Picturesque Kabira Bay, resembling more Thailand than Japan, swimming with manta rays, sandy beaches with wonderful sunsets and unique Taketomi are top attractions of Ishigaki Island, situated in the southernmost prefecture in Japan – beautiful Okinawa.
After 6 years of living in the tropics and exploring beautiful beaches and forests of Southeast Asia, I had little expectations for this trip. However, Japan surprised me once again. Ishigaki Island is a true tropical paradise.
Check out this article for the tips on how to best enjoy the stunning nature and learn about the best things to do on Ishigaki Island.
What's in this blog post?
What to expect from Ishigaki Island?
If you are looking for adventures as well as relaxation on a tropical island, Ishigaki is a perfect place for you. This is where you can:
- Swim, snorkel or dive alongside a beautiful coral reef with lots of colorful fish;
- Drive through the evergreen dense tropical forests;
- Stroll in the palm grove;
- Enjoy stunning views of the bay;
- Relax on a paradise beach.
On top of all that, Ishigaki is the gateway to Taketomi Island, which is a good enough reason to come here. Taketomi is a one-of-a-kind place where you’ll experience the traditional Ryukyu culture, as well as relax on a truly paradise beach.
On Ishigaki Island, the second largest island of the Yaeyama Archipelago, which is part of the Ryukyu Islands Group, you don’t feel like you are in Japan anymore. No wonder, the island lies only 300 km away from Taiwan, while the distance to Tokyo is almost 2,000 km. Its remote location and wild nature makes it a fantastic place to escape from the bustling cities of Japan. The island is rather small (~225 km², which is ~30% of the Singapore area) and sparsely populated (less than 50,000 inhabitants). Nevertheless, it’s full of attractions.
Best time to visit and how long you should stay
You can visit the island all year round, just try to avoid the rainy season (May-June). The climate of Ishigaki is tropical so even in the coldest months it’s still pleasantly warm. The temperature fluctuates around 20°C. The best time to enjoy the sun and swim in the emerald ocean is summer (July – August).
I visited Ishigaki in August, the sky was blue and the water warm – just perfect for beach time! Although I spent a whole week in Ishigaki, I’d love to come back again one day. But I guess, in 4-5 days you can see all main attractions on the island.
Tips on how to enjoy nature on Ishigaki Island
I.
Stay in Kabira village
To make the most of the surrounding natural beauty and spend as little time commuting or in the city as possible, it is best to stay in Kabira Village rather than the main city of Ishigaki. The strategic location of the village is its greatest asset. It is located close to the main attractions of Ishigaki Island described in this blog post: Kabira Bay, Yonehara Beach, Palm Grove and the most famous diving and snorkeling spots.
Kabira Village is a tropical paradise for nature lovers. You are close to white sand beaches and, at the same time surrounded, by stunning lush greenery. In Kabira you will feel more like in Southeast Asia than in Japan. A baby gecko might visit your room, the nearest open grocery store might be located 5 km away but it’s definitely the best place to relax, submerge yourself in nature and escape from the hectic big city life. Kabira Village will not be a perfect location for everyone as there aren’t as many shops and restaurants. However, if you love nature and you are not afraid of small inconveniences, you will love Kabira Village!
I stayed in the bungalow in the Iriwa Guesthouse and loved it. Check out the official website HERE. The guesthouse can also be booked via Booking.com
II.
Rent a scooter
If you can, rent a scooter as it will give you a lot of freedom. Besides, driving around the island is very enjoyable as roads are in great condition. This is definitely the best way to explore all the corners of the island as you can stop at any beach or viewpoint you like. On the other hand, you can visit Ishigaki by taking a local bus, however, it doesn’t run very frequently. Of course, there is always an option to rent a car. But since there are not many places in Japan where you can ride a scooter on a tropical island with the wind in your hair, why not get a scooter?
Go Share electric scooters, available on Ishigaki Island, are extremely comfortable – two people can ride on one scooter – and quite affordable. In addition, they are environmentally friendly and you don’t have to worry about petrol, the batteries are easily charged at charging stations in all popular places on the island.
Go Share staff speaks perfect English, which is not something you see often in Japan. Check out Go Share official website HERE.
III.
Enjoy local products on the beach
While in Ishigaki town, pay a visit to JA Farmers Market Yaeyama as it is the best place to buy local fruits, veggies, local dairy products and interesting Okinawan snacks. After all, trying local food is an important part of your travel, isn’t it? What’s more, Okinawa is one of the poorest prefectures in Japan, therefore buying local products is a great way to support the local economy.
