10 sunrise spots in Ishigaki Island! Recommended sunrise tours!
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Ten sunrise spots on Ishigaki Island!
Ishigaki Island, rich in nature, has many wonderful sunrise spots because the air is so beautiful.
Spots include beaches, observatories, and even fishing ports. We would like to introduce some of the hidden spots so that you can refer to them during your trip to Ishigaki Island.
Urasaki Beach
Urasaki Beach is a secluded beach in Hirakubo area. To get there, you need to drive about 70 minutes from the city center and walk about 20 minutes, or drive 40 minutes from Shin-Ishigaki Airport and walk about 20 minutes. Either way, you need to walk for about 20 minutes, so if you are confident in your physical strength, please visit this beach!
The 20-minute walk is long, but if you keep picking up bits of coral and shells along the way, you may find yourself arriving at the beach before you know it! After a long walk, a heavenly beach spreads out before your eyes.
The contrast between low and high tides is different, with spots of light and dark blue ocean color depending on the depth. In the early morning, a beautiful sunrise can be seen, bathing the unique beach in light.
Once you see the sunrise on this secluded beach, you will want to come back again. It can be easy to forget about the long road trip and play too much. Leave enough energy for the return trip.
Address: Hirakubo, Ishigaki City, Okinawa, Japan
Access: 70 min drive + 20 min walk from downtown, 40 min drive + 20 min walk from Shin-Ishigaki Airport
(2) Akashi Beach
Akashi Beach is a natural beach in Akashi area of Hirakubo Peninsula located in the northeast of Ishigaki Island. Although it is one of the best sunrise spots in Ishigaki Island, it is rarely visited by tourists.
We recommend that you visit early in the morning because there are fewer people and you can see a very beautiful sunrise. The sound of the waves and the serene atmosphere as you wait for the sunrise will give you the most relaxing effect.
Start your day by soaking your whole body in the Ishigaki morning sun while enjoying the feeling of a private, unpopular beach!
In Akashi area where Akashi Beach is located, there is Akashi Restaurant which is very popular in Ishigaki Island. It is so popular that there is a line of people waiting in line everyday, so please visit there once. The Yaeyama soba here is exquisite!
Location: 340 Ibaruma, Ishigaki City, Okinawa, Japan
Access: 22 km from Shin-Ishigaki Airport, about 45 minutes by car
Parking: None
Meals (nearby): Available
Toilet: None
Tamatorizaki Observatory
The Tamatorizaki Observation Deck is the best place to see the sunrise coming out of the clear emerald green sea!
Tamatorizaki Observatory is located on the east coast of Ishigaki Island, so you can watch the sunrise from the horizon with an unobstructed view. It is a spot where locals also visit to watch the sunrise, and it is one of the top 3 most popular sunrise spots when asked where to watch the sunrise in Ishigaki Island.
Parking is available, so you can easily access the site by car.
Address: Ibaruma, Ishigaki City, Okinawa, Japan
Access: 20 minutes by car from Shin-Ishigaki Airport.
Parking: Available
Facilities: Restrooms, vending machines
Shiraho Coast
Shiraho Beach is one of the most biodiverse beaches in Ishigaki Island with many coral reefs and tropical fish. It is also a very accessible spot, about 10 minutes drive from Shin-Ishigaki Airport and 20 minutes drive from the city center.
The 10-km long white sand beach shines beautifully in the morning sun. In the early morning, the beach is almost deserted, with only a few locals visiting for a stroll. You can have the beach all to yourself with a high degree of freedom!
It is nice to get up and snorkel in the morning sun to observe the coral and its creatures. This beach is famous as a snorkeling spot because of the very rare blue coral colony zone, so it is nice to enjoy it while there are few people around! However, be sure to visit with more than one person to enjoy the activity in case of danger.
Access: 10 minutes by car from Shin-Ishigaki Airport. Approximately 20 minutes drive from the city center.
Parking: None
(5) Ohama Beach
For those who want to feel the atmosphere of a relaxing southern island in the morning, Ohama Beach is the perfect place! Ohama Beach is located east of the city center, so you can firmly see the sunrise.
The surroundings are very relaxing with flowers and water birds.
It is used as a morning walking course by the locals, and is more like a beach where you can relax and gaze at the ocean rather than engage in strenuous activities. Why don't you escape from your busy life of work and study and make time to relax and be healed by nature?
Access: 15 minutes by car from the terminal.
Parking: Available
6) Southern Gate Bridge
The Southern Gate Bridge, with its distinctive blue color, located in the southwestern part of Ishigaki Island, is a symbolic spot on the island that connects the reclaimed Nannu Town capital.
It is easily accessible by a 5-minute walk from the city center, making it easy to visit. The Southern Gate Bridge is a beautiful spot not only for sunrises, but also for sunsets and starry skies, and is recognized by the islanders as a spectacular spot! The top of the Southern Gate Bridge can be reached by climbing the stairs on the bridge. The view from the top of the bridge is truly spectacular.
The sunrise that fills the pitch-dark streets with light is even impressive. This is a romantic spot that is also used for marriage proposals, so be sure to visit.
