Ishigaki (石垣, ) is second-largest but most populated of the Yaeyama Islands of Okinawa, Japan.
Understand
Ishigaki has 45,000 of Yaeyama's 50,000 people and is thus the political, economic and transport hub of the islands. Most of these live in central Ishigaki, known for lack of a better name in Japanese as shigaichi (市街地 "city streets"), chushin (中心 "center") or just machi (町 "town"). The main districts are Ōkawa (大川) and Misakichō (美崎町) and the main roads are Sanbashi-dōri (桟橋通り), leading north from the port, Shiyakusho-dōri (市役所通り), running west-east along the coast, and Yui Road (ゆいロード), running parallel a few blocks north.
Other population centers on Ishigaki are Kabira (川平), by the bay of the same name on the northwest coast, and Shiraho (白保), at the southeast corner. Much of the island, particularly the central mountains and the scenic northeastern peninsula, is quite sparsely settled.
Getting there
By plane
Ishigaki Airport (ISG) is the largest airport in the Yaeyama Islands. There are frequent connections to Naha and Miyako, some direct services to major Japanese cities like Tokyo, and daily flights to Yonaguni.
There are buses to the port every 20 minutes. The fare is a flat ¥200 and the trip takes 15-20 minutes depending on the direction; there are both eastbound and westbound services, but both terminate at the port. You can also use the Free Passes for this (see Get around). A taxi to central Ishigaki will cost you around ¥800 but takes just 5 minutes or so.
By boat
Ishigaki Port (石垣港) is located at the center of the city near the bus terminal. There are two parts: the central Ritō-sanbashi (離島さんばし), for services to nearby islands, and a second unnamed pier at the southeast corner of the port for long-distance services to Yonaguni and slow boats to Hateruma. The port information office is next to Ritō-sanbashi pier 1.
As of 2008, following the liquidation of both Ryukyu Kaiun and Arimura Sangyo, there are no scheduled services to Taiwan, mainland Japan or islands outside the Yaeyama group. Star Cruises operates cruises in the summer high season only from Keelung, near Taipei.
There are extensive services to the other islands in the Yaeyama group, including:
Taketomi (¥580, 15 min), departures every 30 minutes
Ōhara (¥1540, 45 min) and Uehara/Funaura (¥2000, 50 min) on Iriomote, departures roughly hourly
Prices and times above are one-ways on fast ferries and may vary slightly from company to company. Return fares are usually 10% cheaper. Slow boat service, if available, will be somewhat cheaper but connections are infrequent.
The major operators are Anei Kankō , Hirata Group and Yaeyama Kankō Ferry . There are free courtesy buses from the larger resorts to some ferries, enquire locally.
Traveling around
By bus
operates services throughout the island radiating from the bus terminal on Sanbashi-dōri, just across the street from the port. The most useful services connect to the airport (¥200) and Kabira (¥700).
The best deal for transport on the island is the Airport Line Kabira Resort Line 5-Day Free Pass (空港線・川平リゾート線５日間フリーパス); no, it's not quite free, but ¥1000 gets you unlimited trips on both lines for 5 days and is cheaper than a single round trip to Kabira. Throw in another ¥1000, and you can get the Michikusa Free Pass (みちくさフリーパス) which allows unlimited travel on all routes.
By taxi
Taxis are the only other form of transport and it's common to see them slowly cruising the streets waiting for passengers. Flag fall is ¥390 and the meter ticks at alarming speed after 2 kilometers.
By car
There are many car rental companies in the island and many hotels offer car rental at a discounted price from ¥2000 to ¥4000 per day. Inquire at your accommodation. A drive between Ishigaki and the furthermost point of the island is about an hour and a half.
By bicycle
Many hotels offer bicycle rental at about ¥500 per day. Bicycles can be taken in most ferries to the islands at an additional price.
On foot
Central Ishigaki can be comfortably covered on foot, but you'll need another means of transport for the rest of the island.
See
Ishigaki is a little low on must-see attractions and somewhat tamer in terms of scenery than Iriomote. Most visitors hit the beaches of the northern coast and stay there.
Beaches
Ishigaki's beaches are among the most spectacular in Japan.
Kabira Bay (川平湾 Kabira-wan). At the northwest corner of the island is this stunning emerald blue bay with a perfect yellow-white beach, dotted by craggy islands — but no swimming allowed, so the closest you can get is a glass-bottom boat tour (¥1000, 30 min). You can walk along the coast from bay to bay, but beware of the fast-moving tides that may trap you if you dally too much in the evening.