Japan is known for a wide variety of ready-to-eat dishes, including bento boxes and fresh sushi available in supermarkets. If you want to enjoy sunset on the beach in peace (Sukuji Beach near Kabira Bay is an amazing sunset spot) or just not to worry about getting hungry after swimming in the crystal water for hours, bring some food with you on the beach. Rice balls (onigiris) or very popular in Okinawa Prefecture rice sandwiches (onigirazu) are delicious simple snacks. The beaches in Ishigaki are rather wild, you won’t find restaurants or bars while the sunsets are gorgeous. Therefore, think about getting some food in advance.
Top 5 things to do in Ishigaki Island
#1. Kabira Bay
The first image you see when you google Ishigaki is the panoramic view of the beautiful Kabira Bay located in the north of the island. Although swimming is not allowed in the bay as it is small and it would be a bit dangerous considering the number of boats docked on the beach, you won’t be bored here.
The most popular attraction is the 30-minute glass-bottomed boat tour around the bay. I haven’t tried it myself because I prefer to discover the underwater world while snorkeling than from the boat deck, but maybe it’s something for you?
In short, there are 3 must-do things in Kabira Bay:
- take a walk on the amazing white beach;
- admire the view of the emerald waters of the bay from the observation deck;
- eat delicious Blue Seal ice cream.
Blue Seal is a local brand established in 1948 in one of the US military bases on the island of Okinawa. There are 2 ice cream shops at the entrance to Kabira Bay. You can’t miss them. My favourite flavours are those sourced from local ingredients: sugarcane, which is the largest crop in the region, Okinawan salty cookies, shiquasa sherbet, which is made of a small green citrus grown in Okinawa and Taiwan, and probably the winner, salty-milk soft serve ice cream. It’s hard to believe but there are about 150 types of salts produced in Okinawa!
#2. Taketomi Island
Taketomi Island, just 15 minutes by ferry from Ishigaki, is a very unique place. Despite being tiny – the total area is only 5.5 km² – there is so much to see!
Traditional Ryukyu village
Ever since I saw the image of the beautifully preserved village with the water buffalo cart moving slowly along a sand paved street, I knew I must come here. Taketomi was different from everything that I had seen before and associated with Japan!
Stepping into the village is like travelling back in time. The fantastically preserved Ryukyu architecture can be spotted in every corner. Red roof tiles, shisas statues to protect against evil spirits set in front of houses, coral fences, hibiscus flowers and banana trees planted in the streets, make the landscape of Taketomi unique.
And this is not the end of attractions. On Taketomi you can take a 30-minute ride in a traditional water buffalo cart through the streets of this picturesque village.
While the ride was interesting, it would certainly be more unforgettable experience if I could understand the stories and songs the driver shared with us. If you don’t have enough time, and your Japanese skills aren’t that great yet, you may, in my opinion, skip the ride. Just try to spot a traditional cart while exploring the village on foot or on a bike.
Truly paradise beach - Kondoi Beach
Kondoi Beach is the most spectacular beach on Taketomi Island and one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. The white sand, calm emerald waters and umbrellas for rent, make it a great place to relax. This is how I imagine beaches in the Maldives. I’m not exaggerating, it’s really gorgeous!
The best way to explore Taketomi is by bicycle, which can be easily rented from many locations around the island. Although the island is small and it is great for a day trip from Ishigaki, I would love to spend the night in Taketomi someday. An evening walk around the village, when most of the tourists have already left for Ishigaki, must be magical.
Taketomi is just one of the many islands around Ishigaki that can be reached by ferry. If you have enough time, you can also go to the larger island of Iriomote or any smaller, less traveled island. I’m sure it will be great.
#3. Yonehara Beach & Palm Trees Grove
Yonehara Beach
My favourite snorkelling beach on Ishigaki Island. As soon as you step into the water, you are immediately surrounded by countless colorful fish. Despite being very popular, thanks to its large size, it’s not too crowded. On the other hand, I visited Ishigaki during the pandemic so there were far fewer tourists than usual.
Before heading to the beach it’s worth checking the tidal waves as during the low tide snorkelling is a little bit harder. If you are a good swimmer, you can always swim further offshore into deeper waters where the underwater world is even more remarkable. The amount and variety of fish and the magic of the coral reef are incredible there. But, that’s where the strong and dangerous currents appear. So you have to be careful!
Yonehara Beach is easily accessible. You don’t have to walk through the bushes to get to the beach, which is sometimes required to get to less known and wilder beaches. Yes, it can get wild and adventurous in Ishigaki! Parking the motorbike is free of charge while cars need to pay 500 JPY. What’s more, the beach and parking lot do not close at 5 pm, as some of them do in Japan, so you can stay as long as you wish. Right in front of the beach entrance, there is a small shop with cold drinks, beers, snacks and a snorkeling equipment rental. There are also toilets and showers. At Yonahara, you get all you need.
Yonehara Palm Grove
It is only a 5-minute drive from Yonehara Beach to the palm grove famous for the Yaeyama palms endemic to the islands of Ishigaki and Iriomote. Even though the path for the visitors is quite short, less than a 10-minute walk, it is enough to get the feel of the real jungle.
