If I needed to describe paradise, it might be a spot the place the steel-blue sky kisses the turquoise-blue sea, framed by white sand, the luxurious inexperienced of nature, and distinctive rock formations.
Welcome to Ishigaki in Japan!
Right here’s an outline:
What strikes me about Ishigaki Island is its purity and unspoiled magnificence. Nowadays, there are just a few locations on the earth that also provide such a factor.
Ishigaki just isn’t but overrun by vacationers and is extra ceaselessly visited by Japanese and vacationers from different Asian international locations. For us Europeans, it’s nonetheless extra of an undiscovered nook of the world. The individuals of Ishigaki are blissful and contented, modest and pleasant, and do their greatest to share the enjoyment of the paradise during which they stay with guests to their island.
Attending to Ishigaki
Ishigaki is the southernmost metropolis in Japan, about 2,000 km from Tokyo and belongs to the island group of Okinawa. Virtually 50,000 individuals stay right here on the island of the identical identify, Ishigaki.
There are direct flights from Tokyo’s Haneda and Narita airports to New Ishigaki airport. The flight takes about three hours and beneficial airways are ANA or Peach.
If you wish to add just a few enjoyable days on Ishigaki to your Japanese trip, you may fly straight from there by way of Hong Kong or Taipei again dwelling.
Value Understanding
The right instances to journey are in spring, between the top of March and Might, and fall, from the top of September to the start of December—it’s splendidly heat then, however not too scorching.
On Ishigaki Island, as on the Japanese mainland, you pay with yen. 1,000 yen is about 7 USD. Though you may pay by bank card right here and there, a small provide of money is beneficial.
Left-hand site visitors prevails right here on the island. If you wish to drive a automobile in Japan, it is advisable to have your overseas driver’s license translated into Japanese. This may be achieved on-line on the Japan Car Federation.
Pure Nature
The island is numerous and provides mangrove forests for kayaking, small waterfalls, and plenty of magical diving and snorkeling spots.
The underwater world is colourful and numerous, too. Simply don’t be alarmed if a yellow-lipped sea snake crosses your path whereas snorkeling. These venomous sea snakes don’t wish to assault once they swim up from the darkish crevices however simply wish to get some air. So keep calm and don’t be alarmed, and all the pieces shall be effective.
Mountains and Sea
The corals on Ishigaki Island are much more colourful than these within the Seychelles and the Maldives.
Big manta rays additionally swim in circles right here between the Pacific and the East China Sea, leaving each divers and snorkelers amazed and fascinated.
Notably in the summertime months, it is extremely prone to see these particular sea creatures throughout dives and snorkeling journeys round Kabira Bay and Sukuji Seaside.
Two tall mountains rise in the course of the island and their peaks are straightforward to climb. From the 500-meter-high Mount Omoto, you may see on to Yonehara Seaside within the north of the island. The ascent takes 1 to 1 1/2 hours and is worth it as a result of, from up right here, you have got a panoramic view of the island, the ocean with the coral reefs, and the opposite islands.
Mount Nosoko, one other, barely smaller mountain, is situated on the Hirakubo peninsula within the northeast. From its summit, you may see the Hirakubo peninsula and the west coast—actually spectacular!
The enchanting Hirakubo Peninsula within the northeast can also be fantastic. There are magnificent seashores and spectacular climbing trails right here. One seaside on Ishigaki is extra stunning than the subsequent and extends for a lot of kilometers.
Seaside Time
Fusaki Seaside, west of Ishigaki City, is especially enchanting and well-known for its sunsets.
Sukuji Seaside can also be very fashionable, particularly due to its shallow water. It’s situated within the northwest of the island, in a big bay surrounded by bushes. As at Fusaki Seaside, a internet is used to maintain away the jellyfish in summer season.
Yonehara Seaside is situated on the north coast of the island. There’s a campsite close to the seaside, which is stuffed with life and exercise. Additionally it is a superb place for snorkeling and diving. Nonetheless, not like the opposite seashores, there are not any jellyfish nets and no lifeguards, and there are occasional sturdy currents.
If you happen to additionally wish to uncover the island world round Ishigaki, ferries depart from Ishigaki Metropolis to Taketomi and Iriomote.
Taketomi enchants with seashores and an open-air museum of conventional structure product of stone partitions and brick-roofed homes. On Iriomote, you may marvel at lush nature and a waterfall.
Lodging
Membership Med Kabira Ishigaki provides the right setting to actually loosen up.
The Membership can also be the right start line for excursions. From right here, you may attain the mangrove forests in simply half-hour, the well-known Blue Cave snorkeling paradise in quarter-hour, and the manta ray spot in only a few minutes by diving boat. Different water sports activities corresponding to stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, and windsurfing are additionally supplied right here, and the calm, turquoise sea in entrance of the resort is ideal for them.
Associated learn: High Meals to Strive in Okinawa
Value Seeing
The island’s vacationer middle is situated in and round Kabira-Wan Bay.
Many glass-bottom boats begin their excursions right here, giving younger kids or older vacationers who aren’t followers of diving or snorkeling the chance to marvel at sea turtles, corals, shells, and colourful fish.
There’s additionally a big pearl store the place you should purchase native jewellery, in addition to quite a few memento retailers. A small park with an statement deck can also be situated right here.
Bluezone Okinawa
The Japanese prefecture of Okinawa consists of greater than 160 islands between Taiwan and the Japanese mainland. It’s identified for its heat local weather, white seashores, distinctive rock formations, and colourful coral reefs.
Not the entire islands are inhabited, and a few of them don’t welcome guests or vacationers.
What’s particular about Okinawa, nonetheless, is that it is among the 5 blue zones on the planet. Most cancers, coronary heart illness, and dementia are much less prevalent right here, and ladies stay longer right here than anyplace else on the earth.
And as a buddy of mine stated: these ladies definitely don’t go diving and snorkeling with toxic water snakes. 
