Ishigaki Island in Okinawa is the main island and access point to reaching the other Yaeyama Islands. It is a great place to enjoy underwater activities like diving and snorkeling with abundant coral reefs. Other attractions to visit include Banna Park, the Hirakubo Lighthouse, and many more!
Table of Contents
- Brief Introduction to Ishigaki Island
- Experiences to Enjoy on Ishigaki Island
- What to Eat at Ishigaki Island
- Best Places to Stay on Ishigaki Island
- Access to Ishigaki Island
- Takeaway
Brief Introduction to Ishigaki Island
Ishigaki Island is one of the Yaeyama Islands of Okinawa. It is a commercial area with plenty of facilities, businesses, and services to offer to its residents and tourists. The many eateries, hotels and the like relaxation facilities combined with the island’s natural beauty makes it a popular beach holiday destination. It is also the main transportation hub of the Yaeyama Islands providing travel access to the other smaller islands like Yonaguni.
Geography
Ishigaki is surrounded by Kabira Bay, which is one of its top attractions. It is also located quite near to Taiwan, separated by around 200 miles of ocean. It is even possible to get a direct flight from Taiwan to Ishigaki Island which takes around 1-hour. Ishigaki has a subtropical climate, winters are mild with minimum temperatures not less than 15°C whilst summers are humid with maximum temperatures around 30 to 32°C.
Economy
Tourism and commercial activities are what supports the economy of this island. In 2018, Ishigaki was chosen as the top trending destination by TripAdvisor. It also topped the list of “Destinations on the Rise”. That just goes to show how well they are doing, and how much to expect of a trip to Ishigaki.
※ Business Insider, “This stunning Japanese island you've probably never heard of is the top trending travel destination for 2018”
Writer's Pick
Experiences to Enjoy on Ishigaki Island
Without further ado, let’s visit the top attractions on Ishigaki Island:
Kabira Bay
One of the highlights of Ishigaki is the beautiful Kabira Bay. Do note that swimming or playing in the water is not allowed. This is because Kabira Bay and its waters is one of two precious places in Japan where black pearls are cultivated. At one end of the beach is a shop selling black pearl jewelry that also doubles as an information spot to learn about how these beauties are grown. Another plus point - it’s foreigner friendly with English support.
Aside from these, you can also join a glass bottom boat cruise to enjoy the underwater sights. Make sure to explore the area for souvenirs and food stalls.
Banna Park
Is it a park? Is it a forest? Well, with Banna Park, it can be both! A mountain park located on Mt. Banna, you can enjoy the view of the sea from up here. The park also boasts of many flora and fauna that you can only see in Japan. This is a perfect place to explore and catch a breath of fresh air.
The huge park is separated into 5 zones of A to E. Each zone has its own attractive points:
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Zone A: The Banna Woods area can be found here along with the visitor centre.
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Zone B: The 3 main observatories are here, one of which has a view of Okinawa’s Emerald Sea.
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Zone C: Enjoy the view of Ishigaki Dam from the Crested Serpent Observatory カンムリワシ展望台 and the Rhododendron Suspension Bridge セイシカ橋.
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Zone D: A nature observation area where people frequent for walks. Approaching the west exit are several walking paths as well as a firefly trail.
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Zone E: Also known as the adventure zone, a children’s playground, golf course, roller skate park, and BMX circle park can be found here.
Fukido River Kayaking
Fukido River 吹通川 is located in the north peninsula of Ishigaki Island. The winding rainforest river flows towards a mangrove swamp and eventually joins up to the East China Sea. Kayaking is a great way to experience the Fukido River, but do be aware that you will encounter insects and animals so bring insect repellent. There are quite a few tour companies that provide kayaking services. A half-day rental will cost around 7,000 yen.
It is recommended to book your kayak trip in advance, especially during peak seasons.
Hirakubo Lighthouse
Another interesting place you can go to if you want a majestic view of the Ishigaki seascape is the Hirakubo Lighthouse 平久保埼灯台, an observatory located at the northern part of the island.The best time to visit is sunrise and sunset to catch the gleaming golden orange sun.
