An independent island guide
Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan
Ishigaki & the Yaeyama Islands
Discover Ishigaki and the Yaeyama Islands with practical travel advice and stories of island life. Explore the coast, food and culture, and discover what makes these islands so different from the rest of Japan.
DiscoverYaima has been based on Ishigaki since 2014. Here you will find local places, practical advice and stories from across the islands.
Life on the islands
It is part of the landscape, local food and the way people travel between the islands. Ferries and flights make the islands easy to reach, although the weather can sometimes change plans.
DiscoverYaima combines practical travel information with stories about local food, culture and everyday life.
Read about island life01 / Start with the essentials
A few good decisions make the rest easier. Choose your season and a way beyond the city, with enough time to enjoy the island when a day takes a different turn.
Give the city a day, then leave two for the coast, mountains and beaches, or a visit to a neighbouring island. A longer stay leaves space for everyday discoveries and changing plans.
Read the first-visit guideWe especially like spring and autumn, including a November stay. They pair well with mainland Japan. Rain and changing weather are part of island life all year.
Compare the seasonsWe strongly recommend a rental car for the countryside, especially with children. A scooter is another option; a car gives more comfort and flexibility.
Plan your transport02 / Choose your island
The most facilities, food and shops, together with a mountainous interior, beaches and country roads. For a first visit, Ishigaki is an easy base, and a complete destination in its own right.
A flat island where traditional Yaeyama houses, village lanes and beautiful beaches sit close together. It is easy to explore, but can feel very busy during Japanese holiday periods.
Think of a wilder, more forested counterpart to Ishigaki: fewer facilities, more jungle, rivers and waterfalls. Come here because you genuinely want to spend time in nature.
Hateruma asks for more time than the nearer islands. The crossing is part of the experience, and rough weather can interrupt ferry services, so keep your plans flexible.
A crossing takes you into another island’s daily life. Choose a place you want to get to know, with time for the journey as well as the stay. Browse every island guide →
03 / Island stories
Food & craft · Ishigaki
A hands-on visit to an Ishigaki distillery, where making awamori brings rice, black koji and three generations of family knowledge together.
Read the story
The printed island companion
143 pages · Five area guides · In English
ISL& began with an interest in island life: how people live, make things and find their way in a place surrounded by sea. The Ishigaki guide brings that curiosity into maps, photography, food and stories.
Look inside the guidebookAbout DiscoverYaima
DiscoverYaima began on Ishigaki and brings together practical travel information with photography, film and stories from the islands. We want to help people visit with curiosity and respect for island life.
Meet DiscoverYaimaPlan your own days