Ishigaki is part of Japan’s Yaeyama Islands, a subtropical island group in Okinawa Prefecture near the country’s southern edge. On a cruise to Ishigaki, a day here can go in several different directions, including up into an observatory or down in Kabira Bay. With nature, culture and local food all within reach of the port, there are plenty of things to do in Ishigaki during a day ashore.

Key Takeaways

Kabira Bay is known for its turquoise water, coral reefs and black pearl cultivation.

Shisa figures are a recognizable part of Ryukyuan culture and are still handmade at Ishigaki pottery studios.

Ishigaki beef is a premium Japanese beef raised in the Yaeyama Islands and one of the local specialties guests can try during a day ashore.

Kabira Bay and Ishigaki's coastal scenery

Want to get your bearings on Ishigaki? A good place to start is above the coastline. Tamatorizaki Observatory sits on Ishigaki’s northeastern coast, where a hibiscus-lined path leads to broad views across the island and the surrounding water. From the lookout, you can take in the Hirakubo Peninsula stretching north and see both the Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea. It’s one of the stops included on Princess®’ Highlights of Ishigaki and Best of Ishigaki excursions.

From there, Kabira Bay brings you down to the water. The bay is known for its white sand, small green islands and clear blue-green water, and it’s also one of only two places in Japan where black pearls are cultivated.

That pearl cultivation is one reason Kabira Bay is meant for sightseeing rather than swimming. Glass-bottom boats offer a better way to explore anyway, passing over coral gardens where you can watch for tropical fish and other marine life through the clear water below. You get an up-close-and-personal look at both the scenery that made it famous and what lives beneath the surface.

Glass-bottom boats floating in a turquoise bay beside a forested island with mountains and puffy white clouds beyond.
Hop aboard a glass-bottom boat at Kabira Bay and peek at Ishigaki's underwater world.

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Ryukyuan culture at a working pottery studio

The lion-like figures you see guarding doorways and rooftops across Okinawa have a name: Shisa. Part of Ryukyuan tradition, they are believed to protect homes and other spaces from misfortune. On Ishigaki, Yoneko-yaki Pottery gives you a chance to see how these recognizable figures are made by hand during the Best of Ishigaki excursion.

The studio turns this traditional symbol into colorful pieces with plenty of individual character. Outside, the Shisa Garden takes that creativity to a much larger scale, with brightly colored figures scattered throughout a tropical setting. The adjoining shop offers a closer look at the studio’s finished pottery and a chance to take home a smaller version.

After seeing Shisa being made here, you’ll probably start noticing them elsewhere in Okinawa, keeping watch from a rooftop or entryway.

Orange terracotta shisa lion statue with a curly mane and open mouth on a rooftop against a bright blue sky.
Meet the shisa, Ishigaki's guardian lion keeping rooftops safe from bad luck.

A taste of Ishigaki beef

Sightseeing works up an appetite, and Ishigaki has a local specialty worth saving room for. Ishigaki beef is a premium wagyu raised on the island, prized for its tender texture, rich flavor and fine marbling. Alongside the famous beef, you can enjoy other flavors of the Yaeyama Islands, including Yaeyama soba, fresh seafood and tropical fruits such as pineapple and mango.

It’s also firmly connected to the destination since Ishigaki’s warm subtropical environment supports the black cattle raised there. The beef is yet another way to experience what the island produces. On A Discovery Exclusive - Ultimate Ishigaki, lunch puts this local specialty on the itinerary alongside a guided day of sightseeing. Rather than squeezing in a restaurant search between stops, guests can sit down to Ishigaki beef as part of the excursion itself.

There’s some serious pedigree behind the name, too. Ishigaki beef was served to world leaders during the 2000 G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit, and cruise guests can taste the same dish that the locals are so proud of.

Plate of thinly sliced marbled beef and cubed cuts on green leaves with an orchid, eggplant slices and dipping sauce.
Ishigaki beef is prized across Japan for its melt-in-your-mouth marbling.

Panoramic views from Banna Park

Tamatorizaki Observatory may have already given you a look at Ishigaki from above, but Banna Park has yet another view. Instead of looking along the island’s northeastern coastline, the Emerald Sea Observatory overlooks Ishigaki City, with the surrounding water and neighboring islands stretching beyond it.

The observatory sits within Banna Park, a large nature park spread across Mt. Banna. Forested hillsides surround the lookout, putting a swath of Ishigaki’s subtropical greenery just outside the city. The Emerald Sea Observatory is a final stop on Princess’ Best of Ishigaki excursion.

Princess also offers a full-day Ishigaki Island tour guided in Japanese that includes the Emerald Sea Observatory. It’s an alternative for guests who would prefer Japanese-language guidance while visiting several of the island’s major sights.

If Ishigaki wasn’t on your radar before, it probably is now. That’s one advantage of seeing Japan by cruise, where your itinerary can introduce you to places you may not have chosen on name recognition alone. Ishigaki puts the Yaeyama Islands within reach for a day, without asking you to build a separate island stay into your vacation.

Find Princess Japan cruises that visit Ishigaki, then explore Ishigaki excursions for your time ashore.

Winding road through lush green hills overlooking a coastal town and turquoise ocean under a bright blue sky with puffy clouds.
Banna Park rewards Ishigaki explorers with sweeping views of jungle hills and the sparkling sea.

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