Take a selfie in Ishigaki Island, Okinawa! A trip to Okinawa's remote islands recommended for solo travelers

Ai Nishimura
Administrator of the blog "My Diary," which began in 2004. A writer who has traveled to all 47 prefectures and loves local culture and history.
Author of Shimane's "Geography, Place Names, and Maps" Mysteries (Jitsugyo no Nihonsha), My Town is the "Number One in Japan" Dictionary (PHP Institute), and Prefectures Explained in Neko Neko Japanese History (Jitsugyo no Nihonsha). Official blogger for Suntory Gourmet Guide, official top user for Retty, and official platinum blogger for Excite.

A nature trip to enjoy the lush vegetation and blue sea of Ishigaki Island

Kabira Bay, the most popular spot on Ishigaki Island, offers a beautiful view of the calm emerald green waters even in the middle of winter. On the way, I bought a passion fruit drink that made the most of the fruit's natural flavor, and enjoyed quenching my thirst while gazing at the endless blue sea.

With its subtropical climate, the island is home to many subtropical plants and allows you to feel the power of nature.
Among these, the Yaeyama palm is an endemic species that only exists on Ishigaki Island and Iriomote Island in the world.
The Yonehara Yaeyama Palm Community is a place where you can experience the feeling of being enveloped in the undulating leaves of Yaeyama palm trees.
Once you step inside, you'll find yourself in a world of deep green. There are steps and walkways, so you can easily stop by. The large, lush leaves create shade, making it a popular spot to cool off even in the hot season. This extraordinary world, like being in the jungle, will allow you to fully experience the richness of Ishigaki Island's nature.

It takes a while to drive to the very tip of the long and narrow Hirakubo Peninsula in the north of the island. However, an unimaginably spectacular view awaits at the northernmost tip of the island.
Hirakubozaki Lighthouse is a spot where you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery that is so typical of Okinawa! You can see the coral reefs in the distance, and enjoy a huge panorama of Hirano Beach and the rocky coastline stretching out to the east. The pure white lighthouse and the turquoise blue sea are as beautiful as a jewel.
On the way to the parking lot, the road is narrow, so be careful of oncoming traffic. Also, the wind is quite strong at the tip of the cape, so be careful not to let your clothes or belongings get blown away or dropped.

The many mangrove colonies on the island can be seen here and there as you drive around. The mangrove tree on the west side of the island has a strong presence even when it is just one tree.
"Ippon Mangrove (Hirugi)" is located along the main road, so it is easily accessible. It is interesting to see different scenery depending on the tide, and you can get very close at low tide. Especially at times when the sun is setting, you can take romantic photos with the backlight, so I recommend you try taking photos there.

Kabira Bay

Maibara Yaeyama Palm Community

Hirakubozaki Light

Nagura Bay Mangrove

Find Ishigaki Island's proud local cuisine on the island

Introducing the gourmet food you can eat and buy on Ishigaki Island.

First of all, let's start with the popular "Oni Sasa" that has become synonymous with Ishigaki Island in recent years. This is a way of eating rice balls and fried chicken fillets together, and the originator of this dish is "Chinen Shokai." This time, I stopped by the store and bought some.
Chinen Shokai is a local supermarket on the island that sells food and daily necessities. The store's showcase has five types of rice balls and about 25 types of fried foods lined up, and among them, the "Chicken Fillet Fry" and "Rice Ball" are transformed into "Oni Sasa."
First, put the fried chicken fillets in a plastic bag and add sauce to your liking. Then, put the rice balls in the same bag and press the bag tightly with your hands. Now your "Oni Sasa" is complete!
In a sense, this gourmet food was born as a product of chance, and both the way of buying and eating it are unique. I was a little surprised when I first heard about it, but it's delicious! The chicken fillet fries and rice balls are large and satisfying. Please give Onisasa, a fast food unique to Ishigaki, a try.

