[2025 Edition] 6 Recommended Tourist Spots in Ishigaki Island in Winter
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Ishigaki Island has a strong image of a summer vacation. In winter, the temperature drops significantly compared to summer, but the average temperature from December to February is about 19°C. The north wind is strong and the temperature feels a little lower, but compared to Honshu, it is warm and comfortable. In this article, we will introduce Experience and spots where you can enjoy a winter trip to Ishigaki Island, including the abundant nature, majestic scenery, cute animals, and Okinawa's unique culture. Why not start planning your trip to discover the charms of Ishigaki Island that you have not yet discovered?
1Swinging Horse
A popular horse riding Experience close to the city

It takes about 15 minutes by car from the Euglena Ishigaki Port Remote Island Terminal (hereafter referred to as the Remote Island Terminal) to reach the ranch. The horses currently being raised are a mix of Japanese breeds, and are quite distinctive in appearance. They are shorter than thoroughbreds, with thicker bodies and legs, and are quite charming. They start training at about six months of age, and when they reach the age of two or three, they make their debut on lighter courses such as the "Kids Trail". Perhaps because they are raised in the natural surroundings of Ishigaki Island, all the horses are very gentle. Even complete beginners can enjoy horseback riding with peace of mind.
The view from the horseback is different from the usual stone walls

For those who want to spend some quality time with the horses, we recommend the "Sea View Hill & Gelato" course. This is a long 150-minute plan that is only available from autumn to spring when the heat subsides. After a lesson on how to communicate with and control the horses, you will depart the ranch. The freshness and sense of freedom you can see from a high horseback ride, overlooking the typical Ishigaki Island scenery of sugarcane fields and pastures, is truly extraordinary. Your destination is the top of a small hill. The view of the sea and sky as you savor delicious gelato is truly spectacular.

- Swinging Horse
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https://www.naminma.com
1353-1 Shinkawa, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture MAP
About 15 minutes by car from the remote island terminal. *There is a course where the meeting point is not the ranch but the beach. Please check the website for details.
Winter (October to March) 10:00 to 17:00
Summer (April to September) 9:00 to 18:00
*Dates and times vary depending on the course. Please check the website for details.Irregular holidays (check website for details)
Sea view hill & gelato (150 mins) from 21,500 yen
Kids Trail (30 mins) 6,500 yen0980-87-8393
Free (For courses meeting at the beach, use the shared Parking)
Sea View Hill & Gelato Junior high school students and above
Kids Trail: Ages 2 and upAll courses require a reservation online. Reservations can be made from two months in advance until 16:00 the day before (until 12:00 if the day before is a holiday).
2Banna Park ("Segway Tour in Ishigaki Island Banna Forest")
Japan's southernmost forest park where you can encounter dynamic nature

This vast forest park makes the most of the terrain of Mt. Banna (230m above sea level). There are many viewing spots within the park, including the "Emerald Ocean View Observatory." It is a place where you can come into contact with Okinawa's nature, but with an area of about 300 hectares, some people say they don't know how to get around. A new way to enjoy Banna Park is the Segway tour, where you can enjoy observing the nature within the park. A guide who knows the area inside and out will accompany you, so during the tour you can hear a variety of stories about the Yaeyama Islands, not just about nature, but also about sightseeing, gourmet food, culture, history, and more. This is the secret to its popularity.
Approach the flora and fauna of Yaeyama on a Segway

The tour meets at the north entrance of Banna Park. After about 30 minutes of practicing how to ride, it's time to set off on your stroll. Along the way, you'll hear explanations about rare plants, and if you're lucky, you might even encounter precious natural treasures such as the Crested Serpent Eagle and the Yellow-margined Box Turtle. As you speed up, you'll be enveloped in the wind carrying the scent of the forest, and you'll feel as if you're part of nature. The most cheering (and screaming for some) part of the tour is when you cross the thrilling long suspension bridge, where you can see through to the bottom. From the bridge, you can see the dam lake filled with abundant water and the lush forest.

