Ishigaki serves because the financial and transportation hub of Okinawa’s Yaeyama Islands, the southernmost archipelago in Japan. Apparently, it’s nearer to Taiwan than mainland Japan, giving this tropical island a definite mix of cultures and a laid-back appeal.
The New Ishigaki Airport hosts airways with direct flights from Okinawa Foremost Island, main Japanese cities, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. In the meantime, Ishigaki Port connects it to neighboring islands and welcomes visiting cruise ships.
Recognized for its pristine seashores, vibrant underwater surroundings, and panoramic spots, Ishigaki has develop into one of many alternative ports of name amongst Asian cruises, providing a relaxed day journey expertise. In case you are pulling a DIY, be aware that public transportation is proscribed, so it’s greatest to guide a vacationer taxi upfront. Extra on this later.
Listed below are a few of the greatest issues to do and a pattern itinerary that will help you benefit from your fast cease on this tropical island paradise.
Issues to Do in Ishigaki
1. Ishigaki Limestone Cave
Fashioned over a whole bunch of hundreds of years, the Ishigaki Limestone Cave presents a captivating glimpse into an historic underwater cave. It’s one of many largest limestone caves on the island, extending greater than three kilometers, although solely about 600 meters are accessible to the general public.
Inside, you’ll discover a treasure trove of pure formations — stalactites and stalagmites formed by time and crystal-clear swimming pools and is derived. A particular space options colourful illuminations. The air stays pleasantly cool year-round, making it a perfect cease in the summertime. Right here’s a map of the cave with its factors of curiosity:
Upon exiting the cave, you’ll come throughout a department of the favored homegrown ice cream model, Blue Seal. You possibly can take pleasure in a scoop or two (JPY 450-800), or you possibly can head straight to the restaurant for an area meal. Because it was nonetheless early for us, we opted for a Shiikwaasa-flavored shaved ice with milk (JPY 500), which — except for refreshing — was surprisingly good! The institution additionally doubles as a memento store.
Handle: Ishigaki Limestone Cave, 1666 Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan
Opening Hours: Cave – Every day 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM; Restaurant – Every day, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Store – Every day, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Entrance Charge: Grownup, JPY 1200; Kids, JPY 600
Methods to Get to Ishigaki Limestone Cave: Both guide a shore tour package deal or constitution a vacationer taxi. Journey time from the port is roughly quarter-hour.
2. Kabira Bay
Located on the northwestern coast of Ishigaki, Kabira Bay is among the many island’s most scenic and most photographed spots. Designated a Place of Scenic Magnificence in 1997, it captivates guests with its white sand seashores, glass-like cerulean waters, and luxurious coastal environment.
To protect the realm and due to the robust present, swimming is prohibited in most seaside areas. However there are nonetheless loads of methods to take pleasure in right here, together with strolling alongside the shore, admiring the colourful marine life via a glass-bottom boat tour, or soaking within the breathtaking view of the bay from a hilltop commentary deck. You’ll additionally discover a small Seventeenth-century temple close to the lookout level.
Earlier than transferring on to your subsequent cease, you possibly can try the retailers and meals stalls close to the parking space for native souvenirs and snacks.
Handle: Kabira Bay, Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan
Glass-Backside Boat Tour Charge: Adults, JPY 1300; Kids, JPY 650
Methods to Get to Kabira Bay: Both guide a shore tour package deal or constitution a vacationer taxi. Journey time from the port is roughly 35 minutes.
3. Ishigaki Yaima Mura
Perched on a small hill overlooking the Nagura Bay on the island’s southwestern coast, Ishigaki Yaima Mura (Ishigaki Yaima Village) transports you again to the olden days of the Ryukyu Kingdom. This open-air theme park and museum is dotted with a number of well-preserved conventional Okinawan homes, full with red-tiled roofs, wood structure, and coral stone partitions that function fences.
Different noteworthy sights within the park embrace the Makishi Residence, Toomidai, Mangrove Strolling Expertise, Nagura Ampal, Ashibi People Present, Squirrel Monkey Forest, and Nagura Drive-in, the place you possibly can cease for a lightweight snack and decide up some souvenirs.
Handle: Ishigaki Yaima Mura, 967-1 Nagura, Ishigaki, Okinawa 907-0021, Japan
Opening Hours: Every day, 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM. Final entry, 5:00 PM
Entrance Charge: Adults, JPY 1200; Kids, JPY 600
Methods to Get to Ishigaki Yaima Mura: Both guide a shore tour package deal or constitution a vacationer taxi. Journey time from the port is roughly 20 minutes.
4. Euglena Mall
Situated close to the port space, Euglena Mall, previously named Ayapani Mall, is a handy cease for procuring and meals journey on the island. Hailed as Japan’s southernmost arcade mall, the complicated consists of two parallel streets — Chuo Avenue and Ginza Avenue, with the Ishigaki Public Market located proper on the middle.