The best free landside views are from Kabira Park (川平公園 Kabira-kōen), a promenade complete with viewing pavilion that stretches along the coast above the beach itself.
Sukuji Beach (底地ビーチ), 2 km west of Kabira. One kilometer of white sand beach, equipped with changing rooms, showers, toilets and other essentials. The view from the beach is stunning and on a clear day Uganzaki lighthouse is visible in the distance. The sea is the shallowest to be found on any of Ishigaki's beaches, which is great if you fancy a relaxing paddle in the ocean, but swimmers should look elsewhere. Trees at the rear of the beach provide partial shade from the sun throughout much of the day.
Yonehara (米原). Offers nice sand and better coral reefs within easy snorkeling distance. Indeed, the reef begins within meters of the beach and hosts enough life to interest experienced snorkelers and beginners alike. Caution should be taken however as Yonehara's rip currents are notoriously strong. Signs in the parking area describe which areas should be avoided. There is a campsite located behind the beach with the facility to rent gear.
Other
Tōjinbaka (唐人墓), Tōjin no haka stop on the Kabira Resort Line. This ornately decorated Chinese-style "Tang People's Grave" commemorates the sorry fate of some 400 Hokkien Chinese coolies, who mutinied and ran aground on Ishigaki on their way to California. Pursued by the English navy, those captured were killed, so many headed into the mountains where they starved or committed suicide, and only a lucky few were taken under the wing of friendly locals and protected.
Nearby is also a newer (2001) bilingual monument of angular concrete, dedicated to three Americans shot down over Ishigaki in April 1945, during the closing days of World War II. After being captured and tortured, two were beheaded and one was used for bayonet practice, and monument duly notes that such things are not fair play according to the Geneva Convention.
Kannonzaki Lighthouse (観音崎灯台 Kannonzaki-tōdai). A little lighthouse on a little cape, not open to the public but there's a little park and viewing pavilion next to it. Not worth much of a detour but conveniently located across the road from Tōjinbaka.
Kannon-dō Temple (観音堂). Rounding out the trio of low-key attractions around Tōjinbaka is this quiet Okinawan-style wooden temple, with a grand lantern-lined staircase but little to see when you get there. The toilets, however, are kept in excellent shape.
Things to do
The transparent waters around the island are full of coral reefs, making scuba diving the number one activity on Ishigaki. In particular, Manta Scramble (マンタスクランブル), just off the island's north coast, is a legendary spot for manta ray spotting where groups of manta rays are almost guaranteed during Autumn. There are a large number of dive operators and rates are more or less standardized at around ¥12000 for two boat dives (not including gear rental).
Umicoza (海講座) , 0980-88-2434, Kabira, Friendly dive shop that also caters to English-speaking divers. Two dives ¥12600, full gear rental ¥5250. Free transfers from anywhere on the island, Visa/MC/Amex accepted.
Tom Sawyer, 0980-83-4677, This diving shop has a branch at the ferry terminal and offers diving courses, diving, snorkelling and underwater sightseeing cruises. A double dive is ¥13,000 and full diving rental is ¥4,000.
Open Coast Travel, 1-310-433-6653, Los Angeles, CA, A US travel shop that specializes in guided tours to Ishigaki and other Japanese destinations.
Eat
There are plenty of eating options in central Ishigaki, although many of the fancier places are open only for dinner. The stretch of Sanbashi-dori between the piers and the bus terminal has a good selection of reasonably priced Okinawan places, most of which offer affordable set lunches.
Budget
Banna (ばんな), Misakicho 1-8, On Sanbashi-dōri opposite bus terminal, Okinawan izakaya that also offers reasonable set meals, open 9 AM to midnight. Try their **goya champuru** set for ¥750.
Beach, Okawa 209, Inside Ayapani Mall, This friendly stucco-walled beach café trapped in a mall offers the Okinawan speciality taco rice in both
Māsan-dō (まーさん道), Shiyakusho-dōri, Specializes in Yaeyama soba, ¥500 for a basic bowl, ¥800 for the **sōki** version with a big hunk o' pork on top. Add your namecard to the vast collection on the walls. Open daily from 11 AM to 9:30 PM.
