- Travelers to Ishigaki Island
- For those who visit Ishigaki Island limestone cave and Kabira Bay glass boat
Ishigaki Island is the third largest island in Okinawa after Okinawa Island and Iriomote Island.
December is one of the best off-season months because there are no typhoons and we can go as planned.
The percentage of sunny days also seems to be higher than in the summer.
The sea, of course, and the night sky on a clear day are full of stars and moving.
If you are planning to go swimming, May to October is the best time, but Ishigaki Island in off-season is also recommended as it is less crowded and relaxing.
The three places introduced here are classic tourist spots.
They are all good places to visit, so please visit them when you travel.
目次
Available Coupons
Ishigaki Island limestone cave
1,200円 ($8.9) → 1,020円 ($7.6) （15％ off）
Kabira Bay Glass Boat
1,200円 ($8.9) → 1,000円 ($7.5) （About 17％ off）
You can get the discount as shown above.
How to get
① Open the link above.
② Click on “Redeem this coupon”（このクーポンを使う）.
③Select the number of users（0 名）& Click the Print button（印刷）
④Click on “Do not register”（登録しないで使う）.
⑤ Screen copy or print the coupon screen.
（Scroll down to see this screen）
⑥ Display screen (5) at the ticket counter with your smartphone.
Ishigaki Island limestone cave
- Time required: 1 hour
- Open 9:00-18:00
- Something to wipe the camera lens because it fogged up.
Even if you have come all the way to Ishigaki Island and want to enjoy the outdoors, there are rainy days.
In such a case, why not visit a limestone cave?
There are three limestone caves on Ishigaki Island.
Among them, Ishigaki Island Cave is the seventh longest in Japan, with a total length of 3.2 km.
Of that, the sightseeing portion is 660 meters, so it can be enjoyed in about one hour.
The temperature inside the limestone caves remains constant throughout the year and is said to be the same as the annual average temperature of the area.
In the case of Ishigaki Island limestone caves, that would be around 24 degrees Celsius.
It looks like a good place to go to cool off not only on rainy days but also in the heat of midsummer.
It is located close to Ishigaki city, about 5 minutes by car from Art Hotel Ishigaki Island.
Buy an admission ticket at the entrance and enter.
Admission is 1,200 yen for adults and 540 yen for children.
15% discount with HIS coupon or Tokutoku coupon.
https://tokutoku-coupon.jp/coupons/430/detail
It is available to everyone and all you have to do is show the screen displayed on your smartphone, so we encourage you to use it and save money.
Business hours are 9:00-18:00.
There is a staircase at the end of the cave, which leads into the cave.
I entered quickly because it was raining, but in front of the entrance is a tropical orchard and a row of subtropical flowers.
It seems that giant coconut crabs can also be seen.
Descending the stairs, an underground world opens up.
I did not feel much difference in temperature, but the humidity fogged up my camera lens.
If you bring a camera, you should bring a cloth to wipe the lens.
It is lit up in places and looks fantastic.
I enjoy the feeling of exploring.
Some spaces are wide, but in some places you will pass through lowered walkways, so be careful not to bump your head.
This one was named Totoro Stone.
It is a wonder that nature created such a shape.
Other interestingly shaped stalactites can also be seen.
After exiting the limestone caves, visitors can find soft ice cream, a souvenir corner, and a restaurant.
In the souvenir corner, there was Awamori named after Ishigaki Cave. The alcohol content is quite high at 44 degrees.
There are two more caves in Ishigaki Island, Sabichi Cave and Yaeyama Cave, and Sabichi Cave is famous as a rare limestone cave where you can go out to the sea from inside the cave.
On a nice day, this is also recommended.
Location of Ishigaki Island limestone cave
Kabira Bay
- Swimming is prohibited due to the glass boat route.
- Swimming is allowed on uninhabited islands in Kabira Bay.
- If it is windy, glass boats are cancelled.
Kabira Bay has been selected as one of the 100 most scenic spots in Japan and a three-star destination in the Michelin Green Guide.
If you travel to Ishigaki Island, you should definitely visit Kabira Bay.
Anyway, the view is spectacular. It is impressive.
It is located about 30-40 minutes drive from downtown Ishigaki.
Kabira Bay is famous for its glass boats, which have a glass wall in the middle of the boat so that visitors can see coral and fish in the sea up close.
Sea turtles can sometimes be seen.
This time the ship was cancelled due to strong winds. Too bad.
Kabira Park.
