Top Rated Attractions in Ishigaki

Touted to have one of the longest beaches in the country, Kondoi Beach is a beautiful beach is Japan. The picturesque beach features clear waters and white sand that are just perfect for a fun-filled outing with your loved ones and are popular among locals and tourists alike. You can enjoy a cooling dip in its water or relax and sun-bathe by the bay, you are sure to enjoy your time here.

Take a break from your regular city life and feel the tranquil of nature at Kabira Bay. The clear blue waters of the bay strikingly contrast the white-sand beach and make this a popular spot among tourists and locals alike for its stunning views. Though you cannot swim at this beautiful location, this place is used for boating and is touted to be one of the most photographed places. After a relaxing day by the serene waters, you can treat yourself to a delicious meal at the nearby restaurants or bars which dot the neighborhood.

Clasped within the tight embrace of lush woodlands, Iriomote Island is best-known for duly anchoring the periled Iriomote wildcat. The largest of the Yaeyama archipelago, the island is a picturesque paradise, the coastline of which is stippled with dainty coastal hamlets. Accentuated by undisturbed swathes of wilderness and deep blue waters of the sea, this island is where mystical, emerald-hued mangrove forests gorgeously arch above trickling, meandering rivers. Here is where adventure enthusiasts snorkel deep into its warm waters, while a multitude of melodious birds croon its thick, forested cavities. Interspersed with a tracery of untouched beaches and winding hiking trails, the island is a resplendent canvas where nature liberally splashes its wild, entrancing silhouettes. From swamps and sugar canes to waterfalls and humble locals, this island is an inviting escape that further encompasses attractions like the Iriomote National Park and the gushing Pinaisara-no-taki falls.

The preserved village on Taketomi Island doesn’t allow cars, so visitors have a choice of getting about by foot, by bicycle, or by suigyūsha (water buffalo). This last choice is very popular among travelers who want to get a unique tour of the island. During the ride, which lasts about a half hour, the guide will both inform you about the island and the village and will entertain you by singing and playing local music on a sanshin (traditional stringed instrument). The guide will be free to do this for you, as the water buffalo are highly skilled in finding their way around.

Of the Yaeyama Islands, Ishigaki-jima is the main island. In that sense Ishigaki embodies the island cluster best, making it a logical location for where visitors can find the Yaeyama Museum. The museum displays pottery, historical and traditional textiles, various items from local festivals, and even wooden canoes. Each exhibit holds a tangible piece of history from the islands, giving travelers a better idea of where they are sojourning. The museum is closed on Mondays, but on its open days it stops admitting visitors one half hour before closing time.

On Iriomote Island sits Mariyudo Falls, a magnificent waterfall that is accessible by a 40-minute walk from Gunkan-iwa Rock, a stone that sits next to the boating docks of Urauchi River. After docking, visitors walk to an observation area that overlooks the falls from 16 meters (53 feet) above the water (a little further and visitors can see and touch the waterfall firsthand). The falls are named for the sediment pool at the bottom of the rapids. Mariyudo Falls is noted as one of the most beautiful falls in Japan and the largest one on the Okinawa Islands.