Day 1
It’s nighttime when we step out of the airport. A car is waiting for us and takes us a few hundred meters to a rental agency parking lot. We pick up our own vehicle and drive to the city center under a light drizzle.
Day 2
The sky is gray, but it’s not cold. We visit the nearest temple and encounter the shisa for the first time—these cheerful half-dog, half-lion creatures seem to replace the tanuki statues found in the rest of the country. They ward off evil spirits. A team is preparing the temple for the New Year celebrations.
Next, we visit the Stalactite Cave, just 10 minutes away. It’s well-maintained, and there’s almost no one there apart from a photographer offering his services in the largest chamber. There are indeed some impressive limestone columns. We then take a scenic road with beautiful views to reach Yaima Village, a theme park that gives a good impression of what a traditional local village looked like. There’s also a closed area inhabited by squirrel monkeys.
On the way back, we try the ice creams from the Mirumiru shop.
Day 3
We head to the port to explore the surrounding islands. The boat drops us off on Iriomote-jima. From there, we take a bus, then switch to a river shuttle. We sail up the Nakama River, a nature reserve home to a vast mangrove forest. The ride is cool but pleasant.
Afterward, another bus takes us further north, where we board ox-cart carriages to cross over to the Yubu Peninsula. The driver plays music on an instrument that looks like a fretless guitar.
We have lunch and explore the small island on foot. It’s lush, full of flowers, and peaceful—there are no motorized vehicles here.
Back at the pier, we take another boat to Kohama Island. The visit is quick and done entirely from a mini-bus. Finally, we return to the port of Ishigaki.
Day 4
The weather is beautiful, and we stay on the mainland. We start with a stop at a local market (Shiraho Coral Village) before following the coast to the Tamatorizaki Observatory, which offers a stunning panoramic view.
We continue north until we reach the Hirakubozaki Lighthouse, where we can admire the striking colors of the emerald sea. Heading back south, this time along the eastern coast, we stop for a bowl of local ramen (delicious!) before pausing at Kabira Bay, one of the island’s main attractions. The clouds slightly dull the light, but the postcard-like scenery is still there.
We keep going east until we reach the more secluded Oganzaki Lighthouse. Time is running out, and we barely make it to Fusaki Beach just in time to watch the sunset.
Day 5
We take a boat to Taketomi Island. Renting bicycles, we set off to explore this little gem—traditional architecture, paradise-like beaches, and almost no traffic. The weather is perfect, and we could easily stay here longer!
Day 6
We take it slow, strolling around the city center and enjoying a bit of relaxation. One last walk along the water before heading to the airport. We return the car, and they drop us off right at the terminal entrance.