Paikaji (南風), Near the main post office, A nice izakaya. Good space, good food. Open 5 PM to 12 PM (Closed Sundays).
Mugiwarabōshi (麦わらぼうし), Misakicho 3-2F, Above bus terminal, Even locals come here for Yaeyama soba (¥400+). Generously sized set lunches from ¥700. Open daily except Monday from 10 AM to 9 PM.
Uechi Jersey Bokujō Soft Cream Hanbaiten (上地ジャージー牧場ソフトクリーム販売店), 090-9571-6750, Okawa 281-2, on Yui Road, This is the place to sample milk-flavored ice cream, made only from the milk of local Ishigaki cows. ¥300 per cone, open 11 AM to 7 PM daily.
Yarabu Shokudo (やらぶ食堂), 090-9214-5283, 11am-11pm. An old traditional house with red-tile roof was transformed into this cozy restaurant. Here you can relax and enjoy Yaeyama soba (soba means noodle), Su-chika-don (the local pork, marinated in salt), and their original Yarabu-don. (
Kato-soba (八重山 嘉とそば), 76 Tonoshiro, Ishigaki City, 2-3min from Yaeyama Post Office, Our favorite menu is an Ebi-soba(local prawn noodle) ¥900, Yaeyama soba ¥550. It's a very nice and quite old traditional red brick house, please enjoy Yaeyama relaxedly. Open 11AM to 4PM(Close on Wednesday). Web:
Splurge
Ishigaki's beef (石垣牛 Ishigaki-gyū) is meltingly smooth and well worth the splurge for meat lovers, although you'll generally be looking at around ¥5000 for something approximating a decent-sized steak. Sampling strips served as yakiniku or even raw sashimi is somewhat more affordable, but if the price seems too good, double-check that it's real Ishigaki beef, not a cheaper import.
Kinjō (金城), Hotel Peaceland 1F, Misakichō 11-1, south end of Center-Dori, The lunch-only ¥2500 steak teishoku set with 150g of Ishigaki beef to grill by yourself is one of the better deals around, especially when washed down with some Ishigakijima beer. Offers half-price dinner on the first day of the month, but you will have to stand in line for a good hour as that is a very popular night with locals in the know. Open daily 11:30 AM to 3 PM for lunch, 5 PM to midnight for dinner. Kinjo also has other branches around town.
Hitoshi (ひとし), 0980-88-5807, An izakaya that specializes in tuna fish. Their tuna sushi and shashimi are something to dream for. There are two branches in town. This is a very popular eating place so it is best to book ahead.
Drink
Ishigaki has a surprisingly vibrant nightlife, mostly centered around izakayas offering the ubiquitous local firewater awamori. Also be sure to sample the local Ishigakijima Beer (石垣島地ビール) microbrew, now available in "marine" (lager), "kuro" (dark) and three other versions.
Misakichō Center-Dōri (美崎町センター通り) and nearby streets have a range of karaoke lounges and nightclubs of varying degrees of respectability. Outside the city, however, there is little to no nightlife of any kind and you'll be hard pressed to find even a restaurant open after 6.
Sleep
Ishigaki has a wide range of accommodation, ranging from expensive resorts for ¥10000+ to backpacker-oriented minshukus that can go as low as ¥3000 for your own room or ¥1000 for dormitory-type accommodation.
Budget
Rakutenya (楽天屋), Okawa 291, tel. 0980 83-8713, . Two rambling old wooden houses run by an affable if eccentric English-speaking couple, ¥3000 per night gets you a private room with free laundry and Internet. The catches are that air-con costs ¥100/hour and only the newer wing (別館 bekkan) has mosquito nets.
Yanbuzeena Hostel (ヤンブジーナ), Okawa 181-2, TEL 0980-83-3011,. Access: 10 minutes by car or taxi from the airport; from the ferry terminal, 8 minutes on foot; from the ferry terminal, 8 minutes by walk. The hotel is located right in front of the famous cultural heritage site Miyaradonchi. You can choose between a dormitory room (￥1500) and a private room (￥2500 on-season, ￥2000 off-season). You can cook your own meal too, as there is a small kitchen. The facilities are extremely basic, with the same sink in the kitchen used for cooking, cleaning, washing your hands after a trip to the bathroom and brushing your teeth. The "girls' dorm" consists of a loft above the entrance, and if you want a bit of privacy to change you won't get any, as the 4th wall of the loft is open except for some sarongs hanging from the roof. Non-smokers beware - guests are allowed to smoke inside wherever they like, so if inhaling second-hand smoke bothers you, don't stay here. The dorms are a cheap option at ￥1500 a night, and the staff are extremely friendly, but you definitely get less than what you pay for. Next to the hostel there is a small restaurant (“Yarabu Shokudo”), where you can enjoy homemade drinks and Okinawan cuisine.
