Oritori Ishigaki City Official Tourism Information Site
A thorough guide to Painushima Ishigaki Airport, the gateway to the Yaeyama Islands!
We will introduce information that will help you enjoy your time to the fullest, from the moment you land on the island until you take off.
Painushima Ishigaki Airport, the gateway to the Yaeyama Islands, was relocated from the old airport located in the city center and opened in March 2013. It now has flights to Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, Okinawa (Naha), Miyako, Yonaguni, Hateruma, and Tarama. International flights are also available adjacent to the airport. (International flights are currently closed as of March 2024.)
Painushima means "Southern Island" in the local dialect. The open terminal building is packed with services to help those whose trip to the Yaeyama Islands is about to begin, as well as those whose trip is soon to end, preserve their memories of the island right up until their departure.
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Painushima Ishigaki Airport
1960-104-1 Shiraho, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, 907-0242
Terminal building business hours: 6:30-22:00
Official website
Rooftop: Observation deck
2nd floor: Departure lobby, shuttle deck, massage, rest area, game corner, conference room
1st floor: Check-in lobby, arrival lobby, shops, restaurants
"Oritori (Welcome)!" arrives on Ishigaki Island. In the arrival lobby, you will be greeted with words of welcome in the local dialect and a flag bearing the same flag that men hold up during the island's traditional harvest festival.
If you haven't yet decided on where to visit or what leisure activities you'll be doing during your stay, it's a good idea to check out the shops on Ishigaki Island at the brochure corner near the general information desk, located immediately to the right after you exit the baggage claim area.
Also, as soon as you exit the main entrance, on the wall to your left you will see the words "Painushima Ishigaki Airport." This is a great photo spot where you can stand right under the words and take a photo. You can take a photo right after you arrive, or on your way home after your trip. Be sure to take a memorable photo.
Ishigaki Airport is located in the Shiraho area, in the eastern part of the island, a little way from the city center. The main ways to get from the airport to the city center are as follows.
If you rent a car immediately after arriving at the airport, you will either take a shuttle bus to the "rental car station" next to the airport or take the rental car company's shuttle bus to the office, depending on the rental car company you use. When you make your reservation, you will be given instructions on how to get from the time you get off the plane to the reception desk, so be sure to understand them to ensure a smooth rental process.
[Rental car shuttle bus stop]
When you exit the main entrance, you will see a crosswalk right in front of you. Once you cross the crosswalk, you will find reception staff standing by and a sign indicating the rental car bus departure and arrival point. Some stores have offices near the airport, but stores in the city center are about a 20-minute shuttle bus ride away.
[Shuttle bus stop for the rental car station]
Cross the crosswalk and go straight to the left to find a large bus parking lot. This is the shuttle bus stop for the rental car station. The bus runs about once every 15 minutes. The rental car station is a 2-3 minute bus ride away. It is about a 20 minute drive from the rental car station to the city center.
As you exit the main entrance, you will find the bus stop on your immediate left. There is a bus stop for Higashi Bus, the island's only route bus, and a bus stop for Curry Kanko's direct bus between Painushima Ishigaki Airport and Euglena Ishigaki Port Remote Island Terminal in the city (one way 500 yen for adults, 250 yen for children). No reservations are required for either bus.
If you are using the hotel's shuttle bus, exit the front entrance, cross the crosswalk, turn left and go straight ahead to the large bus parking lot.
The taxi stand is located immediately to the right after you exit the main entrance. If you plan to use a jumbo taxi, make sure to make a reservation in advance. The taxi fare is around 3,000 yen.
The airport car park is located directly in front of the terminal.
・From entry to the first 9 hours: 100 yen per hour
・9 to 24 hours: 1,000 yen per day
After that, the above amount will be added. Payment is cash only.
You've enjoyed your trip to Ishigaki Island to the fullest, and now it's time to leave. For those who want to make the most of it, we'll introduce you to some things you can do at Ishigaki Airport.
I didn't buy a souvenir for that person! I couldn't buy that product! Such worries at the end of your trip can be easily managed at Ishigaki Airport, which has over 15 shops. In addition to sweets and seasonings, local foods such as Yaeyama soba, Yaeyama kamaboko, and Ishigaki beef are also sold. You can also find souvenirs from not only Ishigaki Island but also the Yaeyama Islands, local character goods, and crafts such as black pearls and Minsa weaving. You may even find a souvenir at the airport that you couldn't find in town. Be sure to check out the souvenirs that are only available at the airport.