Besides, it’s worth coming to the Yonehara Palm Grove just to taste the fresh fruit juice sold at the shop at the entrance of the groove. I got the same juice – a mix of shiquasa and pineapple – twice as it was so delicious!
#4. Swimming with manta rays in Kabira Bay
Diving with Kabira Bay
The coastal waters of Ishigaki Island are the best place in Japan to see manta rays. The most famous diving sites (“Manta Scramble” and “Manta City Point”) are located in Kabira Bay. The best chances of meeting manta rays occur from June to October.
Even though I did not encounter any mantas at “Manta Scramble” during my dive in August, I still enjoyed diving in Ishigaki. The incredible underwater topography, the beautifully now regrown coral after severe bleaching in 2016, and the abundance of fish made it worth it even without seeing manta rays. From what I was told by locals, in previous years missing a manta ray on a summer dive in the bay was almost impossible. 2021 seems a less lucky year. Is it because of the pandemic? Are mantas afraid of the coronavirus? Hopefully they will return to Kabira Bay soon.
Even though prices are rather standard at most diving companies in Ishigaki Island, I highly recommend diving with the Prime Scuba. It’s the best option for those who don’t speak Japanese as the website is in English and e-mail communication was very smooth. Besides, the diving instructor was not only fluent in English but also a keen photographer. These great underwater pictures were done by the Prime Scuba diving instructor during my dive. What a great memory!
Price for 3 dives, including equipment rental: JPY 24,000 (~220 USD).
Check the official website of the Prime Scuba HERE.
Snorkelling in Kabira Bay
If you are not a certified diver, you can still encounter manta rays. The cleaning stations, frequently visited by mantas, are located in the shallow waters of Kabira Bay. Therefore, you can just snorkel around these sites. This is how I saw my first manta (it’s her on the picture :)) in Japan.
To do this, you just need to go on a snorkeling trip with one of the local companies who will take you to the right place by boat. I chose the Umicoza Diving School, conveniently located near Kabira Bay. The price was competitive and the lady who answered the phone spoke very good English. Thanks to Umicoza, I saw a manta ray, which means I am happy about their service.Just remember no one will give a guarantee to encounter manta rays. You also need a bit of luck. 🙂
Price for a 2.5-hour trip (incl. transport time) and equipment rental: JPY 6600 (~ 60 USD).
Check the official website of the Umicoza Diving School HERE.
#5. Hirakubo Peninsula
The Hirakubo Peninsula lies on the northeastern side of Ishigaki Island. It is quite far from both the city of Ishigaki and Kabira Bay (~ 35km from both) but it’s worth visiting due to beautiful, varied landscapes. Driving through the peninsula itself is scenic and gives a great opportunity to discover less frequented and inhabited parts of the island. Due to the rain, I couldn’t see everything that I wanted. Maybe next time? Here are the main points of interest on the Hirakubo Peninsula.
Sunset Beach
The most popular beach on the Hirakubo Peninsula. It has a large parking place and paid toilets and showers. Calm waters and jellyfish nets around the swimming area make this beach very safe for swimming. To tell the truth, it wasn’t my favourite beach though. As the name of the beach suggests, thanks to its west location, it is a great sunset place. It’s a pity that parking and facilities shut down at 5 pm and people are asked to leave. So no chances for sunset here.
Sunset Beach
The most popular beach on the Hirakubo Peninsula. It has a large parking place and paid toilets and showers. Calm waters and jellyfish nets around the swimming area make this beach very safe for swimming. To tell the truth, it wasn’t my favourite beach though. As the name of the beach suggests, thanks to its west location, it is a great sunset place. It’s a pity that parking and facilities shut down at 5 pm and people are asked to leave. So no chances for sunset here.
Hirakubo Beach
My favourite beach in this part of the island, popular among locals rather than tourists. The picturesque little cove and amazing sunset. Located only 2 km from Sunset Beach. There are no facilities and no closing time. Just a vending machine by the road. Finding a parking space in a busy season might be a problem, but if you’re traveling on a scooter, you don’t have to worry about that too much.
- Tamatorizaki Observation Point – A very popular sightseeing spot offering scenic views of the island. A covered platform from which you can see the crystal blue of the water, the coral reef and the surrounding lush greenery of the tropical island of Ishigaki.
- Hirakubo Lighthouse – A picturesque white lighthouse located on the northernmost tip of Ishigaki Island – Hirakubo Cape.
- Mount Nosoko, also known as Mape (282 m) – Two trails lead to the top. The shorter path takes less than 30 minutes. I didn’t go hiking myself because of the bad weather. The view from the top is believed to be spectacular, but the trail gets slippery when it rains.
Hope you liked my article and it will help you to plan your own trip. For me, Ishigaki Island will forever remain a special place <3