- Banna Park ("Segway Tour in Ishigaki Island Banna Forest")
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https://book.hirata-group.co.jp/top/products/b0a36550-3017-5370-9ea9-f827102a3a9e?lng=ja-JP
2241-1 Tonoshiro, Ishigaki City (North entrance of Banna Park) MAP
Approximately 15 minutes by car from the remote island terminal
Morning session 10:00, Afternoon session October to March 15:00
Closed during bad weather and other irregular holidays
8,800円
0980-82-6711(平田観光株式会社)
Free (Banna Park North Parking)
16-70 years old, weight 45kg to 117kg
Reservations required on the website (Reservations for afternoon tours on the day must be made by phone by 9:00am)
Pregnant women and those under the influence of alcohol are not allowed.
3Ishigaki Yaima Village
Enjoy an Experience theme park built from a historic old house

This theme park is located at the southernmost point of Japan, adjacent to Nagura Amparu, an important mangrove wetland that is registered under an international treaty. Old houses where islanders once lived have been relocated to recreate the good old Yaeyama scenery. In October 2020, an attached Property called Nagura Drive-In was completed just before the village entrance. You can now stop by for a break before or after entering the village or during a drive, and enjoy a variety of Experience as well as a meal. A diverse menu is available, including coloring a shisa and a Ryukyu costume Experience that will make you want to post it on social media.
Scenery reminiscent of traditional Yaeyama and opportunities to interact with nature and animals

At Yaima Village, you can freely tour the interiors of old houses that are registered as tangible cultural properties by the country. The view from the Ampar Tower, which is modeled after an ancient observation platform, is also worth a look. The village also has a pond where water buffaloes relax, and an area where you can interact with cute squirrel monkeys, so it is recommended for animal lovers. Nature lovers should take the nature trail that leads from the village and explore Nagura Ampar. A boardwalk weaves through the mangrove forest, providing a chance to experience the precious scenery up close.

- Ishigaki Yaima Village
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https://www.yaimamura.com/
967-1 Nagura, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture MAP
Approximately 20 minutes by car from the remote island terminal
9:00-17:30 (last admission 17:00)
Open daily
Admission fee: Adults 1,200 yen, Children (3 years old and above, elementary school students and under) 600 yen
Ryukyu costume Experience 1,000 yen
Shisa coloring Experience (60-90 minutes) 1,800 yen for one, 3,300 yen for a pair0980-82-8798
free
4Ishigaki Island Limestone Cave
Enter the gigantic underground palace that has been built over time

Located just a 10-minute drive from the city center, this is the southernmost cave in Japan and the largest on the island. Of its 3.2km length, about 660m is open to the public. The temperature inside the cave is around 23°C throughout the year, making it perfect for sightseeing on chilly days. Passing through the Ryugu-jo-style gate and descending the narrow stairs, you will find an underground palace that is unimaginable from above ground, stretching deeper and deeper. Ishigaki Island's stalactites grow at about 1mm every three years. It took about 200,000 years for it to take on its current form. The giant clam fossils on the cave walls tell us that this was once the bottom of the sea.
Experience a dramatic space that will make you feel like an adventurer

As you make your way along the well-maintained route, you'll come across a succession of sights with evocative names, such as "Otohime Palace" and "Forest of Sculptures of the Gods." There are plenty of must-see sights, including the Suikinkutsu cave, where you can hear the sound of water dripping from the stalactites, the fantastical illuminations, the underground lake praised for its crystal clear water, and the "Totoro stalactite," named after a rumor that it resembles a rock. Go up and down the undulating terrain of the cave, looking up and down, and enjoy the breath of nature to your heart's content, feeling like an adventurer.

