Activities

Banna Park

Banna Park, or 'Banna kouen', as it is known in Japanese, is a spacious nature reserve which is located just a few miles to the north of Ishigaki City. It is a place which can be enjoyed by absolutely anybody, and as such, it comes highly recommended. The park itself is positioned around what can broadly be described as a mountain (peaking at just 200m), and is divided into four zones and a 'Skyline' all of which are linked by...

Climb Mt. Nosoko

Mt. Nosoko, or 'Nosoko Maapee' as it is more commonly known, is not a particularly high mountain, but its distinctive peak along with the magnificent views which it offers make it a prime hiking destination. Climbing Nosoko Maapee is one of THE activities that visitors to Ishigaki island should try to work into their schedules.

Climb Mt. Omoto

Rising to a modest height of 528 meters Ishigaki island's Mt.Omoto may be relatively small when compared to other mountains in Japan, but its peak is still the highest in Okinawa. A sign-posted trail leads trekkers to the top of the mountain and the journey should take about an hour for somebody of average fitness. On a clear day climbers will be rewarded with expansive views of the entire island and the reefs which surround it...

Diving

Ishigaki's climate is semi-tropical and the waters which surround islands in the Yaeyama archipelago remain warm all year round. Scuba diving is extremely popular activity with people travelling from both Japan and further afield to dive with manta rays. The most reliable place to view these magnificent creatures is at 'Manta Point' which is located just off Kabira's coast. Many mantas make their way to this point to clean and feed on plankton, however, there are other sites where they are frequently spotted throughout...

Ishigaki Triathlon

The Ishigaki Triathlon is an important annual event on the international triathlon calendar which attracts top-class professional triathletes from all over the world. It is held in the Tonoshiro port area and takes place on a Sunday towards the end of April. Flags, stages and marquees are raised and media crews from Japan and further afield congregate to document the event. The is one of the fews days of the year when the centre of Ishigaki truly...

Kayaking

Kayaking on Ishigaki is a popular activity which can be enjoyed by all the family. The two main places to kayak are Fukido river, which is located to the north, not far from Yonehara, and Miyara river, which is located on the south east coast, just a few miles from the airport. Both of these rivers are surrounded by protected mangrove forests...

Snorkeling

Ishigaki along with other islands in the Yaeyama archipelago is surrounded with beautiful coral reefs, many of which are positioned just meters from the shoreline. Consequently, you don't have to go scuba diving in order to enjoy the beauty of the ocean.

There are plenty of tour operators which provide snorkeling experiences or you can simply purchase the equipment yourself and head out to a beach such as Yonehara...