Walking further in, you will reach the Kannon Hall, built in the 17th century, and the Kabira Observatory.
A short walk away is an observatory. From here, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Kabira Bay.
The front part of the observatory is made of glass, so the blue of the ocean can be seen from a distance.
It was a cloudy day, but still this blue!
Even if you don’t take the glass boat, just looking at the view is soothing.
It appears to change color depending on the season, weather, and time of day, and can be transparent, light sky blue, emerald green, or cobalt blue.
I’m sure it will look different if you go there on a sunny day.
If you go down the stairs, you can get to the beach. The park is pleasant with a beautifully maintained promenade.
The sand is also very silky.
The ocean is so beautiful that it makes me want to swim, but swimming is prohibited because of the fast currents and because it is the route for glass boats.
If you go to the uninhabited island in Kabira Bay, you can enjoy snorkeling and kayaking, so if you want to swim, go there.
Kabira Bay can be accessed either from the direction of the lanterns mentioned above or from here.
It is closer to go out to the bay from here.
You have to go through a narrow road by the side of the store, but there is a sign saying 20 meters to the beach, so it is safe to go through.
Kabira Bay is also lined with restaurants and souvenir shops.
Glass boat tickets can also be discounted by nearly 17% with HIS coupons or Tokutoku coupons.
https://tokutoku-coupon.jp/coupons/366/detail?category_id=16&large_category_code=03
J-Trip offers a tour that includes a glass boat ticket, which is also recommended.
Also, the parking lot at Kabira Bay is a coin-operated parking lot, but please note that only 1,000 yen bills will fit.
It is better to have fine money ready.
If you visit Ishigaki Island, this Kabira Bay is a must-see.
Location of Kabira Bay
Tamatorizaki Observatory
- Free entry 24 hours a day.
- Ideal for watching the sunset and starry sky.
Tamatorizaki is another representative sightseeing spot of Ishigaki Island and also offers a great view.
It takes 40 minutes from downtown Ishigaki and about 20 minutes from the airport.
The observatory here is open 24 hours a day, making it an ideal spot for sunset and stargazing.
There is a well-maintained promenade from the parking lot to the observation deck, making it easy to walk.
There is an observatory a couple of minutes walk from the parking lot as well. The distance is about 200 meters.
It is hazy with rain and clouds, but it is an outstanding view.
The ocean you see is Ibaruma Bay, and beyond it is the Hirakubo Peninsula.
Sabichi Cave is also located around the base of this Hirakubo Peninsula.
The SeaForest restaurant is located near the Tamatorizaki Observatory.
It is located just up the hill from the observatory parking lot.
It looks like they have accommodations as well as a restaurant.
It is pleasant to look out from every seat in the restaurant.
It is a beautiful restaurant.
If it is a sunny day, the terrace looks pleasant.
There was a table for about four people in the back, but it had been put away at the end of the room because it was raining that day.
The view of the ocean from inside the restaurant is great for sheltering from the rain and enjoying a relaxing view.
The observatory is at the far right. The view is as good as the view from the observatory.
Lunch set of handmade Yushi Tofu and Ishigaki beef bowl. There were also mozuku seaweed and pickled bitter gourd.
You can enjoy Okinawa to the fullest with this lunch. You can choose from medium, large, and extra-large portions.
Yushi-Tofu is tofu in the state before it hardens with bittern, and has a soft and fluffy texture.
You can eat it with either Ishigaki salt or soy sauce, but it is delicious either way. You can enjoy both tastes because of the quantity.
Lunch set includes drink and dessert.
Dessert is ice cream, cake, and pineapple, which is also ample.
The restaurant also has a relaxed atmosphere for a leisurely meal.
Location of Tamatorizaki Observatory
Finally.
Ishigaki Island also has Banna Park, Taketomi Island, and many more attractive spots.
However, the island is not served by a monorail like the main island of Okinawa, so cars are the main means of transportation.
It is more than 120 km around, so it takes 3 to 4 hours just to go around even by car.
With buses, there is a wait time, so I still prefer renting a car to get around.
This was another 2-night, 3-day tour with a rental car, this time through “J-TRIP”.
It costs about 40,000 yen ($300), which is less than the cost of a round-trip airline ticket.
I still recommend J-TRIP.
ホテルが選べてフライトもJAL！格安国内旅行のJ-TRIP（ジェイトリップ）
Ishigaki Island is a very nice place, please visit.
Thank you for reading to the end.
