Things to Do in Ishigaki Island: Your Complete Guide
Ishigaki Island is part of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Although it’s not very large (about 40 kilometers from south to north), it offers even more beautiful ocean views than Okinawa’s main island.
by Roméo A.
Getting to Ishigaki
There are direct flights to Ishigaki Island from cities like Naha (Okinawa), Fukuoka, Osaka, and Tokyo.
- Naha (Okinawa) to Ishigaki: 1 hour
- Fukuoka to Ishigaki: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Osaka to Ishigaki: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Tokyo to Ishigaki: 3 hours
Where to Stay in Ishigaki
If you want convenient transportation, consider staying near the terminal：
The BREAKFAST HOTEL PORTO Ishigakijima★★★ Location 8.0 | Facilities 8.4 | Value for money 8.4
- As the name suggests, this hotel is known for its hearty breakfasts.
- It’s a 10-minute walk from the hotel to the terminal, convenience stores, and several restaurants.
- A taxi from the airport to the hotel costs around 3,000 yen, or you can take the Route 4 bus to “Hakubutsukan mae 博物館前” which takes 30 minutes. From there, it’s a 4-minute walk to the hotel.
If you’d like to stay at a resort with a beach right outside, you can choose:
FUSAKI BEACH RESORT HOTEL & VILLAS★★★ Location 9.0 | Facilities 9.0 | Value for money 7.8
- The hotel offers a free airport shuttle, with no reservation needed.
- There is a waterslide at the hotel, making it perfect for kids.
Map and Sample Itinerary for Ishigaki
3-Day, 2-Night Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Ishigaki in the morning. In the afternoon, visit Ishigaki Yaima Village and Kabira Bay.
Day 2: Join a half-day snorkeling tour to Phantom Island in the morning (departs at 8:20 a.m. and returns around noon). In the afternoon, take a ferry to explore Taketomi Island (departures at 12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.; if you prefer a more relaxed pace, you can move the Phantom Island tour to Day 3).
Day 3: Spend the morning visiting any spots you may have missed, then depart in the afternoon.
Ishigaki Map:
Getting Around Ishigaki
Car Rental
Driving is the most convenient option. You can find rental car prices here.
Taxi
Taxis are easy to find at the airport, terminal, city center, and Kabira Bay. You can hail one on the spot, ask hotel or attraction staff for assistance in calling a taxi, or use the Didi app.
However, it can be difficult to get a taxi to more remote attractions (like Tamatorizaki Observation Platform) or during peak seasons/when cruise ships are in port. You might consider a charter service 4 hours for 17,600 yen and 6 hours for 26,400 yen.
The base fare for taxis is 470 yen (for the first 1,167 meters), then 60 yen for every additional 336 meters, which is cheaper than in mainland Japan. Here are some reference prices:
- Airport to Terminal: 3,400 yen
- Airport to Kabira Bay: 5,800 yen
- Terminal to Ishigaki Yaima Village: 2,300 yen
- Terminal to Kabira Bay: 4,200 yen
- Terminal to Yonehara Beach: 4,500 yen
- Ishigaki Yaima Village to Kabira Bay: 2,000 yen
Bus
There is only one bus company on the island, 東バス, which covers routes to the airport, hotels, and major attractions. You can buy tickets with cash, and credit/debit cards are also accepted (Tap to pay). The fare depends on the distance; for example, it costs about 540 yen from the airport to the city center.
A one-day pass is available for 1,000 yen (purchase at the bus terminal or on the bus).
You can check routes and fares at Jorudan (Google Maps also works). It’s recommended to familiarize yourself with the routes and schedule on the official website in advance.
Seasons in Ishigaki Island
Ishigaki Island has a subtropical oceanic climate. It is warm year-round, with January being the coldest month (average temperature of 18.9°C) and July the hottest (average temperature of 29.6°C).
April to May: Days are hot, making it great for water activities, but sudden temperature drops may occur due to cold fronts.
