When you think of Ishigaki Island in Okinawa, you think of "Awamori"! Whether you're a fan of alcohol or not, it's a traditional distilled spirit from all over Okinawa that you've probably tasted at least once.

Awamori, which was used as a tribute or gift during the Ryukyu Kingdom era, comes in various forms, including "Kusu," which is aged for more than three years, and "Habu-shu," which has a higher alcohol content and a deeper flavor.
Also, since there are so many stores selling them, you might get confused about where to buy what while you're traveling.

So, this time, we'll introduce five recommended shops for those who want to buy awamori in Ishigaki Island! Where should you buy it, and what kind of awamori should you buy? We recommend these shops for you.

The areas in Ishigaki Island where awamori is mainly sold can be broadly divided into four: the "Euglena Mall area," an arcade in the heart of Ishigaki city; the "730 Intersection area," a souvenir street with the 730 Memorial; the "Maesato commercial area," located between the new airport and the city center; and the "New Ishigaki Airport area."

This time, I've compiled a list of five awamori (Okinawan distilled liquor) shops in each area that I, a resident of Ishigaki Island, recommend.
Furthermore, all shops offer nationwide shipping. You can have items shipped directly to your home, relatives, or friends, so you don't have to worry about carrying packages yourself!

Table of contents
1. Awamori Shop (Southwest Liquor Store) - 730 Intersection Area -
2. The Best Souvenirs - Euglena Mall Area -
3. Inafuku Awamori Market - Maesato Commercial Area -
4. Shops inside New Ishigaki Airport - New Ishigaki Airport Area -
5. Direct sales at Awamori distilleries
Summary

The location is just a one-minute walk from the "730 Intersection" of the 730 Memorial, and you'll easily find it as it's near "A&W," Okinawa's only popular hamburger chain.
Our shop, easily recognizable by its large sign that reads "Leave all your awamori needs to us!", is unique in that we stock awamori not only from the Yaeyama Islands but from all over Okinawa.
There are over 600 different species! It is said to have the largest variety of fish on Ishigaki Island.
They also sell awamori-related items such as glasses, hand towels, and keychains, making it a must-visit shop for awamori fans.
Furthermore, among the unique products, you'll find a wide variety of items such as "awamori soap" made with awamori, "eco bags," "noren curtains," and "aprons," so browsing the store is sure to be fun!
Name: Awamori Shop
Address:250-3 Okawa, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture
Phone: 0980-83-2241
Parking: None
Official site:http://www.awamoriya.net/

Near the Yaeyama Post Office, in the Euglena Mall arcade and around the public market, a recommended shop is "Okinawa Ichiban," which is characterized by its bright pink sign, which the owner proudly claims is his favorite color.
There are several sister stores in the mall, but our store has the best selection of awamori (Okinawan distilled liquor).
In particular, they offer "Habu-shu," a type of aged liquor made by steeping live habu snakes in awamori (Okinawan rice liquor), at reasonable prices. Prices range from as low as 324 yen for a 100ml bottle of Habu-shu (25% alcohol) to under 2 yen for the most expensive varieties. This shop is highly recommended for those who want to try Habu-shu for the first time, or for those who love it and want to try different kinds!
Name: Omiyage Ichiban
Address:213-1 Okawa, Ishigaki City
Phone: 0980-83-5118
Parking: None

In recent years, the Maesato district in the western part of Ishigaki Island's city center has developed into the island's premier commercial area, with numerous nationwide chain stores such as MaxValu, Nishimatsuya, Shimamura, and Drug Eleven.
It's like the "New City Center area" on Okinawa Island, where you can now find almost all the products you need on Ishigaki Island.
In the "Maesato Commercial Area," you'll find "Inafuku Awamori Market," operated by Inafuku Shuhan, a liquor wholesaler located near the former Ishigaki Airport.
Because most restaurants on the island use Inafuku Liquor Store, our shop has a reputation for offering a wide variety of alcoholic beverages at the most reasonable prices on Ishigaki Island.
With ample parking space for over 20 cars, this awamori specialty shop is easily accessible for those on a drive.
Name: Inafuku Awamori Market
Address:284-1 Maezato, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture
Phone: 0980-88-5333
Parking: Available (20 spaces)
Official site:http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/inafuku-netshop/

