We’ve designed a beautiful tour around Ishigaki Island, part of the Yaeyama Islands in southern Japan, where you can immerse yourself in lush greenery and breathtaking ocean views. Along the way, you’ll meet friendly locals and experience the island’s charm.
Reconnect and soak up the view
We recommend to make this tour one of the first things you do, either on your first or second day. It’s not packed with endless sights but carefully curated highlights and must-see spots. The focus is on helping you reconnect with yourself—feeling refreshed, inspired, and giving you space to process your journey. Whether you’re exploring with loved ones or traveling solo, this tour allows you to pause, reflect, and fully appreciate the beauty of Ishigaki Island.
Soak up Ishigaki’s beauty and let your senses guide you
We’re sharing this because we’ve often seen travelers experience some sort of culture shock. Many rush to visit Tokyo and Japan’s famous hotspots, struggling to recover from jet lag and take in the overwhelming new experiences. Their bodies feel stressed, and their minds crave time to slow down and process it all. This is especially true during Japan’s hot summers, where the heat and humidity can take a toll.
We understand that a trip to Japan can be a major expense for many—a long-awaited dream or a once-in-a-lifetime journey. This often leads to a desire to see as much as possible in a short time. At DiscoverYaima, we believe in finding a balance between exploring and pausing to fully enjoy the journey. We want to inspire you to embrace a more relaxed approach to travel.
ISHIGAKI ISLAND TOUR
We start the tour from the Ishigaki City hall in the south to the east. Find this itinerary on GooglemyMaps.
1. Māpē mountain
The first stop is certainly not the least, it’s an eye-opener and the most challenging part of the day. There is a short trail and a longer trail. Let’s do the short 15-minute hike up today. This iconic Māpē mountain is well worth the effort!
Mount Māpē offers incredible panoramic views of Ishigaki’s lush landscape and coastline, making it a popular hiking destination.
Today, hiking up Mount Māpē is a rewarding experience for travelers, providing a scenic 15-minute trail to the summit. From the top, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the island’s natural beauty.
It’s not too difficult or dangerous, but please be careful. Make sure to wear sturdy footwear, and avoid hiking if it’s raining or has recently rained, as the narrow path up can get slippery. We wouldn’t go up here with young kids and people with limited ability.
In our Isl& Natural Guides Ishigaki we share with you more stories around Māpē and also the specific trail link which you are free to use for your hike.
Suggestions before or around Māpē mountain
If you woke up early today, why not take a coffee or tea and enjoy homemade pastry at my favorite cake shop Papiru cake shop on the road to your first stop Mount Māpē?
Choose a delicious homemade pastry made with eggs from Shiraho, cream from Hokkaido, and often island fruits. Enjoy a tea made with herbs from the village. Settle down on the tatami and savor your wonderful journey.
Get a morning/afternoon coffee, chocolate or chai at our local fav coffee shop Fushi Coffee roasters with lovely handmade sweets or savoury snack. This coffee shop is located in Ishigaki City, we recommend going here first or last on this tour.
For a short walk visit the funny shīsā at Yoneko Yaki. It’s free and especially fun for kids. In a few years this park grew from only a few to an immense colorful shīsā world.
2. Kabira Bay
This is the most iconic view in Ishigaki, and you’ve probably already read about it. While it’s prohibited to swim in the sparkling emerald waters due to black pearl cultivation, we still highly recommend a visit. Not just for its fame, but because Kabira is a charming village rich in tradition. One example is the Kitsugansai festival. Park your car or scooter and wander through the narrow paths along the beach, where you can catch a glimpse of a small temple. Take off your shoes, feel the soft white sand between your toes, and explore beyond the glass-bottom boats.
Lunch/tea time tip in Kabira bay
Joo Chiat cafe
The loveliest cafe in Kabira for us is definitely Joo Chiat. The owners are such sweet people. This cafe is inside a gorgeous traditionally built Okinawa house, with seats on tatami and comfortable table seats to choose from. The house is cozily decorated with antiques and brocante. The menu shows all homemade dishes with blends of Singaporean, Japanese and world cuisines. Open for lunch and teatime, with homemade sweets and delicious drinks.
