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Ishigaki Island

Island · Okinawa Prefecture, 🇯🇵 Japan
Population 47,666
Area 222 km²
Time zone Asia/Tokyo
Ishigaki Island

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Featured Lists

(WT-en) Jpatokal / CC BY-SA 3.0

Ishigaki Island Must-Sees

Ishigaki Island, the primary hub of the Yaeyama archipelago, contains diverse landscapes ranging from the emerald waters of Kabira Bay to the limestone formations of the Ishigaki Stalactite Cave. This collection covers key natural sites like Yonehara Beach's coral reefs and the northern Hirakubozaki peninsula. Cultural highlights include the relocated heritage houses at Yaima Village, the Toujinbaka memorial, and the central public market. Regional crafts and agriculture are represented by Yoneko-yaki pottery and local fruit orchards.

14 places
anonymous 18th-century painter; I… / Public domain

Editor's Choice: Ishigaki Highlights

Ishigaki Island features a blend of Ryukyuan culture and unique geological formations. The northern coast offers panoramic views from Hirakubozaki and Tamatorizaki, while Kabira Bay is known for its emerald waters and black pearl cultivation. Inland, the Ishigaki Island Stalactite Cave showcases ancient limestone formations. Cultural heritage is preserved at the Yaeyama Museum and through local Yuzen dyeing at the Nei Museum of Art. For outdoor activities, Banna Park provides bird-watching towers and Yonehara Beach offers coral reef snorkeling.

10 places
VKaeru / CC BY-SA 3.0

Panoramic Viewpoints and Peaks

This collection features Ishigaki Island's diverse topography, ranging from Mount Omoto, the highest peak in Okinawa Prefecture, to the northernmost tip at Hirakubozaki. Hikers can summit the steep Nosokodake for 360-degree views of the peninsula, while the accessible observatories at Tamatorizaki and Banna Park provide vistas of the surrounding Yaeyama Islands and coral reefs. The list includes coastal landmarks like the Kannonzaki Lighthouse, known for its western outlook over the East China Sea.

6 places

Top Diving & Snorkeling Spots

Ishigaki Island's northern and western coasts provide diverse underwater environments, centered around the expansive coral reefs of Yonehara Beach. This area is known for shallow snorkeling conditions and high densities of tropical fish species. To access deeper sites, several professional dive operators are located near Kabira Bay and the southern coast, providing equipment rentals, guided boat dives, and certification courses for exploring the island’s manta ray cleaning stations and offshore reefs.

5 places

Ishigaki Island — Map

Ishigaki Island — Map

Climate & when to visit

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Fair
  • 20° (feels like 16°) · extremes 14°–24°
  • 18° at night
  • 20 rainy days
  • 4 sunny days
  • 3 hours of sunshine per day
  • Comfortable humidity
  • Windy
  • 23°C · cool for a dip
  • UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in February

Good
  • 21° (feels like 17°) · extremes 14°–24°
  • 18° at night
  • 17 rainy days
  • 5 sunny days
  • 4 hours of sunshine per day
  • Comfortable humidity
  • Light breeze
  • 23°C · cool for a dip
  • UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in March

Good
  • 22° (feels like 19°) · extremes 16°–25°
  • 20° at night
  • 15 rainy days
  • 5 sunny days
  • 4 hours of sunshine per day
  • Comfortable humidity
  • Light breeze
  • 24°C · cool for a dip
  • UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in April

Good
  • 24° (feels like 23°) · extremes 18°–27°
  • 22° at night
  • 15 rainy days
  • 6 sunny days
  • 5 hours of sunshine per day
  • Muggy, humid air
  • Light breeze
  • 25°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in May

Good
  • 27° · extremes 22°–29°
  • 25° at night
  • 17 rainy days
  • 7 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Light breeze
  • 26°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in June

Fair
  • 29° (feels like 30°) · extremes 25°–30°
  • 27° at night
  • 16 rainy days
  • 12 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Light breeze
  • 28°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in July

Fair
  • 30° (feels like 31°) · extremes 26°–31°
  • 28° at night
  • 15 rainy days
  • 19 sunny days
  • 9 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Light breeze
  • 29°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 11 · extreme

Typical weather in August

Fair
  • 29° (feels like 32°) · extremes 26°–31°
  • 27° at night
  • 19 rainy days
  • 17 sunny days
  • 8 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Light breeze
  • 29°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in September

Fair
  • 29° (feels like 30°) · extremes 25°–30°
  • 27° at night
  • 19 rainy days
  • 14 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Light breeze
  • 29°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in October

Good
  • 27° (feels like 26°) · extremes 23°–29°
  • 25° at night
  • 16 rainy days
  • 10 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Light breeze
  • 28°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in November

Good
  • 25° (feels like 22°) · extremes 20°–27°
  • 23° at night
  • 18 rainy days
  • 4 sunny days
  • 4 hours of sunshine per day
  • Muggy, humid air
  • Windy
  • 26°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in December

Fair
  • 22° (feels like 17°) · extremes 15°–25°
  • 20° at night
  • 19 rainy days
  • 3 sunny days
  • 3 hours of sunshine per day
  • Comfortable humidity
  • Windy
  • 25°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 4 · moderate

Climate data: NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land and ERA5 · 1996–2025

Practical information

Currency
Japanese Yen JPY ¥ · Card payments · Commonly accepted
Emergency numbers
118
Electricity
Type A / Type B
100 V · 60 Hz
Languages
Japanese
Tap water
Safe to drink
Driving side
Left
Calling code
+81
Learn more

Tours & Activities

川平湾 Kabira Bay
Drive
Tamatorizaki Observation Point
Drive
Nosokodake

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Okinawa Prefecture

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