Oritori Ishigaki City Official Tourism Information Site
Photo: Koji Nakanishi
Text: Masumi Sasamoto
Kabira Park, home to Kabira Bay, is a breathtakingly beautiful emerald green sea as seen from the observation deck. You can also take a glass-bottom boat ride to see many tropical fish and colorful coral reefs. If you're lucky, you might even spot a sea turtle. If you want to see the deep blue sea, it's best to go during the day. However, swimming is dangerous due to the fast currents.
From Hirakubozaki Lighthouse, located at the northernmost tip of the island, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the refreshing scenery and the beautiful gradations of the ocean. Gazing at the open horizon, you'll feel so comfortable you'll want to just relax forever. The Japan Romanticist Association and the Nippon Foundation have certified it as a "Lighthouse of Love," a sacred place for romance. It's about an 80-minute drive from Ishigaki city.
Tamatorizaki Observatory, located north of Ishigaki Airport, is an observation deck where you can see the Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea on both sides. It is a recommended place to see the northern part of the island stretching out to the north and experience the lush greenery and relaxed nature. Many colorful hibiscus flowers bloom in the park.
Mt. Nosoko, known as Nosoko Maapee by the islanders, is a popular destination for hikers, with an elevation of 282m. From the Nosoko Observatory, located midway along the forest road to Mt. Nosoko, you can see the beautiful ocean along the east coast. On the left you can see Oura Dam, one of the five dams on Ishigaki Island. It's a great place to stop by and take a break on your way back from hiking.
Oganzaki Uganzaki Lighthouse is located at the tip of the Sakieda Peninsula. Because it is located on a high cliff, the view of the ocean from there is an impressive deep blue. Directly ahead lies the large island of Iriomote. Located on the west side of the island, it is a place that many people visit to watch the sunset. In spring, Easter lilies bloom in abundance, and the large, pure white flowers are beautiful.
Kannonzaki Lighthouse is located near the city center of Ishigaki Island. You can see the beautiful ocean and Taketomi Island right in front of you. There is a gazebo and tables in the plaza, so it's a great place to relax. The path that descends from the bottom of the gazebo to the sea is a natural tunnel. It's also recommended as a spot to watch the sunset.
Sukuji Beach in the Kabira district is a beach that is often visited by Ishigaki Island residents. The shallow waters make it easy for children to play, and showers and toilets are also provided. In the summer, snorkeling equipment is available for rent, and there are small shops and ramen stalls, and you can also enjoy barbecues. There are jellyfish nets and lifeguards on hand, so you can feel safe.
This beach is located inside the ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort. Lifeguards are always on duty, and there are jellyfish nets. There are children's play equipment in the shallow waters, and you can try out various activities such as SUP. There are also parasols and deck chairs so you can relax at your leisure. Showers are also available.
The beach at Fusaki Beach Resort Hotel & Villas is a popular and photogenic beach with a pier stretching out into the sea. This pleasant beach offers beautiful views, allowing you to relax under an umbrella or take part in a variety of marine activities. Lifeguards are on guard, and there are jellyfish nets to keep you safe. The long beach stretches for about 1 km.
Located in the village of Kuura, this natural beach has exceptionally clear water. You can try out a variety of marine sports, including wakeboarding, and see plenty of coral reefs and tropical fish while snorkeling. At sunset, you can also enjoy the beautiful sunset over the sea. Paid showers are available. The counter for marine sports is open from early summer to autumn.
This 3.2km long limestone cavern has 660m open to the public. It is said to have taken 200,000 years to form due to crustal movements, and the cave is a fantastical space with countless sparkling stalactites. It is not affected by the weather, so it is recommended for sightseeing on rainy days. There is also a restaurant and souvenir shop, and you can even try painting a shisa lion.
Sabichi Cave, located in Ibaruma in the northern part of Ishigaki Island, is the only limestone cave in Japan where you can access the sea from the cave. It is a mystical experience to gaze upon the naturally formed stalactites and see the clear sea in the northern part of the island at the end of the cave. You can also take a walk on the beach at low tide. It is said that the pond at the entrance to the cave is home to a large eel that can grow up to 2 meters in length.
Barringtonia is a flower that blooms at night and fades away by morning. A colony of it can be found in Hirakubo in the northern part of Ishigaki Island. In the late evenings of early summer, when it blooms, the sight of the many flowers blooming with a sweet fragrance is a mystical sight. The flowers begin to open in the evening and are in full bloom around midnight. Many flowers can also be seen around sunrise, before they have fallen. There are paved walkways, but sneakers are recommended.