In addition, in 2022, a FamilyMart Ishigaki Airport Terminal store will open between the international terminal and the airport, making it even more convenient as it will allow passengers to purchase drinks, snacks, bento boxes, and other items in addition to small daily necessities and souvenirs.
In addition to shops, the airport also has five restaurants. In addition to hearty island meals like Yaeyama soba, seafood, and Ishigaki beef, you can also get drinks, gelato ice cream, hamburgers, and more, making it the perfect place to fill your stomach while waiting for your flight or arrival. There is even a gelato ice cream menu exclusive to the airport store on Ishigaki Island, and many islanders visit the airport just for that. You can also charge your PC or smartphone in some of the seats in the lobby!
After all that walking and swimming, why not soothe your travel fatigue at the airport? Take the stairs or elevator to the second floor on your right as soon as you enter Ishigaki Airport, and you'll find a Ryukyu massage shop. They offer foot reflexology, head massage, hand care, and more. While you wait for your flight, you can relax and unwind while reminiscing about your travels.
Ishigaki Airport is a two-story building with the check-in and arrival lobby on the first floor and the departure lobby and pick-up and drop-off deck on the second floor, making it easy to see and navigate, but it also has some hidden gems that even locals will tell you they didn't know about.
You can observe the fluttering of the "Idea leuconoe", which is designated as the city butterfly of Ishigaki City, up close. If you're lucky, you may even be able to see its distinctive golden chrysalis.
Once you enter the airport, take the stairs or elevator on the right to the second floor, where you'll find an open rest area. Chairs and tables are lined up in a glass-walled space, making it the perfect spot to pass the time while waiting for your flight. It's also recommended for those who want a spacious place to spread out their luggage or a quieter place to relax. If you go further in, you'll also find a games corner (with a dedicated currency exchange machine) and a PC corner. *You'll need to go down to the first floor to go to the departure lobby.
There are decks on both sides of the second floor rest area. Recommended for those who want to breathe fresh air and spend time in the cool breeze. When the weather is nice, you can see the blue ocean across the parking lot. (Opening hours: 7:30-18:00)
If you go straight past the baggage claim area, you'll find restrooms, vending machines, coin lockers, and more. At the end of the road, there's a bench where you can enjoy the view of the tarmac. It's a secretly popular spot with children, as they can see the airplane-related jobs right in front of them, just like they're visiting an airport to see what it's like to work there.
If you go past the baggage claim area and use the stairs or elevator to go up to the second floor, you'll come out onto the glass-enclosed farewell deck where you'll see passengers heading from security to their planes. Many people see passengers off in front of the security checkpoint, but if you come to the farewell deck, you can see them off right up until they board the plane (open from 7:30 AM to 8:30 PM).
If you go further up from the pick-up and drop-off deck, you can reach the rooftop observation deck (only available from the left side of the baggage claim area). From here, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the runway, as well as the sea, mountains, and other scenery around the airport. (Open from 7:30 AM to 8:30 PM)
Entering through the main entrance, you will find Aeon Bank ATMs on the left and Okinawa Bank and Ryukyu Bank ATMs on the right.
This is very helpful if you have trouble with your smartphone charger. It is located right next to the general information desk.
It is located on the right side of the main entrance, behind the ATM. There is also a kettle, so you can boil water for milk.
There is a postbox right in front of the main entrance.
There are also chairs for children in the lobby on the first floor.
If you have a lot of large luggage, use a cart to move it easily!
Once you leave the airport, turn right and head towards the control tower.
It is located on the left as you exit the airport, just before the international entrance, and you can use the air pumps freely.
There are two smoking areas in front of the terminal.
There are three sizes available: large (500 yen), medium (300 yen), and small (100 yen).
Ishigaki Airport is packed with shopping, dining, relaxation, and entertainment. It is fully equipped with power outlets and Wi-Fi, and there are even rental conference rooms within the terminal, so many people who live on Ishigaki Island make the effort to visit the airport to do work.
Painushima Ishigaki Airport serves as the gateway to the air. Although it is simply called an "airport," there are many different ways to spend time there. We hope that you will all enjoy this southern island airport to the fullest, based on your own individual purpose.
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