Penshon (ペンション), TEL. (0980)83-0513, . Rooms come with TV, Air conditioning (very, very important in summer) and cheap rates at 1800 yen per night. The owners are extremely friendly and so are most of the guests. Excellent place to make traveling friends. Located seconds from the port by foot, it serves as a great hub for daytrips throughout the Yaeyama Archipelago.
Yashima Youth Hostel TEL. (0980) 82-3157 A short walk from the Small Boat Harbor in Ishigaki city, this hostel provides basic Japanese-style dormitory rooms for around ¥2500 per night, including breakfast. The staff here do not speak much English, but are extremely hospitable. Be sure to join in on the nightly (free) awamori time to enjoy the traditional Ryukyu alcohol.
Splurge
Club Med Kabira, . One of Japan's two Club Meds, this swanky resort offers beautiful views of Kabira Bay. Last stop on the Kabira Resort line.
Auberge Kabira (formerly B&B Kabira). Small and friendly hotel right on Kabira Bay, this place does good though expensive food in the evening. Rooms are a little small but they do offer free bike rental.
Buy
Souvenir shops abound, particularly around the port. The closest thing to a dedicated shopping area are the two streets of the covered Ayapani Mall (あやぱにモール) arcade just west of the post office.
Ishigaki-shi Tokusanpin Hanbai Center (石垣市特産品販売センター) , Ayapani Mall 2F, Okawa 208, This city-sponsored retail center sells only authentic Ishigaki-made products, ranging from handicrafts to food items.
Tezukurikan Kōbō Uminchu (手作り館工房海人) , Misakichō 4, Sanbashi-dōri just south of port, Home of the ubiquitous Uminchu T-shirts worn by approximately half the local population. A vast variety of designs from ¥2625.
Yashiya (ヤシ屋), Next to Tōjinbaka, This little factory-shop cooks up tasty cane sugar candy, sold on premises for ¥500 per cake. You can also view the making process, which basically consists of mashing up sugarcane and then boiling the juice until it turns into brown sugar candy.
Koubou Tumeya (工房夢屋) , 0980-83-8201, 0980-83-8201, Shīsā (シーサー) is a traditional Okinawan decoration, often found in pairs, resembling a cross between a lion and a dog. This workshop makes Shīsā using traditional materials from the island. A visitor (of any age) can also make a Shīsā with a step-by-step guidance from the staff.
Contact
There's an internet cafe in Ayapani Mall, in the arcade that's farther from the port.
There is also free internet in the public library (though its only available from one terminal)
Vanilla Deli, directly across from City Hall also has free internet for patrons.
Cope
The Ishigaki City Hall Tourism Division (市役所観光課) as well as the Ishigaki City Hall International Section (国際交流係) have good information in English for tourists. The International Section also employs a coordinator of international relations, fluent in both Japanese and English, who is available to assist non-Japanese tourists in local knowledge and hotel reservations. The hours for the city hall international section are (excepting holidays) 8:30am-4:30pm Monday thru Friday. Both the tourism division and the international section are located on the second floor. The Hirata tourist company located near the ferry terminal also has English information. Try to pick up copies of the free Ishigaki Town Guide or Yaeyama Navi pamphlets, both useful packs of information with lots of maps to show you around. Note that both are in Japanese only and any listings inside are essentially paid ads, so not everything is listed. City Hall and many restaurants, shops and lodgings usually have one or both available.
The only foreigner-friendly ATMs on the island are in the Ishigaki and Kabira post offices, open daily from 9 AM to 7 PM only and not open on national holidays.
Get out
Iriomote — an hour away by boat, offers mangrove jungles and the elusive Iriomote wildcat
Taketomi — just 10 minutes by boat, known for its well-preserved Ryukyu village
Yonaguni — 30 minutes by plane or 4 hours by boat, the westernmost point of Japan offers mysterious ruins and diving with hammerhead sharks
Contact & location
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Ishigaki (石垣, ) is second-largest but most populated of the Yaeyama Islands of Okinawa, Japan.
