Ishigaki Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)

Encounter the stars and the blue sea of Okinawa in a 6-day seaside trip

🔮Okinawa is often referred to as the 'Hawaii of the East', each island has its own unique charm🏖. Iriomote Island where wildcats dwell🐱, the primitive charm of Taketomi Island, and the historical ruins of ancient Ryukyu🏛, are like a treasure chest of nature satisfying all beautiful yearnings and aspirations. - 【Encounter on the way】 ✅Yaeyama Islands｜West Coast Pier, Kibouin, Water Buffalo Cart, Okinawa Shisa, International Dark Sky Reserve, Iriomote Island ✅Okinawa Main Island｜Churaumi Aquarium, Ryukyu Ancient City Ruins, Manzamo, Yomitan Pottery Village, Blue Cave, Coral Ryukyu Dyeing ✅Marine Activities｜Fishing, Diving, Kayaking, Paddle Boarding, Paragliding, Whale Watching, Underwater Walk, Mangrove Canoeing, etc. ✅Okinawa Festivals｜Dragon Boat Race (May-June), Tug-of-War Festival (July-October), Eisa Drum Dance (August-September), Seed Gathering Festival (October), Fireworks Festival (April/July/October), Ryukyu Lantern Festival (December-March) - 【Accommodation】 🏡Nijigennomori Okinawa｜Located in Yomitan Village, Naha, all rooms face the calm and shallow sea surrounded by coral reefs and a long private coastline. Experience the Japanese tatami living room, special seawater bath, and enjoy the original scenery of Okinawa. 🏡Nijigennomori Taketomi Island｜On the roof sit various Okinawan lucky mascots Shisa, the single-story wooden villa with red tiles and low eaves echoes the traditional architecture of Taketomi Island with white walls and red tiles. You can also participate in various local experience projects. - 【Delicious Food】 🐮Ishigaki Beef｜Ishigaki beef is delicious, with a suitable fat ratio, the meat is refreshing and not greasy, even the lean part has a unique flavor. 🤴🏻Court Cuisine｜Taste red flower branch cuisine, steamed black sesame pork slices, burdock root roasted pork rolls and other exquisite court dishes of the Ryukyu royal banquet. 🍤Okinawa Seafood｜Okinawa's waters are rich in fish, you can enjoy authentic seafood dishes such as sushi, sashimi, tempura. 🍶Okinawa Awamori｜Originated in the 15th century, it was both a tribute from the Ryukyu Kingdom to China and Japan, and a local celebration and event wine. - 【Itinerary Overview】 🛬D1 Encounter the Starry Sky｜Arrive at Ishigaki Island, take a boat to Taketomi Island: Free marine activities, night star watching 🎨D2 Traditional Culture｜Taketomi local cultural experience, Kibouin, West Coast Pier, free marine activities 🐂D3 Ox Cart Sightseeing｜Iriomote Island Nakama River Cruise, Yubu Island Water Buffalo Cart, go to Okinawa Main Island 🐋D4 Magical Animals｜Churaumi Aquarium, Nakijin Castle, Manzamo, free marine activities 🎏D5 Leisurely Roaming｜Coral dyeing, free activities in Naha city area 👋🏻D6 Farewell Okinawa｜Return/Continue traveling to other cities in Japan

Exploring Ishigaki/Taketomi Island 🏝

Ishigaki: A small island within the Ryukyu islands! It’s an hour away from Okinawa and it is the main port to access the smaller islands of the Yaeyama islands. Ishigaki is very beautiful and it lives up to the name of emerald beaches with white sand. We went in November and it is still bright and sunny highly recommend that if you want to visit, get a rental car so it is easy to visit the attractions. Taketomi: A tiny island within the Yaeyama islands. It feels like a blast in the past and it is interesting to see the Okinawan culture. It’s a 10 min ferry ride from Ishigaki and the island is so small you can sightsee by just renting a bike!