(7) Inoda Fishing Port
One of the sunrise spots in Ishigaki Island is Inoda fishing port. It may be a surprise that a fishing port is a sunrise spot.
Inoda Fishing Port is located on the east coast of Ishigaki Island and offers a beautiful sunrise view. Because it is a fishing port, tourists rarely visit. If there are people, they are old men who enjoy fishing early in the morning. Inoda Fishing Port is also famous as a fishing spot, so locals often come here to fish.
You can also enjoy fishing until sunrise when you come to see the sunrise. This fishing port also offers glass boat tours, so you may want to take a glass boat around the surrounding waters during the day to see the sunrise in the morning! It is not known as a tourist spot, so you may want to visit during the hot season when it is crowded with tourists.
Access: 40 minutes by car from downtown Ishigaki
Parking: Available
(viii) Hirakubozaki
Hirakubozaki is a tourist spot frequently featured in tourist magazines and media. It is the northernmost cape of Ishigaki Island and is a well-known sunrise spot.
Since it is a very popular spot, many tourists visit for its spectacular view.
Especially during the hot season from July to September, it is crowded with many tourists. However, it is worth visiting because many people want to visit even if it is so crowded!
Access: 90 minutes by bus from the bus terminal
Parking: Available
(9) Nozoko Forest Road
Nosoko Forest Road is a forest road connecting Momohara on National Road 390 and Nosoko on Prefectural Road 79 in eastern Ishigaki Island. In fact, this forest road is a sun live spot. It is. Some of you may have passed it once because it is on the way to the Marpe mountain climbing. If you drive through during sunrise, you can watch the sunrise while driving.
The high elevation of this forest road provides a good vantage point from which to view the sunrise. The sunrise is so beautiful that it is easy to get carried away, so be careful not to lose control of the steering wheel!
(10) High ground near Shin-Ishigaki Airport
New Ishigaki Airport is located in the eastern part of the island about 30 minutes drive from the city center. The road leading to Miyara after leaving the airport is elevated, so you can see the sunrise from here.
Like the Nosoko Forest Road, this is a spot where you can enjoy the sunrise while driving, so it is a good idea to go there while watching the sunrise on the way to your destination.
Enjoy an efficient trip with the charms of Ishigaki Island while moving around!
Access: 30 minutes by car from the city center.
Parking: Available
Recommended sunrise activities on Ishigaki Island
Sunrise Activities on Ishigaki Island
(1) Sunrise Canoeing
If you want to enjoy a relaxing early morning activity in Ishigaki Island, Sunrise Canoeing is recommended!
The canoes used for the tours are highly stable and buoyant, making them suitable for everyone from small children to the elderly. The canoes can accommodate two people, so you and your children can participate together, and life jackets are available for rent. The tour starts near Miyara Bridge. We will canoe cruise towards the sea.
Cruising through the estuary, you will go out to sea and wait for the sunrise. In the silence, you can enjoy the morning sunrise caused by the gradually rising sun bathing your entire body and making every cell in your body happy.
Sunrise Activities on Ishigaki Island
(2) Sunrise SUP
SUP can also be enjoyed while feeling the morning sun of Ishigaki Island. SUP cruising starts from the mangrove in the early morning mist.
You will be given a detailed lecture by the instructor so that you can enjoy the experience with peace of mind. You will cruise to the mouth of the river where you can see the horizon. You will be surrounded by mangroves while listening to the sounds of animals waking up as background music, which is very relaxing.
On a clear day, you can see the sun rising over the horizon, and the SUP cruising is a great way to work up a good sweat in the morning because it is a full-body workout, including your core. You can enjoy a delicious breakfast as you sweat in the clear morning air and get off to a great start of your trip to Ishigaki Island!
Sunrise Activities on Ishigaki Island
3) Early morning retreat tour
One of the most popular early morning activities on Ishigaki Island is a retreat. The word "retreat" means evacuation, retreat, or seclusion in English and has a negative image, but nowadays it means to get away from daily life such as work and family life and relax.
This tour is also used in the latter sense and with a positive connotation. We will hike through the jungle in the morning mist. You will experience the great nature of Ishigaki Island with your whole body while letting the clear morning air circulate through your body. We will leave the jungle and go see the sunrise from the beach.
After feeling the sunrise on the beach, we will take another early morning walk through the jungle. Listening to the creatures that inhabit the jungle while you move your body will give you a morning experience that will leave you feeling energized and energized.
After the tour, you can enjoy Ishigaki Island for the whole day because your body and head are firmly awake. Even if it is the last day of Ishigaki Island, you can enjoy until the end, so you can enjoy it according to your schedule, so make the best use of it!
summary
We introduced the sunrise on Ishigaki Island. How was it? Ishigaki Island has one of the best sunrise spots in Japan.
There were many wonderful sunrise spots such as capes and beaches. We also introduced some activities to enjoy such beautiful sunrises.
Which spots and activities caught your attention? We hope you will find it useful for your trip to Ishigaki Island. Thank you for reading to the end.
