KAWAHIRA ISHIZAKI
Early reservations are recommended as they fill up quickly.
◆Tuk-tuks and electric trikes are also popular!
What Is Kawahira Ishizaki?
On the Club Med grounds, a beautiful emerald-green sea stretches out beyond the tip of the cape.
To the left of the cape lies a calm stretch of sea with a view of Misaki on the opposite shore.
Off the coast to the right is a diving spot world-renowned for its manta ray gatherings.
During peak season, numerous dive boats gather here.
How to Get to Kawahira Ishizaki
Kawahira Ishizaki is a beach located across from the Club Med Ishigaki Island resort hotel, about a 5-minute drive from Kawahira Bay and about a 30-minute drive from downtown.
From the city center, head north on Prefectural Route 79; after driving for about 30 minutes, you’ll arrive at the Kawahira settlement.
The Club Med Ishigaki Island resort hotel is located right nearby, so you can access it by going to the hotel.
There are signs pointing the way to Club Med Ishigaki Island from both the village and Kabira Bay, so it’s easy to get there.
Things to Do in Kawahira Ishizaki
Since Kabira Ishizaki is a beach located in the Kabira area—one of the island’s most scenic spots—its crystal-clear waters are home to an abundance of coral and tropical fish, making it the perfect spot for snorkeling and diving.
Because it's a beach tucked away behind Club Med, it attracts more visitors than other beaches.
If you head a little way out to sea, you’ll find spots like Manta Scramble, where you’re very likely to encounter manta rays, and during the summer season, you can see dive boats coming and going.
Not only can you see manta rays, but you can also encounter coral reefs and sea turtles, so feel free to stop by.
Details on Kawahira Ishizaki
Kabira Ishizaki, with its exceptionally clear waters, stretches out across from Club Med, one of Ishigaki Island’s top resort hotels.
The coastline in front of us is a small hill, and when you look out at the ocean from here, you can clearly see the reef.
Since this hilltop can only accommodate about three people, please be prepared to wait your turn if there are others there.
Also, since the footing isn't very stable, be sure to visit on a sunny day.
Also, along the road from Club Med to Kawahira-Ishizaki, there are many Adan trees—a subtropical species—growing wild.
It is orange in color, shaped like a pineapple, and gives off a sweet fragrance.
Furthermore, since adan is a type of bamboo shoot, it is very tough and has a strong bitterness, so it is rarely used for food.
As the orange Adan fruit ripens, it turns red, making it a quintessentially tropical plant that stands out beautifully against the white sand beach and the emerald-green sea. Since these Adan fruits are a favorite treat of coconut crabs, you might just spot one if you visit at night.
Also, there’s a Club Med private beach near Kawahira Ishizaki, so it’s a great idea to visit that as well.
Since there are no overnight guests, you can enjoy swimming and other activities with greater freedom.
With such a beautiful ocean, Kabira Ishizaki is also a popular spot for watching the sunset, and the sight of the emerald-green sea gradually turning crimson is a must-see!
Activities Perfect for Kawahira Ishizaki
diving
Diving is a must-do activity in Kawahira Ishizaki.
Off the coast of Kawahira Ishizaki are Manta Scramble and Manta City, spots where you can encounter manta rays—a signature feature of Ishigaki Island’s waters.
From spring through fall, you're very likely to encounter them, especially during the summer.
Since fall is the manta ray breeding season, you might even see a group of males chasing after a female!
Manta rays, which are related to stingrays, have a wingspan of 4 to 5 meters when they spread their fins, and their graceful swimming is so beautiful that they are often called the "queens of the sea."
Be sure to take your time observing the manta rays as they swim gracefully.
snorkeling
While most manta ray tours involve diving, there are actually snorkeling tours available as well.
From Kabira Bay—Ishigaki Island’s premier scenic spot—it takes about 5 to 10 minutes by snorkeling boat to reach the manta ray spot, where you’ll float on the surface of the water and wait for the manta rays to arrive.
At the peak of the season, more than 10 manta rays may appear at once!
There are also areas nearby with dense coral reefs and spots where sea turtles visit, so you’ll have the chance to encounter other marine life besides manta rays.
Recommended Spots Near Kawahira Ishizaki
Taira Remote Island Beach
Taira Remote Island Beach is a rocky beach located in the western part of Kabira Ishizaki.
Even though it’s called a beach, it’s actually made up of three rocky hills, and since only a small part of it faces the ocean, it doesn’t really have the feel of a beach.
That said, since very few tourists visit, the landscape remains unspoiled, and the area is home to an abundance of coral and marine life.
In addition, if you head out to the open sea, you may encounter manta rays; it is known as the best place in Japan to see them.
However, as I mentioned earlier, since it’s a rocky beach, the ground is unstable.
Please be sure to watch your step when you visit.
Although you can reach the offshore area by tour boat or other means, swimming is prohibited from this beach for safety reasons, so please do not swim under any circumstances.
Sukuji Beach
Sokoji Beach is a long, white-sand beach stretching approximately 1 km and forming a large arc along the west coast of the peninsula, south of Ishizaki in Kabira Bay.
The contrast between the white sand beach and the emerald-green waters is truly beautiful, and a grove of Mokumao trees—which serve as a windbreak—lines the shore, creating a quintessentially Okinawan atmosphere.
Attracted by its beautiful scenery, many tourists return year after year, and it has been awarded two stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan.
Because this beach has shallow, calm waters, visitors can safely enjoy swimming here, and it is also the site of Japan’s earliest beach-opening event.
With a full range of facilities, including restrooms, showers, changing rooms, and a large parking lot, the area is bustling with people during the peak season.
Address: Kabira, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture
Phone: 0980-86-8686
Kabira Bay
Kabira Bay, located east of Kabira Ishizaki, is one of the island’s most scenic spots and its top tourist destination.
Kawahira Bay is a world-renowned scenic spot of such beauty that it has been selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Scenic Spots and has earned the highest three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, which I mentioned earlier.
It is said that the color of the sea in Kabira Bay changes to seven different hues depending on the tide level and the angle of the sun.
From the Kabira Observation Deck, you can take in a panoramic view of the beautiful Kabira Bay.
The view changes significantly depending on whether you're along Kawahira Bay or at the observation deck, so be sure to compare the two!
The water in Kabira Bay is exceptionally clear, and black pearls are cultivated there.
The water is very clear, so you can observe the coral and marine life right from the surface.
For this reason, glass-bottom boat cruises—where the bottom of the boat is made of transparent glass—are known as a popular activity.
There are also walking paths throughout the park, along with souvenir shops and restaurants, making it the perfect place for a leisurely stroll!
Directions: About a 30-minute drive from Ishigaki Airport; about a 30-minute drive from the Ishigaki Port Remote Islands Terminal
Parking: Available
KAWAHIRA ISHIZAKIDetails of
| Location | Kabira, Ishigaki City, Okinawa, JapanMAView by P) |
| Access | A 5-minute drive from Kabira Bay |
| parking lot | ant |
| toilet | ant |
| Business Hours | - |
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