There's also an awamori specialty shop at New Ishigaki Airport, the gateway to Ishigaki Island.
This area features various shops, including the Ishigaki Island Limestone Cave, the souvenir shop "Kotobuki," and a local specialty product sales center operated by Ishigaki City. If you've forgotten to buy something or wish to purchase additional items, this is a good place to do so.
However, according to off-the-record information from locals, it seems that the shops inside the airport collect about 10% of their sales from the New Ishigaki Airport Management Office. So please disregard the fact that prices are more than 10% higher than elsewhere.
However, it is certainly the most affordable option, so we recommend using it according to your circumstances.
Name: Inside New Ishigaki Airport
Address:1960-104-1 Shiraho, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture
Phone: 0980-87-0468
Official site:http://www.ishigaki-airport.co.jp/

Ishigaki Island has a total of seven awamori distilleries, including Yaesen Distillery, Seifuku Distillery, and Tamanaha Distillery, which produces Tamano Tsuyu, while Hateruma Island has the famous Hateruma Distillery, which produces Awanami, bringing the total number of awamori distilleries in the Yaeyama Islands to eight.
And what is surprisingly little known is,Available for purchase directly from the brewery.
You can order by phone or online, which allows you to purchase items at a lower price than typical souvenir shops.
It is also possible to purchase sake by visiting the brewery (reservations may be required).Therefore, it's fun to actually taste and smell the products, and even take a factory tour while you're there.
If you have a favorite brand, I highly recommend buying it directly from the brewery! Of course, all breweries ship nationwide, so you can order with peace of mind even while traveling or from outside the island.
Yaesen Brewery
Brand: Yaesen
Address:Ishigaki 1834, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture
Phone: 0980-83-8000
Official site:http://www.yaesen.com/
How to purchase: Online, by phone, or at the brewery.
Seifuku Brewery
Brand name: Qingfu
Address:959 Miyara, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture
Phone: 0120-14-3166
Official site:http://www.seifuku.co.jp/
How to purchase: Online, by phone, or at the brewery.
Tamanaha Brewery
Brand name: Tamano Tsuyu
Address:Ishigaki 47, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture
Phone: 0980-82-3165
Official site:http://www.tamanotuyu.com/
How to purchase: Online, by phone, or at the brewery.
Ikehara Sake Brewery
Brands: Shirayuri, Akama
Address:175 Okawa, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture
Phone: 0980-82-2230
Official site:http://www.shirayuri-ikehara.com/
How to purchase: Available by phone or at the brewery (reservations required).
Takamine Sake Brewery
Brand name: Omoto
Address:930-2 Kawadaira, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture
Phone: 0980-88-2201
Official site:http://www.ishigaki.com/omoto/
How to purchase: Online, by phone, or at the brewery.
仲間酒造所
Brand name: Miyanotsuru
Address:956 Miyara, Ishigaki City
Phone: 0980-86-7047
Sales site (Awamori Shop):http://www.awamoriya.net/syouhin/isigakinoawamori/nakama/nakama.htm
How to purchase: Online, by phone, or at the brewery (reservations required).
Hateruma Sake Brewery
Brand: Awanami
Address:156 Hateruma, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun
Phone: 0980-85-8332
Sales site (Awamori Shop):http://www.awamoriya.net/syouhin/isigakinoawamori/hateruma/hateruma.htm
How to purchase: Online, by phone, or at the brewery (reservations required).

Afterword

Even when simply buying awamori, there are many different places to purchase it.
Among general souvenir shops, awamori specialty stores have a particularly wide variety of products and the advantage of being able to ship nationwide.
And if you want to buy a lot at a low price, we recommend purchasing directly from the distillery! Based on this information, we would be delighted if you would buy Yaeyama awamori as a souvenir and spread the word!

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