Ishigaki Island is the commercial hub of the Yaeyama Islands, in Japan’s southwestern Okinawa Prefecture. It is a family-friendly island and best to consider in your next summer getaway.

My 6 TOP places to visit

1. Hirakubozaki (平久保崎)

Address: Hirakubo, Ishigaki, Okinawa 907-0331, Japan

Address in Japanese: 〒907-0331 沖縄県石垣市字平久保

+81 980-82-2809

Open 24 hours

This place is something you should not miss on your trip to Ishigaki, especially if you are the type who love nature. This spot is truly Instagram-worthy. It’s best to check to check the weather before heading there as this place is best viewed if the sky is clear.

2. Mirumiru Hompo Honten

(ミルミル本舗 -本店)

Address: 1583-74 Arakawa, Ishigaki, Okinawa 907-0024, Japan

Address in Japanese: 〒907-0024 沖縄県石垣市字新川1583-74

Website: mirumiru-honpo.com

+81 980-87-0885

Open 10am – 7pm

This place is best to visit just before sunset if you are a sunset lover like me. It is such a magical place to be on a clear day to watch the golden hour while you enjoy your gelato. You can enjoy the view in both indoor or outdoor but watch out for your ice-cream coz it can easily melt when you get distracted with the view. It’s a truly family-friendly place as there is a big area of grassland for the children to run about.

My friends and I fell in love with this place so much that we returned one evening to do stargazing.

3. Tamatorizaki Observation Platform (玉取崎展望台)

Ibaruma, Ishigaki, Okinawa 907-0332, Japan

〒907-0332 沖縄県石垣市字伊原間

city.ishigaki.okinawa.jp

+81 980-83-3986

Open 24 hours

An observation deck on a small hill where you can see the sea around Ishigaki Island. It offers a sweeping views of the blue ocean, green mountains with a cool breeze brushing your cheeks even on a hot summer day. If you like taking those postcard-like photos, then this place will surely give you plenty of satisfaction.

4. Fusaki Beach + Fusaki Angel Pier (サキビーチ)

1625 Arakawa, Ishigaki, Okinawa 907-0024, Japan

〒907-0024 沖縄県石垣市字新川１６２５

Fusaki.com

+81 980-88-7000

A beautiful beach for a nice dip or sand play for the children. You can also snorkel even at the shallow area because of the corals. I tried snorkelling and was able to see some tiny blue fish swimming around my feet. Due to the dead corals, it may be impossible to walk in the water bare foot so it’s best to get yourself a pair of reef beach shoes for your feet’s comfort.

5. Ishigaki City Public Market (石垣市公設市場)

Address: 208 Ōkawa, Ishigaki, Okinawa 907-0022, Japan

Address in Japanese: 〒907-0022 沖縄県石垣市字大川208

Open 9am – 9pm

This is the place the place to go for your souvenir fix. From food, t-shirt, magnets or any souvenir items you would like to get for your friends. There are also plenty of restaurants to check out nearby so make sure you allocate a big chunk of your time checking this place out as some shops close pretty early too.

6. 伊原間郷の駅 (This restaurant has no English name)

Address: Ibaruma, Ishigaki, Okinawa 907-0332, Japan

Address in Japanese: 〒907-0332 沖縄県石垣市字伊原間

+81 90-8290-3756

Opens 11am – 6pm

Closed on Wednesdays

This restaurant is a dream for seashell lovers but can be a nightmare if you are claustrophobic. It is managed by a lovely old couple who are very warm and welcoming. We discovered this place by accident when we were looking for a place to eat after going to Hirakubozaki. We literally just stop to check any restaurant along the way because we were hungry. It became quite the highlight of our Ishigaki visit because it’s not often you see this kind of place. Please take note that the seashells inside the restaurant are stacked up without any adhesive so you really have to be very careful moving around. One of my friends knocked down a mountain of them next to the table we were sitting at and some of the shells broke.