The cruise on the tip of the tongue, the unparalleled Hawaiian west of the East China Sea, east of the Pacific Ocean, is the third largest island in Okinawa after Okinawa and Iriomote. It is said that in order to avoid the typhoon attack, the houses on the island are surrounded by stone walls, and the name "Shijie" is named. This island is not a popular island in Japan. The day and night are very quiet. There are fewer people and fewer cars. There will be an illusion of being in Kamakura. In the summer of nearly nine months, time seems to be pulled. Its very long. If you can stay here for a day and rent a motorbike, you can take a look around the island. The southernmost part of the island can also see the lighthouse. The consumption on the island is not too high. Car rental The international driver's license is the most convenient, rent a car directly, around the island for about an hour and a half, except for the city center, there is basically no car, no one... Of course, at night There is no light. It takes about 8 hours for the round-the-island bicycle. Please be cautious... necessary TIPS sunglasses, hats, light-colored jackets, these basic measures are of course necessary, physical sunscreen is always effective and essential . Don't forget to wash your face with hot water after sun exposure, which will cause the capillaries to dilate, inflamed and swollen. These cheap things in the Japanese drug store, the most exciting, the other time the plan is to rush into the drug store, crazy sweeping, Japan The drug store is like a magical hypermarket, where you can always find something very stunned. I have never been alone with the sea for a long time. I have been too eager to go too far. Maybe we owe ourselves a slow boat ride to see how blue it is. How wide the sea is, how small the so-called troubles are, how lucky it was once. There are too many unexpected encounters on the road. You can never see tomorrow that the evening is dull or splendid. People always put too many happy bets on the final result, so it is important. It is not where I am going, but how happy I am willing to enjoy every process of progress.

Detox yourself at paradise Ishigaki Island!

Amazing paradise like island-Ishigaki island. If you ever want to find a place with great food and beautiful nature with amazing beaches here is the place you go! It’s not a huge island therefor if you have a car you can drive whole island by one day, if you don’t have a car with you it’s still doable, you can make good use of some local buses to move around. Local people are so relaxed and helpful you will fall in love with this paradise like island for sure! Local people are so kind and helpful and you will be astonished with the stunning view of nature that could give you healing and detoxification! Enjoy Paradise like island with beautiful and colourful fishes and emeralds blue ocean which you will never forget! This is one of the must island that you need to go on your life time!

🌊 Discover Kabira Bay in Japan

Looking for a breathtaking destination that will leave you in awe? Look no further than Kabira Bay, nestled in the picturesque Ishigaki Island. 🏝️ 🐚 Crystal Clear Waters: Dive into the turquoise waters of Kabira Bay and witness the mesmerizing beauty of its coral reefs. Snorkel alongside vibrant marine life, or simply soak up the sun on the pristine white sand beaches. 🚤 Glass-Bottom Boat Tours: Don't miss the chance to explore the bay's underwater wonders without getting wet! Hop on a glass-bottom boat and marvel at the colorful coral gardens and exotic fish species that call Kabira Bay home. 🌅 Sunset Spectacle: As the day draws to a close, prepare to be enchanted by the breathtaking sunset views at Kabira Bay. The sky transforms into a canvas of vibrant hues, casting a magical glow over the bay's tranquil waters. 🍱 Local Delicacies: Indulge in the island's culinary delights, with fresh seafood being the highlight. Treat your taste buds to mouthwatering dishes like Ishigaki beef, sashimi, and traditional Okinawan cuisine. 🌺 Cultural Heritage: Immerse yourself in the local culture and visit nearby attractions like the Kabira Bay Observation Deck, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the bay and learn about its historical significance. Escape to Kabira Bay and experience a slice of paradise that will leave you with unforgettable memories. 🌊✨

Kabira Bay

#2024wish This is one of the most beautiful sightseeing spots in Ishigaki. On a clear day the view is breathtaking! The popular thing is to go on a glass bottom boat ride to see the coral reef. There’s also nice spot to take pics from above. The place is beautiful, sure it is. But there are other nice beaches around Ishigaki you can actually swim and enjoy it so not sure why Kabira Bay is such a big deal.

