Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
As Ishigaki is the hub for the Yaeyamas, we'll start there and then move on to the other
islands, one by one, westward and southward, as their distances increase from Ishigaki Port.
1
ISHIGAKIJIMA
石垣島
The word Ishigaki means “stone wall,” a reference to the coral stone enclosures traditionally
built around homes to protect them from typhoon damage. It is the name of the island, the
city and the port.
Ishigakijima (
石垣島
; Ishigaki-jima) is the third largest island in Okinawa Prefecture,
after Okinawa and Iriomote, and the second largest of the Yaeyama group. It is 22 miles (35
kilometers) long from north to south and 11 miles (18 kilometers) across from east to west at
its widest point. Its land area is 88 square miles (229 square kilometers) and its coastline cir-
cumference measures 101 miles (162 kilometers). Ishigaki's population is also relatively large,
about 48,000. The vast majority of the island's residents live in or around Ishigaki City (
石垣
市
; Ishigaki-shi), which is also the home of Ishigaki Port (
石垣港
; Ishigaki-kō).
Ishigaki Island is very beautiful and has a number of excellent beaches and, for an island
its size, high mountains, including the highest point in Okinawa Prefecture, Mt Omoto (
於
茂登岳
; Omoto-daké) at 1,726 feet (526 meters). Ishigaki also features world famous Kabira
Bay (
川平湾
; Kabira-wan), home of the Japanese black pearl industry.
Ishigaki City is the southernmost city of Japan. Its northern twin city, at the other end of
the country, is Wakkanai (
稚内市
; Wakkanai-shi), at the very top of Hokkaido Island (
北海
道
; Hokkaidō). Ishigaki City is a very pleasant place with numerous hotels and restaurants
and ample shopping opportunities. It's small enough to get around completely on foot, yet
large enough to support a very lively nightlife, bar, club and restaurant scene. Most resid-
ents refer to central Ishigaki as Shigaichi (
市街地
; lit. “urban area” or “city streets”), Chush-
in (
中心
; lit. “center”) or just Machi (
町
; lit. “town”). The main districts are Ōkawa (
大川
; lit.
“big river”) and Misaki-chō (
美崎町
; lit. “cape town”). “Very lively” is an understatement. You
could spend a few weeks here and find another bar, club and restaurant every night and still
keep having fun. It's a very, very lively place.