Pina Colada Boulangerie
The bakery we love the most is located in Kabira. Unfortunately, it’s a little too far for us to visit more often. Pina Colada, with their natural bread and snacks, usually sells out quickly. Honestly, everything they make is delicious and perfect for a picnic. They regularly have homemade buns/sandwiches with tasty, filling toppings. Give it a try!
Top suggestions around Kabira bay
- A small, free exhibition about black pearl farming is available to visit at the Ryukyu pearl head office.
- Be sure to stop by the family-run Awamori distillery and shop Takamine Shuzosho, which has been passed down through generations. We expect Awamori to gain more international recognition upcoming years.
- We recommend to visit Kabira Farm. The café serves delicious homemade passion fruit juices and other fresh fruit juices. Take in the beautiful botanical illustrations or bring one home as a keepsake. The owner of Kabira Farm has even published a wonderful book featuring his botanical drawings. A few years ago he opened Ishigakijima Science Garden as well. For a small fee you can take a peaceful stroll among local plants and flowers. This garden was created with the idea of a safe place to experience local nature. We think this is a lovely hidden gem!
- On your way from Mount Māpē to Kabira, you’ll come across several pottery studios where you can stop by, take a look, and perhaps find beautiful handmade pottery to bring home. A few of them are Yamabare pottery, Rinka Kabirayaki, Temahimapot, or Nantouyaki.
3. Oganzaki lighthouse
The last stop is at Oganzaki which is also known as Uganzaki Lighthouse, located on the Sakieda Peninsula. In spring, the landscape transforms into a fairytale scene, with native white lilies blooming beautifully across the area.
The road circles around the Sakieda Peninsula, so there’s no need to retrace it. Along the way, you’ll see beautiful butterflies fluttering about, and this lush green area is a popular spot for surfers. A steep path leads you to the Oganzaki Lighthouse, offering stunning views.
Sunset suggestion after your visit to Sakieda peninsula
Miru Miru
Milk Milk is the name of this charming and now famous ice cream shop, on a number one location. Originally Miru Miru started small as a cow farm selling ice cream, but it has since become a must-visit spot, with a souvenir shop and even featuring a location at the airport. With a stunning ocean view, it’s the ideal place to enjoy a treat. Miru Miru is a great spot to enjoy an ice cream while the sun sets. You can nip on local flavors like brown sugar, mango, and banana while taking in the breathtaking scenery.
We hope you will enjoy this itinerary and wish you a great journey in the Yaeyama Islands!
For much more information and inspiration read our Ishigaki island guide
Isl& Natural Guides Ishigaki
– All the stops, ideas, and suggestions are featured in the Ishigaki Island guide, complete with links to seamlessly integrate them into your itinerary.
The Island Natural Guides to Ishigaki, covering everything you need to know about the island, is now available for purchase on Amazon and at various locations around the island.
E-book Isl& Natural Guides Ishigaki
– The E-BOOK is comfortable to read in full color on your tablet or phone. Moreover, with detailed hiking routes, specially developed links to area maps, and connections to all the key spots, it’s incredibly easy to use while you’re exploring the island.
Checklist ‘itinerary tour around Ishigaki Island with a focus on expanding your horizon’
- Start and end point of the round tour is Ishigaki city. You could swap the stops from 3 to 1. It’s no problem to do the hike up Mount Māpē in the afternoon.
- It doesn’t matter where exactly is your start point, you could use this tour as a reference for your own discovery. Please take in mind for this tour, we selected the stops to align with lunch and coffee/teatime, ensuring you can enjoy nice breaks at the right moments.
- Pick up some fun snacks you’ve never tried before! You can visit Shinen Shokai near the start of this tour for their handmade onigiri rice balls. It’s famous for locals and Japanese tourists. Or find out about the best bakeries in Ishigaki town for a coffee/tea picknick en route (coming).
- Don’t forget your hat/sunglasses and suncream. Make sure to carry a phone with internet, especially when exploring nature.
- Make sure to check the venue’s social media for current opening hours.
- Leave the city and the busy mind behind.
If you love local handmade crafts and especially potteries, we made a list with all the Yaeyama potteries for you to use and venture around the islands to find beautiful handmade treasures to bring home.
This tour is especially fun for: couples and friends, solo travellers