The coated procuring lanes are lined with eating places, cafés, normal shops, memento retailers, relaxation areas, and boutiques. That is the proper spot to select up and produce house genuine Ishigaki merchandise or native specialties comparable to awamori, Okinawa’s signature rice liquor.
Handle: Euglena Mall, 203 Okawa, Ishigaki, Okinawa 907-0022, Japan
Methods to Get to Euglena Mall: Throughout our current cruise cease, shuttle bus providers operated between the cruise port and Euglena Mall. If that is your solely vacation spot, you possibly can merely hop on this bus. Don’t overlook to take a photograph of the return schedule. Buses depart each half-hour from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM to three:30 PM. The fare is JPY 200, a technique. Journey time from the port is roughly 10 minutes.
5. Ishigaki Meals Journey
And whereas we’re with reference to meals, it’s value exploring Ishigaki’s native flavors. One standout ingredient is shiikwaasa, a local citrus fruit much like calamansi, although they aren’t the identical. We tried a shiikwaasa-flavored shaved ice on the Limestone Cave restaurant. In the meantime, many shops in Euglena Mall promote refreshing shiikwaasa juice. You’ll additionally discover loads of different meals merchandise infused with this zesty fruit.
The island can also be recognized for its recent seafood and Ishigaki beef, which is a particular sort of wagyu. We managed to hit two birds with one stone after we stopped for lunch at Sabanisen, a comfortable native restaurant just some blocks from Euglena Mall. We ordered Ishigakijima Kinnkai Sashimori, a sahimi platter that includes seven forms of seafood, together with tuna, squid, and marlin. Every slice was exceptionally recent with no fishy odor or style. Some even had a refined sweetness.
We additionally had the Ishigaki Beef Nigiri Sushi Plate, which didn’t disappoint! The meat was juicy, tender, and superbly marbled. To cap off our meal, we obtained Brown Sugar Warabimochi, a chewy dessert paying homage to Japanese mochi and Turkish delight.
Sabanisen Handle: 3 Misakicho, Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan
Worth: Ishigaki Beef Nigiri Sushi Plate, JPY 2420; Ishigakijima Kinnkai Sashimori, JPY 2387; Brown Sugar Warabimochi, JPY 420
Pattern Ishigaki Day Journey Itinerary
Should you’re visiting Ishigaki on a cruise port cease, you possibly can nonetheless see a few of its prime sights inside just some hours. Simply be aware that public transportation is proscribed, so if you’re going the DIY route, the best choice is to guide a vacationer taxi upfront.
We’ve visited Ishigaki on two separate cruise journeys and tried two completely different corporations providing brief sightseeing excursions. Each supplied packages lasting round three hours, priced between ¥13,200 and ¥13,500 per automobile. This normally covers three vacationer spots. If the tour transcend three hours, a further charge of about ¥4500 per hour applies. Listed below are the 2 corporations we booked:
- Mitsuboshi Taxi (Three Star Taxi)
Official Web site: 3star-taxi.jp
Contact Quantity: 0980 82 3755 - Karayama Group (Kawarayama/Ishigakijima Transportation)
Official Web site: ishigakijima-kotsu.com
Vacationer Taxi Reservation: 0980 88 1777
Common Dispatch Service: 0980 82 4649
Alright! Assuming you might be chartering a vacationer taxi for 3 hours, right here’s a pattern itinerary you possibly can comply with. Be happy to regulate the timings or swap out the locations. Your driver will allow you to select the sights you wish to go to.
09:30 AM – Ishigaki Port Cruise Terminal
10:00 AM – Disembark + Vacationer Taxi Choose up
10:15 AM – Ishigaki Limestone Cave, ¥1200
11:00 AM – Kabira Bay, FREE
12:00 PM – Euglena Mall + Sabanisen Lunch
01:00 PM – Head again to Ishigaki Port Cruise Terminal
DIY vs Shorex Tour
We’ve visited Okinawa via three cruise strains — StarCruises, Royal Caribbean, and Costa Serena. Whichever cruise line you might be crusing with, you’ll have two methods to discover at each port of name:
- SHOREX TOUR. These are group excursions organized by the cruise corporations in partnership with native tour operators. All the things is taken care of — transportation, itinerary, and normally lunch. All you want to do is present up on time. Pre-booking a shore tour is cheaper than these bought on board. Shorex Desk is on Decks 4 and 5.
- D-I-Y. Should you’d slightly discover at your individual tempo, you possibly can go for a D-I-Y journey. This selection provides you full management over your itinerary and is commonly extra budget-friendly. Simply be sure to handle your time rigorously as a result of the ship will go away as scheduled, with or with out you. It’s at all times safer to return to the port early to keep away from being left behind.
Regardless of which choice you select, you’ll obtain important particulars earlier than getting off, together with return directions, port identify, and port tackle. Don’t overlook to deliver a photocopy of your passport’s biopage, too.
Updates Log
2025 10 28 – First uploaded
Pictures by: Asta Alvarez, Yosh Dimen, and Vins Carlos