Ishigaki

Home to beautiful secluded beaches, extensive limestone caves, forested mountains with great vistas, fantastic scuba diving and one of Japan's top three views at Kabira Bay, Ishigaki is definitely a place worth visiting.

“Ishigaki strikes a great balance between laid back island life and modern convenience. As the most developed of the Yaeyama Island chain it makes an ideal base from which to explore the surrounding archipelago.”

Mark Johnson, Expert Travel Consultant

Sub tropical Ishigaki Jima is set in the Yaeyama Islands chain 450km south west of Okinawa's main island, 1950km from Tokyo and only 270km from Taiwan. The white sand beaches, coral reefs, and jungle-covered mountains give Ishigaki a very different atmosphere to the rest of Japan and make for a beautiful destination with its own unique culture.

While the temperature rarely drops below 20 degrees Celsius throughout the year, Ishigaki's beautiful palm tree beaches boast world class snorkelling and diving. The crystal clear waters of Shiraho flanked by coral reefs is just one of the many spots offering an array of colourful marine life, including the stunning Manta Rays that visit the waters regularly. Take a glass-bottomed boat ride across the deep clear waters of Kabira bay, marvel at the chunky white coral on Yonehara beach, or watch the stars come out over the aptly named Sunset beach. Relax on the peaceful shores of Fusaki Beach, where the gentle waves and white sands offer a tranquil retreat, or explore the shallow, clear waters of Sukuji Beach, ideal for a leisurely swim in its natural setting.

Ishigaki Island has some great trekking opportunities whether it is around Mount Omoto-dake or through the inland jungle. From Ishigaki, you're perfectly placed to visit some of the smaller surrounding islands that make up the Yaeyama islands chain - perhaps most notably Iriomote Island. This national park is covered by virtually untouched tropical jungle and is home to the very rare and illusive Iriomote Lynx. One of the best ways to see the island is by Kayak up the Nakama River lined by mangroves and tropical forest.

Ishigaki is a beautiful Japanese destination very different from the mainland Japan, a tropical paradise away from the neon of Tokyo with a culture as rich as that found in Kyoto and a perfect place to relax. Would you like to Ishigaki island? Contact us today.

Recommended Accommodation in Ishigaki

The following are our favourites from among the western-style hotels and Japanese-style inns of Ishigaki.

Ishigaki

Granvrio Resort

Superior
Ishigaki

Pension Papaya

Moderate
Ishigaki

Vessel Hotel Ishigaki-jima

Moderate
Ishigaki

Nagura Village Cottages

Moderate
Ishigaki

Fusaki Resort Village

Superior

Experiences in Ishigaki

Ishigaki offers a wealth of exciting experiences that will help you get beneath the surface of Japan's fascinating culture. See below for a few of our favourites

Weather in Ishigaki

The Climate Guide for Ishigaki, Japan is perfect for planning your holiday. Monthly weather averages give the best indication of what the weather is usually like for every month of the year including figures for temperature, rainfall and sunshine.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Max Daytime Temperature (°C)	21	21	23	25	27	30	31	31	30	28	25	22
Min Night-time Temperature (°C)	15	15	17	20	22	25	26	26	25	23	20	17
Hours of Sunshine (Daily)	3	3	3	5	5	6	8	7	6	5	3	3
Hours of Daylight (Daily)	11	11	12	13	13	14	14	13	12	12	11	11
Heat and Humidity Discomfort	None	None	None	Low	Moderate	High	Very High	Very High	High	Moderate	Low	None
Days with some Rainfall	18	17	17	15	18	18	16	18	17	16	17	18
Monthly Rainfall (mm)	131	132	141	134	209	204	171	251	221	171	151	126
UV Index (Maximum)	7	9	11	11+	11+	11+	11+	11+	11	9	7	6

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Featured trips including Ishigaki

Self-Guided Adventure

Okinawa Island Hopping (Superior)
- Tokyo
- Ishigaki
- Taketomi
- Iriomote
- Tokyo
This 10-night superior island-hopping itinerary introduces Japan's subtropical side in style, with superb accommodation and fine dining included.

10 nights: from US$6769 pp (twin share) Read more >

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