Understand
Ishigaki has 45,000 of Yaeyama's 50,000 people and is thus the political, economic and transport hub of the islands. Most of these live in central Ishigaki, known for lack of a better name in Japanese as shigaichi (市街地 "city streets"), chushin (中心 "center") or just machi (町 "town"). The main districts are Ōkawa (大川) and Misakichō (美崎町) and the main roads are Sanbashi-dōri (桟橋通り), leading north from the port, Shiyakusho-dōri (市役所通り), running west-east along the coast, and Yui Road (ゆいロード), running parallel a few blocks north.
Other population centers on Ishigaki are Kabira (川平), by the bay of the same name on the northwest coast, and Shiraho (白保), at the southeast corner. Much of the island, particularly the central mountains and the scenic northeastern peninsula, is quite sparsely settled.
Getting there
By plane
Ishigaki Airport (ISG) is the largest airport in the Yaeyama Islands. There are frequent connections to Naha and Miyako, some direct services to major Japanese cities like Tokyo, and daily flights to Yonaguni. There are buses to the port every 20 minutes. The fare is a flat ¥200 and the trip takes 15-20 minutes depending on the direction; there are both eastbound and westbound services, but both terminate at the port. You can also use the Free Passes for this (see Get around). A taxi to central Ishigaki will cost you around ¥800 but takes just 5 minutes or so.
By boat
Ishigaki Port (石垣港) is located at the center of the city near the bus terminal. There are two parts: the central Ritō-sanbashi (離島さんばし), for services to nearby islands, and a second unnamed pier at the southeast corner of the port for long-distance services to Yonaguni and slow boats to Hateruma. The port information office is next to Ritō-sanbashi pier 1.
As of 2008, following the liquidation of both Ryukyu Kaiun and Arimura Sangyo, there are no scheduled services to Taiwan, mainland Japan or islands outside the Yaeyama group. Star Cruises operates cruises in the summer high season only from Keelung, near Taipei.
There are extensive services to the other islands in the Yaeyama group, including:
Taketomi (¥580, 15 min), departures every 30 minutes
Ōhara (¥1540, 45 min) and Uehara/Funaura (¥2000, 50 min) on Iriomote, departures roughly hourly
Kohama (¥1030, 25 min), departures roughly hourly
Kuro (¥1130, 25 min), 5 departures daily
Hateruma (¥3000, 70 min), 3 departures daily
Yonaguni (¥3400, 4-5 hours), 2 departures weekly
Prices and times above are one-ways on fast ferries and may vary slightly from company to company. Return fares are usually 10% cheaper. Slow boat service, if available, will be somewhat cheaper but connections are infrequent.
The major operators are Anei Kankō , Hirata Group and Yaeyama Kankō Ferry . There are free courtesy buses from the larger resorts to some ferries, enquire locally.
Traveling around
By bus
operates services throughout the island radiating from the bus terminal on Sanbashi-dōri, just across the street from the port. The most useful services connect to the airport (¥200) and Kabira (¥700).
The best deal for transport on the island is the Airport Line Kabira Resort Line 5-Day Free Pass (空港線・川平リゾート線５日間フリーパス); no, it's not quite free, but ¥1000 gets you unlimited trips on both lines for 5 days and is cheaper than a single round trip to Kabira. Throw in another ¥1000, and you can get the Michikusa Free Pass (みちくさフリーパス) which allows unlimited travel on all routes.
By taxi
Taxis are the only other form of transport and it's common to see them slowly cruising the streets waiting for passengers. Flag fall is ¥390 and the meter ticks at alarming speed after 2 kilometers.
By car
There are many car rental companies in the island and many hotels offer car rental at a discounted price from ¥2000 to ¥4000 per day. Inquire at your accommodation. A drive between Ishigaki and the furthermost point of the island is about an hour and a half.
By bicycle
Many hotels offer bicycle rental at about ¥500 per day. Bicycles can be taken in most ferries to the islands at an additional price.
On foot
Central Ishigaki can be comfortably covered on foot, but you'll need another means of transport for the rest of the island.
See
Ishigaki is a little low on must-see attractions and somewhat tamer in terms of scenery than Iriomote. Most visitors hit the beaches of the northern coast and stay there.