Sukuji Beach
Disappointed at not being able to swim in Kabira Bay? Here’s a beach that you can swim in - Sukuji Beach. With the same clear pristine crystal blue waters and fine sandy white beaches, it does not lose out to Kabira Bay. The coast is shallow enough that even kids can safely swim. Consider going to Sukuji Beach if you want to enjoy a day swimming on the beach.
What to Eat at Ishigaki Island
Try the different unique island dishes local to the area. Here are some recommendations to get you started:
Yaeyama Soba
Yaeyama Soba differs from regular soba and even Okinawa soba. For one, the noodles in Yaeyama soba are not flat, as they are rounder and also thinner. Another thing - the soup is richer, unlike the light refreshing soba broth you might imagine. And lastly, the toppings are usually pork, kamaboko slices, and island peppers as a spicy condiment. That sounds totally different from traditional Kyoto soba. You can try Yaeyama Soba in Kunatsuyu and Gushuan!
Ishigaki Beef
Ishigaki Beef is a type of Wagyu beef like world famous Kobe beef. It is made from Japanese Black cattle that are local to the Yaeyama Islands. They are mostly consumed in Okinawa as the limited space makes it difficult for mass production. Some tourists travel to Ishigaki just to taste the delicacy that is Ishigaki beef!
Want to eat Ishigaki Beef? Here’s a list of the Certified Restaurants and Retailers prepared by JA Okinawa. Or try these places: Ishigaki Beef Maru and Ishinagi-Ya.
Shikuwasa
Shikuwasa is a local lime that Ishigaki island is known to produce. Like lemon, it is used to flavour floods like grilled meat, fish, and more. It can also be made into juice or desserts. (A popular drink is shikuwasa sour, an alcoholic drink mixing shikuwasa juice, shochu liquor and soda.)
※ Okinawa Bridging Asia, “Shikuwasa”
Kooreegusu (Spicy Pepper Chili Oil)
The locals on the island are known to make their food extra hot and spicy with their Spicy Pepper Chili Oil. They have farms dedicated to growing peppers, and whenever they can, try to infuse peppers in their local dishes.
※ Okinawa Bridging Asia, “Kooreegusu”
Best Places to Stay on Ishigaki Island
Ishigaki is truly an island paradise. Here are popular places where you can relax during your stay at Ishigaki.
Tsundara Beach House
Looking for a holiday retreat in a private beach house? Try Tsundara Beach House, a spacious home fully equipped with laundry, kitchen, facilities and more. The best thing is, you’ll have a private beach to yourself and free of other beach-goers and screaming children. Minimum stay is for 2-nights at 80,000 yen. Although meant for single travelers and couples, it can accommodate up to 4 people.
Vessel Hotel Ishigaki Island
Vessel Hotel is a modern hotel perfect for couples or a small group. It is a highly rated hotel with reasonable prices - you can get a room for less than 10,000 yen. Previous guests praised its cleanliness and superbly delicious breakfast buffet that includes Okinawan food.
Ishigaki Seaside Hotel
Ishigaki Seaside Hotel is a modern hotel offering plenty of oceanfront rooms. Aside from those, they have Polynesian style cottage villas with wood themes and straw roofs that really brings out the tropical atmosphere of Ishigaki Island. Most importantly, the hotel is located right beside the ocean. From banana boat rides, snorkeling, diving and more, you don’t need to leave the hotel grounds to have fun.
Access to Ishigaki Island
There are several direct flights to Ishigaki Island from not just Japan but overseas as well. For domestic flights to Ishigaki Island, there’s Tokyo, Osaka, Okinawa, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Miyako, and Yonaguni. From overseas, there’s Hong Kong and Taiwan. Once you arrive at Ishigaki Airport, you will need to take a bus to get to the central part of the Island which takes around 45-mins.
※ Visit Ishigaki, "Getting to Ishigaki and the Yaeyamas"
Takeaway
Ishigaki is a great holiday destination for plenty of sunlight and warm beach activities. Not to forget the scrumptious seafood delights and local Okinawan food. Once you get to Ishigaki, you can use it as a starting point to reach the other Yaeyama Islands or just enjoy the convenience in exploring Ishigaki.
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