Highlights of Ishigaki

Enjoy an introductory tour of the island that reveals some of the most captivating attractions underwater, underground and in a re-created village of traditional houses.

A scenic drive takes you around ladle-shaped Ishigaki Island, a natural paradise of secluded coves, beautiful beaches and subtropical vistas rarely associated with Japan. The attitude throughout is exceptionally laid-back and friendly, especially in the countryside on the way to Kabira Bay, home to the island’s finest beach.

Your guide will brief you on what you can expect to see during an approximately 30 minute glass bottom boat ride. Board your glass-bottom boat on the beach and begin cruising through the bay. Your boat driver will find the best possible spot in the bay to see brilliantly colored fish, giant clams and coral reefs in the turquoise waters where black pearls are cultivated primarily for export. Of all the destinations on Ishigaki, Kabira Bay is among the most photographed and with good reason.

Visit Ishigaki Yaima Village, a fascinating destination created to preserve the island's culture. Strolling about, you will see dozens of traditional homes that have been moved here from other parts of Ishigaki and reassembled as an open-air museum. Other highlights include costumed folkloric performers, historical artifacts, and an abundance of curious squirrel monkeys.

Then it's on to the island's largest limestone cave, an underground world full of oddly shaped stalactites and stalagmites that have been eerily illuminated for added drama. Be sure to look for ancient shells embedded in the walls, proof that the cave was once filled with seawater.