Beaches
Ishigaki's beaches are among the most spectacular in Japan.
Kabira Bay (川平湾 Kabira-wan). At the northwest corner of the island is this stunning emerald blue bay with a perfect yellow-white beach, dotted by craggy islands — but no swimming allowed, so the closest you can get is a glass-bottom boat tour (¥1000, 30 min). You can walk along the coast from bay to bay, but beware of the fast-moving tides that may trap you if you dally too much in the evening.
Sukuji Beach (底地ビーチ), 2 km west of Kabira. One kilometer of white sand beach, equipped with changing rooms, showers, toilets and other essentials. The view from the beach is stunning and on a clear day Uganzaki lighthouse is visible in the distance. The sea is the shallowest to be found on any of Ishigaki's beaches, which is great if you fancy a relaxing paddle in the ocean, but swimmers should look elsewhere. Trees at the rear of the beach provide partial shade from the sun throughout much of the day.
Yonehara (米原). Offers nice sand and better coral reefs within easy snorkeling distance. Indeed, the reef begins within meters of the beach and hosts enough life to interest experienced snorkelers and beginners alike. Caution should be taken however as Yonehara's rip currents are notoriously strong. Signs in the parking area describe which areas should be avoided. There is a campsite located behind the beach with the facility to rent gear.
Other
Tōjinbaka (唐人墓), Tōjin no haka stop on the Kabira Resort Line. This ornately decorated Chinese-style "Tang People's Grave" commemorates the sorry fate of some 400 Hokkien Chinese coolies, who mutinied and ran aground on Ishigaki on their way to California. Pursued by the English navy, those captured were killed, so many headed into the mountains where they starved or committed suicide, and only a lucky few were taken under the wing of friendly locals and protected.
Kannonzaki Lighthouse (観音崎灯台 Kannonzaki-tōdai). A little lighthouse on a little cape, not open to the public but there's a little park and viewing pavilion next to it. Not worth much of a detour but conveniently located across the road from Tōjinbaka.
Kannon-dō Temple (観音堂). Rounding out the trio of low-key attractions around Tōjinbaka is this quiet Okinawan-style wooden temple, with a grand lantern-lined staircase but little to see when you get there. The toilets, however, are kept in excellent shape.
Things to do
The transparent waters around the island are full of coral reefs, making scuba diving the number one activity on Ishigaki. In particular, Manta Scramble (マンタスクランブル), just off the island's north coast, is a legendary spot for manta ray spotting where groups of manta rays are almost guaranteed during Autumn. There are a large number of dive operators and rates are more or less standardized at around ¥12000 for two boat dives (not including gear rental).
Umicoza (海講座) , 0980-88-2434, Kabira, Friendly dive shop that also caters to English-speaking divers. Two dives ¥12600, full gear rental ¥5250. Free transfers from anywhere on the island, Visa/MC/Amex accepted.
Tom Sawyer , 0980-83-4677, This diving shop has a branch at the ferry terminal and offers diving courses, diving, snorkelling and underwater sightseeing cruises. A double dive is ¥13,000 and full diving rental is ¥4,000.
Open Coast Travel , 1-310-433-6653, Los Angeles, CA, A US travel shop that specializes in guided tours to Ishigaki and other Japanese destinations.
Eat
There are plenty of eating options in central Ishigaki, although many of the fancier places are open only for dinner. The stretch of Sanbashi-dori between the piers and the bus terminal has a good selection of reasonably priced Okinawan places, most of which offer affordable set lunches.
Budget
Banna (ばんな), Misakicho 1-8, On Sanbashi-dōri opposite bus terminal, Okinawan izakaya that also offers reasonable set meals, open 9 AM to midnight. Try their **goya champuru** set for ¥750.
Beach, Okawa 209, Inside Ayapani Mall, This friendly stucco-walled beach café trapped in a mall offers the Okinawan speciality taco rice in both
Māsan-dō (まーさん道), Shiyakusho-dōri, Specializes in Yaeyama soba, ¥500 for a basic bowl, ¥800 for the **sōki** version with a big hunk o' pork on top. Add your namecard to the vast collection on the walls. Open daily from 11 AM to 9:30 PM.
Paikaji (南風), Near the main post office, A nice izakaya. Good space, good food. Open 5 PM to 12 PM (Closed Sundays).
