Ishigaki

The sub-tropical island of Ishigaki is closer to Taiwan than mainland Japan and is blessed with white sandy beaches, a lush mountainous interior, and its own unique culture. This beautiful island is in such stark contrast to Japan’s other islands that visitors will find it hard to believe they are still in Japan. Temperatures rarely dip below 20 degrees Celsius making this one of the best beach options in Japan.

The island has fantastic options for snorkelling, diving, walking, and bird watching with much of the island and surrounding waters protected as part of the Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park.

Like the other Okinawan islands there is a unique culture influenced by the former Ryukyu Kingdom with the strongest influence seen in the island’s cuisine. Meat features more prominently in the island’s diet than it does on the mainland with Japanese black cattle being a local speciality. Ishigaki is also known for its unique combinations of spice and tropical fruits which most mainland Japanese palates tend to be unaccustomed with.

There are regular flights to the island’s airport from Naha, and Tokyo and Osaka on the mainland. Ferries connect Ishigaki with the other Yaeyama Islands: Kohama, Kuro and Hateruma and Iriomote. While the island does have a public transport network, buses to anywhere but the airport and main city are infrequent. Hiring a car or engaging the services of a local taxi are the best ways to travel around the island.