This guide covers the most popular and best-known beaches on Ishigaki Island.
Ishigaki Island is one of Okinawa Prefecture’s outlying islands, and few places in Okinawa have this many beautiful beaches.
It is also a resort destination, so the beaches range from busy, well-known stretches of sand to quiet corners that feel almost private.
Here are the ones worth singling out among Ishigaki Island’s most popular and best-known beaches.
Seven beaches are covered.
- Kabira Bay
- Maesato Beach
- Fusaki Beach
- Yonehara Beach
- Ishigaki Island Sunset Beach
- Sukuji Beach
- Painuhama Artificial Beach
Let’s take a look.
Kabira Bay
Kabira Bay is defined by its clear water, beautiful sand, and the view from the Kabira Park observation deck.
One thing to note: swimming is prohibited at Kabira Bay, so you cannot go in the water.
For those who want to see the coral and tropical fish, glass-bottom boat tours and other activities are available, and they are well worth doing.
It is also well known as a sightseeing spot, and draws a steady stream of visitors.
| Access | About 35 minutes by car from Ishigaki Airport |
| Address | Kabira, Ishigaki City, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Available (both paid and free) Paid: 200 yen for the first hour 100 yen for each additional 60 minutes |
| Restrooms | Yes |
Maesato Beach
Maesato Beach sits within the grounds of the ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort, and draws a steady stream of visitors.
Clear water, good sand, and a full range of swimming facilities and marine activities make it a proper resort beach.
Entry and parking are both free even if you are not staying at the ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort.
| Access | About 15 minutes by car from Ishigaki Airport |
| Address | Maezato, Ishigaki City, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Free *Hotel guests and beach visitors alike Parking is free for both |
| Restrooms | Yes |
Fusaki Beach
Fusaki Beach sits within the grounds of Fusaki Beach Resort Hotel & Villas, and draws a steady stream of visitors.
Clear water and beautiful sand define it, and with plenty of activities and a pool as well, it is a proper resort beach.
It is especially popular in the evening, and plenty of people seem to come for the sunset.
| Access | About 30 minutes by car from Ishigaki Airport |
| Address | 1625 Arakawa, Ishigaki City, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Hotel guests: free Non-guests: paid (500 yen per hour) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
Yonehara Beach
Yonehara Beach is a popular snorkeling spot, where you can take in coral, clownfish, and the clarity of the water.
Plenty of visitors come here, and every year many make the trip specifically to snorkel at this beautiful beach.
| Access | About 20 minutes by car from Ishigaki Airport |
| Address | 644 Fukai, Ishigaki City, Okinawa |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Available (both paid and free) Free parking lot (room for about 5–8 cars) Paid parking lot: 500 yen (room for about 60 cars) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
Ishigaki Island Sunset Beach
Ishigaki Island Sunset Beach is a lovely beach defined by exceptionally clear water and beautiful sand.
A safety net is in place and lifeguards are on duty, so adults and children alike can enjoy it.
Snorkeling and other activities are available, along with parasol rentals, which makes it a good choice for swimming and activities on Ishigaki Island.
It was also used as a location for the film “Hana Yori Dango,” and it is genuinely beautiful.
| Access | About 35 minutes by car from Ishigaki Airport |
| Address | 234 Hirakubo, Ishigaki City, Okinawa |
| Facility fee | Adults: 500 yen per day Children: 300 yen per day |
| Activities | Yes |
| Parking | Paid parking lot: 500 yen |
| Restrooms | Yes |
Sukuji Beach
Sukuji Beach is defined by clear, shallow water and roughly a kilometer of sand.
Kabira Bay, one of the island’s most popular sights, is nearby.
Sukuji Beach has a safety net in place, which makes it well suited to swimming, and snorkeling tours run from here too.
| Access | About 40 minutes by car from Ishigaki Airport |
| Address | 185-1 Kabira, Ishigaki City, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
Painuhama Artificial Beach
Painuhama Artificial Beach is defined by its clear water and clean sand.
It had not yet opened when I was on Ishigaki Island, so I could not walk onto the beach itself, though I did reach the parking lot nearby.
It sits in the town area of Ishigaki Island, which makes it easy for visitors to reach.
*For full details on Painuhama Artificial Beach, please see the official website.
| Access | About 20 minutes by car from Ishigaki Airport |
| Address | Painuhama, Ishigaki City, Okinawa |
| Activities | No |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
Also Worth a Look
Activities on Ishigaki Island
Ishigaki Island has a great deal to do.
Marine activities in particular are plentiful — snorkeling, diving, SUP, kayaking, and more.
If any of that appeals, take a look on Viator or GetYourGuide.
Tamatorizaki Observatory
Tamatorizaki Observatory is on Ishigaki Island, one of Okinawa Prefecture’s outlying islands.
It is a superb viewpoint over the sea along Ishigaki Island, taking in Hirakubo in the north and Ibaruma, Tori, and Shiraho in the east.
Allow 20 to 30 minutes, which gives you time for both the hibiscus garden and the view from the deck.
| Access | About 20 minutes by car from Ishigaki Airport |
| Address | Ibaruma, Ishigaki City, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
Oganzaki
Oganzaki is a cape on Ishigaki Island.
The view from Oganzaki is lovely, with rugged rock formations and a fine sunset.
Kabira Bay, a popular sight, is close by, and the area draws plenty of visitors.
*The name is read “Oganzaki.”
| Access | About 35 minutes by car from Ishigaki Airport |
| Address | Sakieda, Ishigaki City, Okinawa |
| Parking | Available (free) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
Other Information
ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort
With one of the finest settings on Ishigaki Island, right in front of Maesato Beach, this is the largest luxury beach resort on the island. The grounds cover roughly six times the area of the Tokyo Dome and hold four room wings to suit different styles of travel, along with indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, and a golf course.
Ishigaki Island was Japan’s first certified Dark Sky Place, so the star-filled skies here are something special, and the resort also makes a convenient base for day trips to Taketomi, Iriomote, and the other outlying islands.
Rental Cars on Ishigaki Island
A rental car is by far the best way to get around Ishigaki Island.
Scenic spots such as Kabira Bay and Yonehara Beach are spread across the island, so having a car lets you explore at your own pace. Bus services on Ishigaki Island are infrequent, and a car makes a real difference to how much you can fit in.
Cars fill up quickly in the peak season, so we recommend booking early once your travel dates are set. One important note for overseas visitors: to drive in Japan you must obtain an International Driving Permit (Geneva Convention) in your home country before you depart, and remember that traffic in Japan drives on the left.
Summary
This guide has covered the most popular and best-known beaches on Ishigaki Island.
As mentioned at the outset, Ishigaki Island has many fine beaches beyond the ones covered here.
When you visit Ishigaki Island, be sure to make time for the beaches above.
We have also put together a guide to Ishigaki Island’s quieter beaches, so do take a look if you want to know what else the island has.
I hope this guide has been of some use.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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