June to September: This is the hottest period and ideal for water activities, but typhoons can be a risk.
October: Days remain hot and suitable for water activities, but temperature differences begin to increase.
November to March: It can be warm on sunny days, but there are many overcast days with lower water temperatures, making it unsuitable for swimming.
Top Attractions in Ishigaki
Kabira Bay 川平湾
Kabira Bay is the most beautiful beach on Ishigaki Island, but swimming is prohibited due to strong currents.
Things to Do:
- Enjoy the view from the observation deck, and you’ll find nearby restaurants and souvenir shops.
- Take a glass-bottom boat tour, which lasts 30 minutes. You can see sea turtles and small fish. The price is 1,300 yen for adults and 650 yen for children. Tickets can be purchased on-site, and discounts are available for early reservations.
Bus Stop: Kabira Koen mae 川平公園前
Address: Parking fee is 500 yen per day, Kabira Bay, Ishigaki, Okinawa
Selected Video: 石垣島 川平湾_Ver.1
Selected Photo:
by Vladimir Haltakov
Glass-bottom Boat Video: 石垣島での最高の一日
Yonehara Beach 米原ビーチ
Yonehara Beach is the best spot for snorkeling on Ishigaki Island, with shallow waters and plenty of fish.
Safety Precautions:
- This beach does not have any safety nets installed.
- The water depth suddenly increases to over 20 meters just 200 meters from the beach.
- Strong currents are common in the area. If you find yourself being swept away by waves, swim parallel to the beach until you escape the current, then swim back to shore.
Facilities:
There are no public facilities, but you can pay to use the showers and storage facilities at Jellyfish, as well as rent snorkeling gear and life jackets starting at 2,100 yen.
Bus Stop: Yonehara 米原
Address: Parking fee is 500 yen per day, 644 Fukai, Ishigaki, Okinawa 907-0451
Selected Video: 沖縄 石垣島 米原ビーチ シュノーケリング
Ishigaki Yaima Village 石垣やいま村
Ishigaki Yaima Village is a small folk village known for its squirrel monkeys (native to South America).
Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Admission: 1,200 yen for adults, 600 yen for children, tickets can be purchased on-site or booked online.
Things to Do:
- If you visit in the morning, you can feed the monkeys for 300 yen.
- The village has a restaurant offering local dishes, including Yaeyama soba.
Bus Stop: Ishigaki Yaima Village 石垣やいま村 or Motonakagura 元名蔵
Address:Free parking available at 967-1 Nagura, Ishigaki, Okinawa 907-0021
Website: Ishigaki Yaima Village
Selected Video: 石垣やいま村（完全版）
Tamatorizaki Observation Platform 玉取崎展望台
Located in the northeastern part of Ishigaki Island.
Bus Stop: Tamatorizaki 玉取崎
Address:Free parking available at Ibaruma, Ishigaki, Okinawa 907-0332
Selected Video: 玉取崎展望台からのドローン空撮
Hirakubozaki Lighthouse 平久保崎灯台
The lighthouse at the northernmost point of Ishigaki Island, standing 13.7 meters tall.
Bus Stop: Hirano 平野
Address: Free parking available at I234-50 Hirakubo, Ishigaki, Okinawa 907-0331
Selected Video: 空撮 平久保埼灯台 恋する灯台
Islands Near Ishigaki
There are many small islands near Ishigaki Island, and the following three are the most distinctive:
Taketomi Island 竹富島
Taketomi Island is a 10-15 minute boat ride from Ishigaki Island and is the most famous nearby island. It has a circumference of 9.2 kilometers and a population of about 350 residents, with no convenience stores or traffic lights. The sea views are similar to those of Kabira Bay on Ishigaki Island, but the scenery is more open, and swimming is allowed.
How to Get to Taketomi Island:
- There is no airport, so you can only reach it by boat from Ishigaki Island.