For lunch, try a hamburger with a patty made from 100% Misaki beef raised on Ishigaki Island.
CHIBARU CAFE, located inside Ishigakijima Village, a food and beverage building in the center of town, is a cafe that serves hamburgers with a wide variety of side dishes.
I ordered the "CHIBARU Delicious All-Topped Hamburger" which is filled with all the ingredients. It has two patties made from the Japanese black beef brand "Misaki Beef" and is topped with a variety of toppings such as avocado, pineapple, bacon, cheese, and tartar sauce. The chewy and voluminous fillings and the delicious juicy meat juices overflowing from the spicy patty are the height of luxury. It is a "superb meat dish" that goes beyond a hamburger. It was a lunch filled with freshly made flavors and a sense of satisfaction.

When you think of Okinawa, you think of Awamori! There is an Awamori brewery on Ishigaki Island. It is called Seifuku Brewery.
For over 70 years, the company has been committed to traditional sake brewing, while also focusing on developing new, innovative sakes, as well as awamori that takes advantage of the island's climate.
The shop at the head office, located in the south of Ishigaki Island, is lined with products, including aged liquors that can only be purchased here. The lineup includes drinks that are easy for women to drink, such as the "Furufuru Series," a liqueur made with awamori and fruit juice, and "Tsubufuru," which contains shekwasha fruit sap and has a granular texture.
In the Reiwa era, the spirits shop "Imuge" is taking on the challenge of producing the first rum on Ishigaki Island. You can sample the alcohol in the store, and through this experience you can learn about the depth of alcohol and spend a special time discovering your favorite drink.

Chinen Shokai Main Store

Chinen Shokai Miyara Branch

CHIBARU CAFE

Seifuku Sake Brewery

Pack your memories with a wide variety of souvenirs

During the Ryukyu Kingdom era, pottery culture was introduced from Satsuma to Okinawa. Called "Yachimun," Yachimun is fired in a way that makes the most of the originality of each kiln. There are over 20 pottery kilns in the Yaeyama Islands, and we stopped by one of them, "Ishigaki Yaki Kiln."
The deep blue color of the "Yuteki Tenmoku" pattern that appears all over the pottery and the mineral and colorless transparent glass makes each piece unique, and they are highly regarded for their artistic merit. Next to the shop where you can see many pieces of blue pottery that shine like the color of the sea of Ishigaki Island, there is also a studio where you can experience pottery. During the pottery experience, you can create a one-of-a-kind piece with your own original design while being soothed by the feel of the clay.
Every time you look at your pottery, it will become a treasured piece that will give you the feeling of traveling through Ishigaki.

Genki-kun is a character with a smiling little boy. This product is sold at Ishigaki Sakai Shoten, located in Ishigaki Island's downtown. Genki-kun is the character of Yaeyama Genki Dairy, Japan's southernmost dairy manufacturer located on the island, and Ishigaki Sakai Shoten sells a variety of products using this character.
As well as being able to buy and drink Yaeyama Genki Dairy's milk and dairy products, there is also a wide variety of Genki-kun goods available, including stickers, T-shirts, bags, stamps and goshuincho (stamp books).
You can often see people wearing T-shirts and hoodies on Ishigaki Island. Genki-kun goods that will get you in the Ishigaki mood can only be purchased on Ishigaki Island. I definitely want to buy some for myself and as a souvenir.

The cafe "Tsunagu to Ikou" is located in Momozono Botanical Garden. Here you can not only enjoy meals and tea, but also purchase natural oils and skin care products made from plants.
In order to prevent the red soil of Ishigaki Island from flowing into the sea and causing damage to the coral, shell ginger trees are planted on the edge of the fields to protect the environment. This "Green Belt" activity has created a meaningful way to conserve the natural environment while also using it for skin care, and this is the skin care brand "SUNNY TIME".
Shell ginger botanical oil has a natural scent and a smooth texture, which not only cares for your skin but also for your mind. They have a selection of gentle products you'll want to add to your daily life, such as lotions, creams, fragrances, and soaps that can be used all over the body. They also sell organic rice and seasonings by weight, making this a great place for people planning to stay for a medium to long period of time.

Ishigaki Pottery

Ishigaki Sakai Shop

Gathering and resting

When you think of island travel, you think of resort beaches, pools, and creative dinners.