(Barringtonia Photo by Kiyotaka Kitajima)
The Yaeyama palm, a palm tree endemic to the Yaeyama Islands, grows only on Ishigaki Island and Iriomote Island. What's more, it is a rare palm tree that grows naturally in only three places. Two of these locations are on Iriomote Island, and the other is here in the Yonehara Yaeyama Palm Grove. As you walk along the Wood Walk, you can look up at the slender Yaeyama palms, stretching 10 to 20 meters tall among the trees. You can also encounter many flora and fauna unique to the island, such as the Ishigaki skink with its bright blue tail.
In the northern part of Ishigaki Island, the Fukido River flows north of the Idona village, and is home to many mangroves, including mangroves. At low tide, if you park your car in the parking lot next to the Fukido Bridge and go down into the river, you can observe mangroves, crabs, and other creatures. You can enjoy activities such as kayaking, and even explore the river's tributaries, which are densely covered with mangroves.
Flowing between the city and Ishigaki Airport, the Miyara River is the longest river on the island, with a total length of approximately 12km. The view of the mangrove trees growing in abundance from Miyara Bridge near the river mouth gives it a jungle-like atmosphere. You can also try activities such as kayaking and SUP, and get up close and personal with the intricate mangroves and the creatures that live there, including crabs, gobies, and birds.
Nagura Amparu is a tidal flat that stretches around the mouth of the Nagura River, surrounded by mangroves and home to many living creatures. It is a wetland registered under the Ramsar Convention, and has long been considered a fertile tidal flat by the islanders. There is a parking lot on the north side of Nagura Bridge, and we recommend visiting for nature observations and canoeing experiences.
Mount Nosoko, located in the northern part of the island, is called Nosoko-Ma-Pe after a folk tale. At just 282m above sea level, it's not a particularly high mountain, but it offers spectacular views of the sea and mountains, and is popular among the islanders as a mountain they can easily climb. It takes about an hour to climb from the base, but if you take a short course that takes you partway up by car, you can reach the summit in just 15 minutes.
Mount Omoto is the highest mountain in Okinawa Prefecture, standing at 526m above sea level. There is a hiking trail, and if you walk through a pleasant forest where waterfalls and other sights frequently appear, you can reach the summit in about an hour and a half. There is a high chance of encountering the Crested Serpent Eagle, the bird of Ishigaki City and a national special natural monument. The trailhead is easy to find from the Omoto village.
Banna Mountain, located near the city center, is a park called Banna Park. From the "Emerald Sea Observatory," you can get a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding outlying islands, and on a clear day, you can even see Hateruma Island, 55km away. With an abundance of tropical plants, it's also a recommended spot for those who love greenery. There's also a suspension bridge over the dam, a Firefly Highway where you can see fireflies in early summer, and a children's playground with play equipment.
This campsite is located right next to the sea and is surrounded by nature, making it a popular spot for camping among islanders. It's a spacious campsite with play equipment for children. It's just a short walk from the tent area to the sea, and at night you can enjoy a star-filled sky. The spacious grounds are equipped with a kitchen, showers, and toilets.
Designated manager:Inoda Community Center
Miyara Donchi, located in a residential area near Ishigaki Island's downtown, is the remains of a mansion built in 1819 during the late Edo period. It is said to have been built to commemorate the appointment of Touen, the 8th head of the Matsushige family, as head of Miyara Magiri. As the only building in the prefecture that conveys the layout of a samurai-class residence from the Ryukyu Kingdom era, it has been designated an Important Cultural Property, and the garden has been registered as a Nationally Designated Place of Scenic Beauty. Tours are open from 9:00 to 17:00, closed on Tuesdays, and cost 200 yen for adults and 100 yen for elementary, junior high, and high school students.
The monument at the 730 intersection near the remote island terminal was erected to commemorate the change from right-hand to left-hand traffic on July 30th, 1978. Even after Okinawa was returned to Japan in 1972, the change could not be made due to the U.S. military occupation, so the change was made six years later on this day. The change was apparently made without any major confusion or accidents on the day.
Tourinji Temple and Gongendo Hall are the oldest temples in the Yaeyama Islands, built in 1614. The temples were destroyed by the Great Meiwa Tsunami caused by the Yaeyama Earthquake in 1771, and the current halls were rebuilt. The Nio statues enshrined in the quaint mountain gate are the oldest surviving wooden sculptures in Okinawa Prefecture. Gongendo Hall has been designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
Euglena Mall, the island's only arcade street, is lined with many souvenir shops and restaurants. The Ishigaki City Public Market is also located in the center of the mall. The shopping street began when a fish market was built here during the Meiji period, and later became the public market. The public market is currently undergoing renovations and is scheduled to reopen in the spring of 2021.
This JA-run farmers market is lined with fresh vegetables and fruits picked every day. Yurateiku means "Come on over" in the island's dialect. The market offers a wide selection of delicious island produce, including vegetables carefully grown by many producers, as well as meat, fish, rice, flowers, processed foods, and prepared dishes. There are also many rare ingredients that are only found on southern islands, so it's fun just to browse.
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