukuji Beach

Sokodo Beach is the site of this year's ocean opening and is located 10 minutes by car from Kabira Bay, a popular tourist destination in Ishigaki Island, and features a long white sand beach that stretches in a large arc for 1 km. The mokumao forest along the beach acts as a windbreak, and the waves are calm and the sea is beautiful, earning it two stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japon. While the beach is a pristine natural beach, it is also well equipped with toilets, showers, changing rooms, and a large parking lot, making it a comfortable place to enjoy swimming.

Ishigaki Island-Sukuji Beach   Sukuji Beach is one of the representative beaches in Ishigaki Island. It is one of the representative beaches in Ishigaki Island. 1km long white sand beach and blue ocean stretches along the green forest of Mokumao! Sukuji Beach is located at the end of the beach and leads directly to Kabira-ishizaki, a scenic spot in Ishigaki [...].

(iii) Husaki Beach

Fusaki Beach is a natural beach in front of Fusaki Resort Village, one of the most popular resort hotels on the island, facing Nagura Bay, the largest bay in Ishigaki Island. Because of its proximity to the city center, it is crowded with many tourists every year. The beach is shallow and equipped with a lifeguard and nets to prevent jellyfish, so children can play safely. Although Fusaki Beach attracts many tourists, it has been left so pristine that sea turtles visit the beach every year to lay eggs, and in the evening you can watch the sunset over the pier that extends into the ocean.

Ishigaki Island - Fusaki Beach   About Husaki Beach Husaki Beach facing Nagura Bay in front of Husaki Resort Village is a natural long beach with white sand and beautiful sea, although it is close to the city center. The shallow beach offers a good view and is especially popular among tourists and families.

4) Yonehara Beach

Yonehara Beach is one of the top beaches in Ishigaki Island with colorful corals and tropical fish. The entire shallow sea is covered with corals and suitable for snorkeling. The reef dries up at low tide, making it dangerous, so it is recommended to enjoy activities at high tide. The high transparency of the ocean allows visitors to observe tropical fish swimming freely without having to enter the water.

Ishigaki Island-Yonehara Beach   About Yonehara Beach Yonehara Beach is located in the northern part of Ishigaki Island and is one of the most popular beaches in Ishigaki Island. It is a beautiful beach with coral reefs, white sand, and lush green coastline. You can see colorful tropical fish from the beach. Around the area is a blue [...].

5) Maesato Beach

It is a well maintained and cleaned man-made beach located on the south coast of Ishigaki Island, about 700 meters away from the ANA Intercontinental Ishigaki Resort, and is free of charge even for non-guests. It is a perfect spot to enjoy Ishigaki Island as rental items for activities and tours are available. Maesato Beach, like Fusaki Beach, also has a lifeguard and nets for habu jellyfish, so you can play in the sea safely.

Ishigaki Island-Maezato Beach   What is Maezato Beach? Maezato Beach is located in front of the ANA InterContinental Hotel. There is a beach house managed by the hotel, but it is also open to the general public. The beach house offers a variety of marine activities [...].

6) Shiraho Coast

Shiraho Beach is a precious beach with the largest blue coral colony in the northern hemisphere, located about 10 minutes drive from Shin-Ishigaki Airport. Of course, it is a popular diving and snorkeling spot because it is home to dozens of species of corals and a wide variety of creatures in addition to blue corals. Tourists from Japan and abroad also visit the beach for snorkeling.
The contrast between the white sand and the emerald green sea is very beautiful due to the pristine nature of the beach. Because of its location on the east coast, the Shiraho Coast offers a beautiful sunrise view in the early morning, adding to the charm of the beach. Breathing in the fresh morning air and taking in the beautiful sunrise will give you the best start to the day. Please feel free to visit this spot as it is only a 10-minute drive from Shin-Ishigaki Airport and a 20-minute drive from the city center, which is very convenient.

Ishigaki Island-Shiraho Beach   About Shiraho Beach Shiraho Beach is located in the eastern part of the island, about 5 minutes by car from Shin-Ishigaki Airport, on the way from the airport to the city center, and about 20 minutes by car from the city center. The natural white sand beach stretches for about 10 km, and the population [...].

(7) Kabira Bay

Kabira Bay, the most scenic spot in Ishigaki Island, boasts such a spectacular view that it was awarded three stars in the Michelin Green Guide and is the imposing No. 1 tourist attraction on the island. The water quality is excellent, as it is used for black pearl cultivation, and the transparency of the water is outstanding. While SUP and sea kayak tours have age restrictions, the glass boat tour is open to babies and the elderly, so it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Tropical plants grow wild on the white beach, and coconut crabs can be seen at night. Enjoy Ishigaki Island's representative sightseeing spot, which was selected as one of the 100 scenic spots in Japan.

Ishigaki Island's No. 1 popular tourist spot! Summary of recommended tours & things to do in Kabira BayKabira Bay, located in the northwestern part of Ishigaki Island, is a 3-star tourist spot in the Michelin Green Guidebook. We introduce the attraction of Kabira Bay and access information!

8) Shani Shani Beach

Shani Shani Beach, located on the south coast of Ishigaki Island, is called the original sea turtle spot, and has long been a spot where you have a high probability of encountering sea turtles.
Shani Shani Beach is an unusual name, but "Shani Shani" is a word that expresses excitement and exhilaration in the Yaeyama dialect. As the name suggests, this is a spot where you can enjoy snorkeling and various marine sports where you can meet sea turtles, and it is also popular for family trips. The crystal clear sea with calm waves and the white sand beach stretching in a curve are characteristic of this place. On a fine day, you can see the surrounding outlying islands such as Taketomi Island, Iriomote Island, and Kohama Island. Why don't you have an exciting and thrilling experience at the largest resort in Japan?

Nata Beach

Nata Beach, located northeast of the Tamatorizaki Observatory, is one of the most scenic spots on the island, and is rarely visited by tourists, giving it a private beach feel. The shallow waters are ideal for swimming. There are lodging facilities such as Nata Bee Villa and Coral Resort Ishigaki Island nearby, so it is good to stay overnight and experience a tropical resort on the beach.

10) Nabre beach

If you would like to visit a pristine, natural beach rather than an artificial beach, Nabure-no-hama is the place for you. Nabure-no-hama is a pristine natural beach with zero facilities, located in the direction of Yarabesaki from the city center. Of course, there is no parking lot, store, or rental store.
Because the tides are fast, people gather here for surfing and beachcombing. Occasionally, the island's old man comes to the beach to catch fish, creating a very friendly atmosphere.

summary

We introduced the opening of the ocean in Ishigaki Island. How was it? Ishigaki Island has the earliest ocean opening in Japan, and each beach offers activities suited to the spot and the terrain. Which beach caught your attention? Please visit them! Thank you for reading to the end.