Mugiwarabōshi (麦わらぼうし), Misakicho 3-2F, Above bus terminal, Even locals come here for Yaeyama soba (¥400+). Generously sized set lunches from ¥700. Open daily except Monday from 10 AM to 9 PM.
Uechi Jersey Bokujō Soft Cream Hanbaiten (上地ジャージー牧場ソフトクリーム販売店), 090-9571-6750, Okawa 281-2, on Yui Road, This is the place to sample milk-flavored ice cream, made only from the milk of local Ishigaki cows. ¥300 per cone, open 11 AM to 7 PM daily.
Yarabu Shokudo (やらぶ食堂), 090-9214-5283, 11am-11pm. An old traditional house with red-tile roof was transformed into this cozy restaurant. Here you can relax and enjoy Yaeyama soba (soba means noodle), Su-chika-don (the local pork, marinated in salt), and their original Yarabu-don. (
Kato-soba (八重山 嘉とそば), 76 Tonoshiro, Ishigaki City, 2-3min from Yaeyama Post Office, Our favorite menu is an Ebi-soba(local prawn noodle) ¥900, Yaeyama soba ¥550. It's a very nice and quite old traditional red brick house, please enjoy Yaeyama relaxedly. Open 11AM to 4PM(Close on Wednesday). Web:
Splurge
Ishigaki's beef (石垣牛 Ishigaki-gyū) is meltingly smooth and well worth the splurge for meat lovers, although you'll generally be looking at around ¥5000 for something approximating a decent-sized steak. Sampling strips served as yakiniku or even raw sashimi is somewhat more affordable, but if the price seems too good, double-check that it's real Ishigaki beef, not a cheaper import.
Kinjō (金城), Hotel Peaceland 1F, Misakichō 11-1, south end of Center-Dori, The lunch-only ¥2500 steak teishoku set with 150g of Ishigaki beef to grill by yourself is one of the better deals around, especially when washed down with some Ishigakijima beer. Offers half-price dinner on the first day of the month, but you will have to stand in line for a good hour as that is a very popular night with locals in the know. Open daily 11:30 AM to 3 PM for lunch, 5 PM to midnight for dinner. Kinjo also has other branches around town.
Hitoshi (ひとし), 0980-88-5807, An izakaya that specializes in tuna fish. Their tuna sushi and shashimi are something to dream for. There are two branches in town. This is a very popular eating place so it is best to book ahead.
Drink
Ishigaki has a surprisingly vibrant nightlife, mostly centered around izakayas offering the ubiquitous local firewater awamori. Also be sure to sample the local Ishigakijima Beer (石垣島地ビール) microbrew, now available in "marine" (lager), "kuro" (dark) and three other versions.
Misakichō Center-Dōri (美崎町センター通り) and nearby streets have a range of karaoke lounges and nightclubs of varying degrees of respectability. Outside the city, however, there is little to no nightlife of any kind and you'll be hard pressed to find even a restaurant open after 6.
Sleep
Ishigaki has a wide range of accommodation, ranging from expensive resorts for ¥10000+ to backpacker-oriented minshukus that can go as low as ¥3000 for your own room or ¥1000 for dormitory-type accommodation.
Budget
Rakutenya (楽天屋), Okawa 291, tel. 0980 83-8713, . Two rambling old wooden houses run by an affable if eccentric English-speaking couple, ¥3000 per night gets you a private room with free laundry and Internet. The catches are that air-con costs ¥100/hour and only the newer wing (別館 bekkan) has mosquito nets.
Yanbuzeena Hostel (ヤンブジーナ), Okawa 181-2, TEL 0980-83-3011,. Access: 10 minutes by car or taxi from the airport; from the ferry terminal, 8 minutes on foot; from the ferry terminal, 8 minutes by walk. The hotel is located right in front of the famous cultural heritage site Miyaradonchi. You can choose between a dormitory room (￥1500) and a private room (￥2500 on-season, ￥2000 off-season). You can cook your own meal too, as there is a small kitchen. The facilities are extremely basic, with the same sink in the kitchen used for cooking, cleaning, washing your hands after a trip to the bathroom and brushing your teeth. The "girls' dorm" consists of a loft above the entrance, and if you want a bit of privacy to change you won't get any, as the 4th wall of the loft is open except for some sarongs hanging from the roof. Non-smokers beware - guests are allowed to smoke inside wherever they like, so if inhaling second-hand smoke bothers you, don't stay here. The dorms are a cheap option at ￥1500 a night, and the staff are extremely friendly, but you definitely get less than what you pay for. Next to the hostel there is a small restaurant (“Yarabu Shokudo”), where you can enjoy homemade drinks and Okinawan cuisine.