- Two ferry companies, Anei and Yaeyama, operate routes with the same ticket prices but different departure times. Round-trip tickets cost 1,520 yen for adults and half price for children. Tickets can be purchased on-site or booked through Klook.
Transportation on the Island:
- Most visitors rent bicycles at the terminal, with regular bicycles costing 1,000 yen for 2 hours and electric bicycles 1,750 yen for 2 hours.
- There is also a small bus on the island, costing 300 yen for a single ride, which can take you from the terminal to Kaiji Beach カイジ浜, and you can walk back from there.
Recommended Duration: 3-4 hours
Things to Do:
- Visit the island’s most beautiful beach, Kondoi Beach コンドイ浜, where the water only reaches knee-deep, making it unsuitable for swimming, but perfect for families with young children. It takes about 30 minutes to bike from the terminal.
- The island’s most interesting beach is Kaiji Beach カイジ浜, where you can find star sand (the shells of microorganisms). However, collecting star sand is generally prohibited, and it can only be purchased from nearby stalls.
- In addition to exploring the beaches, you can stroll through the village to see vibrant tropical flowers and red-tiled houses, or experience a water buffalo cart ride (3,000 yen for 25 minutes per person), where staff will share the island’s history and play traditional music. For more information, see here.
- If your budget allows, you can also stay at HOSHINOYA Taketomi Island on the island.
Selected Video: Taketomi Island One-Day Trip Model Course
Selected Photo:
by Hiroko Yoshii | Wataru Sato
Phantom Island 幻の島
Phantom Island is a very small uninhabited sand island located between Taketomi Island and Kohama Island. It is called “Phantom Island” because it gets submerged during high tide.
Transportation: You can only reach it by joining a half-day snorkeling tour (2-3 hours), which is a 30-minute boat ride from Ishigaki Island.
Price: Approximately 3,400 yen. For reservations, see here.
Recommended Duration: 3 hours
Notes:
- Depending on the sea conditions on the day of your visit, Phantom Island may not be visible, or the tour may go to nearby snorkeling areas instead.
- If you or your child are not confident swimmers, you can join a 2-hour tour that only visits Phantom Island without snorkeling. For more details, see here.
Selected Video: 幻の島上陸ツアー
Selected Video: 石垣島旅行＜石垣島観光、幻の島＞
Hateruma Island 波照間島
Hateruma is the southernmost inhabited island in Japan. The small island has a circumference of 15 kilometers and a population of about 500 people. It boasts some of the most beautiful waters in Japan!
How to Get to Hateruma:
- Take the high-speed ferry from Anei: the journey takes 60-80 minutes, with a round-trip ticket costing 7,830 yen. There are 2-4 sailings per day, depending on the season. You can purchase tickets on-site, but it’s recommended to book in advance during the summer.
- Alternatively, you can take a flight, which takes about 30 minutes, but flights are irregular. For more information, see here.
Transportation on the Island:
- There are no buses or taxis on the island.
- Renting an electric bicycle is the best option, costing 2,000 yen per day, such as from this rental shop.
- You can also walk from the ferry terminal to the southernmost point, which is about 4 kilometers and takes about 1 hour.
Recommended Duration: 3-4 hours
Things to Do:
- Enjoy the views or go snorkeling at the most beautiful beach, Nishihama ニシ浜, which has shower facilities and restrooms.
- Visit the “Southernmost Point Monument in Japan.”
- If you’re interested in diving, see here for more information.
- For those wanting to stay overnight, you can choose from options like Pension Sainantan or Hotel Oceans.
Notes:
- The waters nearby can be rough, and the boat ride may be very bumpy, so please take motion sickness medication in advance.
- Restaurants on the island may not be open, and there are no convenience stores or supermarkets. Vending machines are scarce, so please bring your own food.
- There are no trash bins on the island, so please take your garbage with you.
Selected Video: Japan’s southernmost point
Thank you for reading, and may you have a wonderful journey!
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