Ishigaki Island - Shin-Ei Park -
Check it out and make a reservation early☆.
◆Tuk-tuks and electric trikes are also rapidly gaining popularity☆.
About Shin-Ei Park
Remote Island TerminalA large park located just a short distance away.
This park often serves as an outdoor venue for major events held on Ishigaki Island, such as the “Orion Beer Fest” and the “Tubarama Tournament.”
It usually has a laid-back atmosphere, with the islanders playing sports or enjoying the playground equipment.
It's also perfect for buying and eating bento boxes—like spam nigiri—near the city center♪
In addition to the World Peace Bell and the monument commemorating the City of Peace Declaration, there is also a statue of Ishigaki City’s mascot, “Pai-guru.”
Directions to Shin-Sakae Park
Shin-Ei Park is located about a 5-minute walk or a 3-minute drive from the Remote Islands Terminal, and about a 26-minute drive from New Ishigaki Airport.
Exit the Remote Islands Terminal, turn left, then turn left onto Misaki Center Street, and you'll see Shin-Ei Park straight ahead.
There is a parking lot on the right, so if you're coming by car, please use that one.
How to Enjoy Shin-Sakae Park
Since it's located near major hotels and the downtown area, you'll often see families with children out and about.
Various events are held there around July every year, so if there’s an event going on, it might be a good idea to stop by.
Related columns are here↓.
Details about Shin-Ei Park
Shin-Ei Park is very accessible, located close to the city center and the remote island terminal. With its spacious grounds featuring a variety of monuments and playground equipment, it’s a popular spot for both locals and tourists.
The spacious grounds feature expansive green spaces where local children enjoy playing sports and using playground equipment such as swings and slides.
It's a park with a laid-back atmosphere, and it's a great place to buy a bento in the city and have lunch.
Although it’s usually a place with such a peaceful atmosphere, its spacious grounds mean it’s often used as an event venue.
In particular, during the summer season, the island serves as the venue for major events such as the “Tubarama” music festival and the Orion Beer Fest, attracting visitors from both on and off the island and creating a lively atmosphere.
In addition, the park features playground equipment modeled after shisa, a bell for world peace, and a monument commemorating the city’s declaration as a City of Peace.
There are only five World Peace Bells in Japan, and only 21 in the world.
This World Peace Bell was cast and donated with the cooperation of the 98 member states of the United Nations at that time to widely convey the horrors of war and the preciousness of peace.
There are now five of them in Japan, and the first one was established in Wakkanai, Hokkaido.
It was subsequently installed in Shin-Sakae Park in 1988.
This bell is rung on occasions such as the end of the war, the day the Battle of Okinawa ended (a day of remembrance), and the day the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred—to reflect on the tragedies of war and disasters and to reaffirm our commitment to peace.
Shin-Ei Park features various statues and monuments, one of which is a map centered on Ishigaki Island.
If you look at that map, you'll see that Taiwan is closer to Ishigaki Island than the mainland is.
You’ll probably notice that there are a lot of foreign visitors on Ishigaki Island—not just at Shin-Ei Park, of course.
I hope we can preserve this environment, where people can live together with smiles across national borders, for future generations.
Since it’s close to both the Remote Islands Terminal and the city center, it’s a great place to relax while waiting to visit restaurants, stay at hotels, or travel to nearby islands.
Recommended Sightseeing Spots Near Shin-Ei Park
Gushiken Youtaka Monument
The Yoshitaka Gushiken Monument is located in front of the pier at the Remote Islands Terminal.
Therefore, after leaving Shin-Sakae Park, head east on Misaki Center Street, turn right at the first intersection, and continue straight ahead to reach the Remote Islands Terminal.
The Yoshitaka Gushiken Monument is a statue of Yoshitaka Gushiken located in front of the pier at the Ishigaki Remote Islands Terminal.
This monument was erected to honor Mr. Gushiken, who made history during his career as a professional boxer by successfully defending his WBA World Junior Flyweight Championship title 13 times in a row.
They welcome visitors arriving on Ishigaki Island from the various outlying islands.
The golden monument depicts Mr. Gushiken during his championship days, and it looks really cool.
It's a popular photo spot, but the backlighting is strong in the morning, so let's go take some photos in the afternoon.
Since it's located inside the Remote Islands Terminal, why not take this opportunity to enjoy sightseeing on the nearby islands as well?
Location: 1 Misaki-cho, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture (in front of Ishigaki Port Remote Island Terminal)
Access: 30 minutes by car from Ishigaki Airport
Parking: Available
Meals (nearby): Available
Toilet: Yes
Sakhalin fir (Abies sachalinensis)
From the north side of Shin-Ei Park, head northeast toward City Hall Street.
Turn onto the Torinji Nishi-dori Street, and it will appear on your right.
Tōrin-ji Temple was founded in 1614 when the Satsuma Domain invaded the Ryukyu Kingdom; since there were no temples or shrines in the Yaeyama Islands at the time, the domain made a recommendation to King Shō Nei, leading to the temple’s establishment.
This temple is the oldest wooden structure in Okinawa Prefecture, and the Gongen-do Hall was built at the same time as Tōrin-ji Temple.
In 1737, two Nio statues were carved for the temple gate; today, they are designated as Prefectural Tangible Cultural Properties and are known as the oldest wooden sculptures in Okinawa.
This tranquil temple exudes a sense of history, and the presence of traditional Yaeyama-style red-tiled houses and massive banyan trees lends it a mysterious, serene atmosphere.
The shrine is particularly crowded with visitors during the year-end and New Year’s holidays.
Although it has fewer visitors than the Tomizaki Kannon Hall, it is the second most popular spot.
Amulets are also sold near the entrance. There’s a rule unique to Ishigaki Island where you include the cost of the fortune slip in your offering.
Location: 285 Ishigaki, Ishigaki City, Okinawa, Japan
Access: 15 min. walk from the remote island terminal
Parking: Available
Meals (nearby): None
Toilet: None
Ishigaki Family Garden
The Ishigaki Family Garden is located on the right after you pass Tōrin-ji Temple and Mount Nosoko on your right and turn left at the second street.
The Ishigaki Family Garden is one of the two historic gardens of the Yaeyama Islands and was built by the ancestors of the Ishigaki family. It is easily accessible, located about a 20-minute walk from downtown Ishigaki Island.
In addition to the serene atmosphere reminiscent of a Japanese garden, the space is adorned with Ryukyu coral, which grows alongside subtropical plants; as a result, rather than feeling like a typical Japanese garden, you can sense the unique characteristics of the Yaeyama Islands throughout the space.
The Ishigaki Family Garden is a private residence where the Ishigaki family lives, so you cannot enter it; please view it from the outside when visiting.
Address: 287 Shinkawa, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture
Directions: About a 20-minute walk from the Remote Islands Terminal
Parking: No
Meals (nearby): None
Toilet: No
Details about Shin-Ei Park
| Location | 4 Shin-ei-cho, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture (in Japanese history)View in MAP) |
| Access | 5 min. walk from the remote island terminal |
| parking lot | ant |
| toilet | ant |
| Business Hours | - |
Related columns are here↓.
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