Penshon (ペンション), TEL. (0980)83-0513, . Rooms come with TV, Air conditioning (very, very important in summer) and cheap rates at 1800 yen per night. The owners are extremely friendly and so are most of the guests. Excellent place to make traveling friends. Located seconds from the port by foot, it serves as a great hub for daytrips throughout the Yaeyama Archipelago.
Yashima Youth Hostel TEL. (0980) 82-3157 A short walk from the Small Boat Harbor in Ishigaki city, this hostel provides basic Japanese-style dormitory rooms for around ¥2500 per night, including breakfast. The staff here do not speak much English, but are extremely hospitable. Be sure to join in on the nightly (free) awamori time to enjoy the traditional Ryukyu alcohol.
Splurge
Club Med Kabira, . One of Japan's two Club Meds, this swanky resort offers beautiful views of Kabira Bay. Last stop on the Kabira Resort line.
Auberge Kabira (formerly B&B Kabira). Small and friendly hotel right on Kabira Bay, this place does good though expensive food in the evening. Rooms are a little small but they do offer free bike rental.
Buy
Souvenir shops abound, particularly around the port. The closest thing to a dedicated shopping area are the two streets of the covered Ayapani Mall (あやぱにモール) arcade just west of the post office.
Ishigaki-shi Tokusanpin Hanbai Center (石垣市特産品販売センター) , Ayapani Mall 2F, Okawa 208, This city-sponsored retail center sells only authentic Ishigaki-made products, ranging from handicrafts to food items.
Tezukurikan Kōbō Uminchu (手作り館工房海人) , Misakichō 4, Sanbashi-dōri just south of port, Home of the ubiquitous Uminchu T-shirts worn by approximately half the local population. A vast variety of designs from ¥2625.
Yashiya (ヤシ屋), Next to Tōjinbaka, This little factory-shop cooks up tasty cane sugar candy, sold on premises for ¥500 per cake. You can also view the making process, which basically consists of mashing up sugarcane and then boiling the juice until it turns into brown sugar candy.
Koubou Tumeya (工房夢屋) , 0980-83-8201, 0980-83-8201, Shīsā (シーサー) is a traditional Okinawan decoration, often found in pairs, resembling a cross between a lion and a dog. This workshop makes Shīsā using traditional materials from the island. A visitor (of any age) can also make a Shīsā with a step-by-step guidance from the staff.
Contact
There's an internet cafe in Ayapani Mall, in the arcade that's farther from the port.
There is also free internet in the public library (though its only available from one terminal)
Vanilla Deli, directly across from City Hall also has free internet for patrons.
Cope
The Ishigaki City Hall Tourism Division (市役所観光課) as well as the Ishigaki City Hall International Section (国際交流係) have good information in English for tourists. The International Section also employs a coordinator of international relations, fluent in both Japanese and English, who is available to assist non-Japanese tourists in local knowledge and hotel reservations. The hours for the city hall international section are (excepting holidays) 8:30am-4:30pm Monday thru Friday. Both the tourism division and the international section are located on the second floor. The Hirata tourist company located near the ferry terminal also has English information. Try to pick up copies of the free Ishigaki Town Guide or Yaeyama Navi pamphlets, both useful packs of information with lots of maps to show you around. Note that both are in Japanese only and any listings inside are essentially paid ads, so not everything is listed. City Hall and many restaurants, shops and lodgings usually have one or both available.
The only foreigner-friendly ATMs on the island are in the Ishigaki and Kabira post offices, open daily from 9 AM to 7 PM only and not open on national holidays.
Get out
Iriomote — an hour away by boat, offers mangrove jungles and the elusive Iriomote wildcat
Taketomi — just 10 minutes by boat, known for its well-preserved Ryukyu village
Yonaguni — 30 minutes by plane or 4 hours by boat, the westernmost point of Japan offers mysterious ruins and diving with hammerhead sharks
Contact & location
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Roundtheworld, Diego Molla, Jani Patokallio, Ryan Holliday, Paul N. Richter, Colin Jensen, David, Brian Asahi and Rob Payne, Tatatabot
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