One of the most beautiful view in Okinawa!😲

Kabira bay is in Ishigaki which is an hour by plane from Naha, there I found this beautiful landscape in the midst of fields and plantations, a stronghold of a unique marine fauna and flora, a calm and peaceful place almost magical, a pity not to be able to swimming but for the preservation of the corals, there is a glass boat ride to see the corals up close. There are some restaurants and ice cream shops on site, enjoy walking in Kabira Park, there is a deck where you can take a picture just like the one I took!#staycation #okinawa

Limestone Cave in Ishigaki Island

#2024wish The natural beauty of the caves is incredible - and they are extremely extensive. I'd say there are about a kilometer of trails through the caves. Most of the areas are lit so you can see the natural beauty, but in true Japanese style one area is lit to provide the feeling of an illumination show. I was quite pleased with what I found given that I rode a bicycle up there in the heat and would have been disappointed if it had not been so fascinating. I want to travel alone in 2024.

Kabira Scenic Park

#2024wish Kabira Park is within a few minute walk reach from Kabira Bay. The scenery seen from the observatory is superb, and it is nice to visit there at different times because the sea colors change with the change of the flow and ebb of tides. Don't miss this place when you're on a trip to Okinawa. Highly Recommend. The Kabira Park observation deck is located in the bay of the same name, and provides one of the most beautiful views of the park and the surrounding areas.

Okinawa Ishigaki Island tour, tirelessly promoting this niche island

Okinawa Ishigaki Island tour, tirelessly promoting this niche island Ishigaki Island is one of the several islands in Okinawa, compared to Miyako Island, it is more niche because there are no direct flights from the mainland except Hong Kong, and because of this, there are relatively few tourists there, mainly Japanese domestic tourists and a few Asian tourists. I went to Ishigaki Island in July 2019, flew from Shanghai Pudong to Naha, stayed on Okinawa Island for 2 nights, then flew from Naha Airport to Ishigaki Island, there are many flights there, one every 1-2 hours, flight time is about 60 minutes. The weather on Okinawa Island is always cloudy and overcast, but once you get to Ishigaki Island, the blue sea and sky and the strong smell of rural cow dung make you feel relaxed and return to nature. Stayed at IHGInterContinental - ANA Okinawa All Nippon Airways Ishigaki Island Intercontinental Resort Hotel, the sea-facing view and thoughtful service are all five-star. But the location is a certain distance from Ishigaki Town, you need to take the hotel bus to go to the town, you can also take a taxi, but taxis in Japan are really expensive, just wait for the bus leisurely, after all, there is plenty of time there. Ishigaki Island is famous for its Wagyu beef, the restaurants in the town are rich, the ingredients are fresh, sashimi & barbecue are the delicious food that must not be missed. Because there are few tourists, the basic language is hand gestures plus translation software to make do. You must go to Kabira Bay on Ishigaki Island, the color of the sea water is clear and emerald green, if you can't dive, you can watch the underwater creatures from the speedboat (the bottom of the boat is transparent glass), in summer you can see turtles, a large number of bat rays and various cute marine creatures gather, a magical, wonderful and unforgettable experience. In addition to Ishigaki Island itself, you can take a short ferry ride from the town to reach Taketomi Island, this island preserves traditional Ryukyu culture and architecture, experience red tile houses. There are three ferry companies operating between the islands, every 30 minutes. The high-speed ferry takes about 10 minutes one way, and the car ferry takes about 15 minutes one way. Memory points: Sunscreen, sunglasses and umbrellas are essential Every restaurant in the town can be tried, the best Wagyu beef and sea bream sashimi I have ever eaten There is a night star watching experience, but it is all in Japanese, and it depends on the celestial phenomena of the day, so decide carefully Asahi has a lot of beer flavors in Japan, the pineapple flavor is particularly good You can buy swimsuits, flip-flops and sunglasses at the outlet on Okinawa Island, there are many brands and professional choices, high fashion, and the price is right Japanese taxi uncles are really fun, they like to chat with tourists The hotel is near the sea with high water quality, has its own beach, and there is a small chapel where weddings can be held