The west side of Ishigaki Island is also known as a sunset spot, and many people come to enjoy the magic hour when the sun turns red as it sinks below the horizon.
The accommodation on the west coast of the island is Fusakishi Beach Resort Hotel & Villas.
The accommodations are largely divided into hotel and villa types, some with terraces, some with pools, some with ocean views, etc. There are also seven restaurants and bars that are open to non-guests, a beachfront pool, a spa, a large public bath, and other facilities. (Some facilities may not be available during peak seasons.)
The "Private Pool Villa" where we stayed is a room with a pool that is built as a whole and values privacy. There are sunbeds beside the pool, so you can spend your time relaxing.
The breakfast at ISHIGAKI BOLD KITCHEN offered a wide variety of traditional Okinawan dishes as well as Japanese, Western and Chinese cuisine, with more options than we could eat.
We visited "HANARÉ" for dinner, which serves innovative fusion cuisine. It combines Okinawan ingredients and cooking methods with international cuisine, including Chinese cuisine, and then adds fermentation to create a course menu, creating an innovative dish. The originality of the creative cuisine, which can only be found here, surprised and impressed us. The alcohol pairings were a delight, as the various alcoholic beverages harmonized with the food, bringing out the flavors of each other.
The beachside pool, a specialty of Fusaki, is decorated with parasols that add to the resort atmosphere, and you can then step onto the sand and enjoy marine activities. The beach station facing the sea also rents out beach equipment, so you can use the hotel facilities to enjoy beach activities while you're on the island.

If you get tired from swimming in the pool or the sea, take a break at the stylish bar "THE STAR BAR" with an original cocktail. At the bar, you can enjoy limited-edition cocktails and drinks, and enjoy the adult atmosphere.
As the sun starts to set, the pier "Angel Pier" takes on a fantastic atmosphere, making you lose track of time. The tip of the pier is a spectacular spot where you can have a panoramic view of the Ishigaki sea all to yourself. At night, you'll be sure to be impressed by the starry sky.

Fusaki Beach Resort Hotel & Villas

Rent a bicycle to Taketomi Island! A short trip to the remote islands from Ishigaki Island

Ishigaki Island is also the gateway to remote islands that can be visited for half-day or day trips, and has a remote island terminal that provides easy access to the Yaeyama Islands.
I found something that looked delicious at a shop in the port. It was "Juushii Kamaboko" from Kinjo Kamaboko Shop.
This unique food is made by adding Okinawa's cooked rice, called juushi, to Yaeyama kamaboko, a soft fish paste found on Ishigaki Island. There are two versions: Yaeyama kamaboko with juushi, and squid ink kamaboko with dry curry-flavored juushi.
Be sure to satisfy your hunger before heading out to the remote islands with some gourmet food that is full of Okinawan flavor.

Now, we will spend half a day crossing from Ishigaki Island to another remote island. The easiest one to get to is Taketomi Island, which can be reached in about 15 minutes by ferry. The island is about 9 kilometers in circumference. It is a small island where you can easily explore the sights on foot.

When you arrive at the port of Taketomi Island, a bicycle rental shop will be waiting for you in a car to take you to the bicycle rental station. From there, you can enjoy a leisurely tour of the island on your rental bicycle.
In addition to regular bicycles, there are also tandem bicycles, electric assist bicycles, and children's bicycles. Since the roads on the island are sandy, we also recommend the Fit Bikes, which have thick wheels.
There are tourist spots such as the turquoise blue sea of Kondoi Beach, star sand hunting at Kaiji Beach, and brown sugar soft serve at Parlor Tammy, but the charm of Taketomi Island is the village that retains the original Okinawan scenery. The town's unassuming appearance is simple and beautiful, with roads lined with stone walls made of piled coral stones, alleys lined with blooming bougainvillea, and humorous shisa statues riding on red roof tiles.
Taketomi Island is a soothing island where you can spend an extraordinary, peaceful time watching buffalo carts leisurely ride through the relaxed atmosphere that is the complete opposite of the leisurely everyday life.

Kinjo Kamaboko Shop

Taketomi Island

Parlor Tommy