- Ishigaki Island Limestone Cave
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https://www.ishigaki-cave.com/
1666 Ishigaki, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture MAP
About 10 minutes by car from the remote island terminal
Cave tour: 9:00-18:30 (last admission 18:00)
Open year-round without holidays
Admission fee: Adults 1,200 yen, Children 600 yen
0980-83-1550
free
There is another cave nearby, so when you visit, make sure Property is called "Ishigakijima Cave."
For the latest Property information, please refer to the website or contact Property
5Ishigakijima Glass Studio Ponte
A workshop where Experience making Ryukyu glass that reflects the colors and atmosphere of the island

If you want to Experience making Ryukyu glass in a place with an ocean view, this is the workshop for you. The shop is located in a quiet area a little away from the city. Inside the shop, there are many original pieces with good taste, which will stimulate your creative desire. The most authentic of the four Experience courses is the "Ryukyu Glass Blown Experience." You can choose one of three items: a glass, a small bowl, or a vase. Of course, you can decide the color scheme, pattern, and even whether or not you want bubbles, so you can create a unique, one-of-a-kind glass piece.
Create a one-of-a-kind Ryukyu glass piece

First, you work out your design in the store, choose glass pieces of your favorite colors, and then mix them together before moving to the workshop next door. You'll be working in a kiln with an internal temperature of over 1,300 degrees, so it's best to do this in winter rather than in the hot summer. Once the glass is melted, you'll work at a rapid pace with Staff/staff member, adding patterns, inflating it with a blowpipe, creating the base, and widening the opening. It's all the more fun to watch the syrup-like glass take on the shape you imagined. Your creation needs to cool slowly, so you can wait a day before collecting it. Every time you pick it up, you'll be reminded of the memories of your fun trip.

- Ishigakijima Glass Studio Ponte
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https://ponte-glass.com/ponte-ishigakimap/
1625-35 Shinkawa, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture MAP
Approximately 12 minutes by car from the remote island terminal
10:00-18:00 (last entry)
Wednesday
Ryukyu glassblowing Experience (from 45 minutes) 5,500 yen
Gel candle making (15-30 minutes) 3,500 yen, additional parts from 500 yen
*Shipping fee not included0980-82-4620
free
Reservations are given priority
6Ishigaki Salt
A lush green workshop that continues to preserve the salt-making traditions of the Yaeyama Islands

Ishigaki Salt Workshop is located along Nagura Bay, which opens up in the southwest of the island. They make salt from the abundant water that flows into the bay from Mount Omotodake, the highest peak in Okinawa that stands tall in Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, and the mineral-rich seawater that is produced by the coral that grows on the nutrients from the water. This land is also where salt production first began in the Yaeyama Islands over 300 years ago, and is said to be the origin of the revival of salt production on the islands today. This workshop is a must-visit for those interested in making additive-free salt, the taste of which changes slightly depending on the season, as well as the natural ingredients of the island. Experience such as the Ishigaki Salt Making Experience (reservations required, sunny days recommended) are also available.
A pleasant Experience for dry winter skin

For a slightly different way to get familiar with salt, why not try the Ishigaki Salt Mineral Essence Experience? This is a hot bath in a "high mineral liquid" that is made by putting the mineral-rich liquid left over from salt production into a jar and concentrating it with the heat of the sun for over three years. The liquid clings to your skin and prevents your body from sinking, enveloping you in a mysterious floating sensation and feeling of security. What's more, the rich mineral content is said to have effects such as improving skin beauty, detoxifying the body, and improving swelling and poor circulation. Be sure to experience the blessings of the sea and salt with your whole body.
*As of December 2023, the "Ishigaki Salt Mineral Essence Experience" is not available.

- Ishigaki Salt
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https://www.ishigakinoshio.com/
1145-57 Shinkawa, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture MAP
Approximately 18 minutes by car from the remote island terminal
Workshop 9:00-18:00, Ishigaki salt making Experience
Ishigaki Salt Mineral Essence Experience 9:30-15:00 (last reception)Open daily
Ishigaki salt making Experience (60 minutes) 3,880 yen
Ishigaki salt mineral essence Experience (150 minutes) 13,800 yen *Please bring your own swimsuit and bath towel. Rentals available0980-83-8711
free
Ishigaki salt making Experience Ages 8 and up
Reservations can be made on the website up to 3 days in advance. For last minute reservations, please call us.
As of December 2023, the "Ishigaki Salt Mineral Essence Experience" is not available.
MAP
- Nearby Hoshino Resorts Property