Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Both Western and Asian cuisines are available at the Club Med Kabira Beach and the standards for
everything are very high.
Less than three-quarters of a mile (1 kilometer) away from the beach, inland to the im-
mediate south, is the Yaeyama Palm Tree Forest (
ヤエヤマヒルギ林
; Yaéyama hirugirin), a
unique jungle preserve of exotic trees. It's free. You can park your car then take about a
20-minute stroll on a good path through thick jungle. It's located at the base of Mt Omoto.
The highlight here for tree fanciers is the Yaeyama palm, a unique species only from Ishigaki
and Iriomote. They're tall, rising to a height of about 65 feet (20 meters).
From the Yonehara palm forest it's only 4 miles (6 kilometers) straight west to the first
view of Kabira Bay (
川平湾
; Kabira-wan) from its southern end. It's beautiful, but swimming
is not allowed. It's protected on account of the black pearl industry based here. Those wishing
to see its undersea life can take a glass-bottom boat tour.
The entrance sign to Club Méditerranée Kabira, the most luxurious resort on Ishigakijima, located a short
distance northwest of Kabira Bay.
Rounding the bay, and driving a little more than 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) along its west-
ern side north, you'll come to an entry point on Kabira Bay, a place where boats can put in
or take out on a concrete ramp. Here you'll find the Mikimoto Black Pearl Showroom. here
are signs, so you really can't miss it. It keeps regular business hours, so if you're there dur-
ing the day chances are that it will be open. It's worth the stop. Even if you don't wish to buy
anything, the showroom includes several informative displays explaining the story of pearls
