Surrounded by emerald seas, Ishigaki Island has become even more popular as an easily accessible tourist destination, thanks to the opening of the new Ishigaki Airport and the resulting increase in direct flights from Tokyo and other major cities.

After enjoying plenty of activities like diving, barbecues, swimming, and nature exploration, you'll suddenly find yourself in the evening. Then, the sparkling Ishigaki Island, which was previously teeming with blue and green, will be enveloped in a bright red veil. Enjoy the sunset, which is like the aurora borealis.

Introduction

The sun sets late in Ishigaki Island, so during the summer months of July and August, it's past 7 PM. That means it often coincides with dinner time. While there are some spots worth driving for hours to see, dinner is also an important part of enjoying Ishigaki Island.

So this time, instead of just watching the sunset, I chose locations that could be visited as part of a larger activity. I've picked out six spots that are within a 15-minute drive from the city center.

1. The beach at Fusaki Resort Hotel

©OCVB

First up is the private beach at Fusaki Resort Hotel in Tomizaki, Ishigaki City. It takes about 15 minutes by car from downtown Ishigaki.

This is our private beach. Actually, even if you're not a hotel guest, you can easily go to the beach by asking at the front desk! There are two entrances, one at the front of the hotel and one at the service entrance on the right, but the service entrance is closer and more convenient.

The beach at Fusaki Resort boasts an outdoor swimming pool and is a popular spot for wedding attire photoshoots. The reason for its popularity lies in its approximately 50-meter-long deck pier. At the end of the pier is a bell that rings with happiness, creating a truly wonderful resort atmosphere.

Furthermore, Fusaki Resort offers restaurants and facilities where you can enjoy Yaeyama kaiseki cuisine, which are open to non-guests as well, so it's a good idea to have a meal before or after sunset. Why not enjoy the best sunset at Fusaki Resort, which has all three qualities: atmosphere, food, and easy access?

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2. Ishigaki Island Gelato Mirumiru Honpo Terrace

If you're driving around Ishigaki Island, the sunset views from inside the shop, on the terrace, or on the rooftop of Ishigaki Island Gelato Mirumiru Honpo are highly recommended. It takes about 10 minutes by car from downtown Ishigaki. Mirumiru Honpo is located on a hill, so the magnificent view overlooking Nagura Bay and the nearly 180-degree panoramic view make the sunset even more spectacular.

Furthermore, Mirumiru Honpo is often featured on television programs and other media. One of the reasons for this is the "green flash," a phenomenon where the horizon of the sea surface flashes green for a brief moment at the moment of sinking, and Mirumiru Honpo is the one that has successfully captured most of these moments in video!
Green flash video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFWGY3qgmjg

In addition to gelato, Mirumiru Honpo offers juicy hamburgers made with their own home-grown beef and other light meals. Located relatively close to the city center, you can enjoy the vibrant red sunset while savoring Ishigaki Island's specialty gelato and food, right up until the sun sinks below the horizon!

3. Yaeyama Village (formerly Yaeyama Folk Park)

Image source: Photozou
Yaima Village, located in Motonagura on Ishigaki Island, is a popular tourist spot and a popular driving destination, but it's also a popular spot for watching the sunset. It takes about 15 minutes by car from Ishigaki city center.

You can enjoy the sunset from both inside and outside Yaeyama Village. Inside the village, there are magnificent lawns, so it's a great place to relax and enjoy the sunset!

Furthermore, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the sunset from the restaurant within the facility, making it the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the view.

Yaeyama Village is a multi-purpose facility that features a folklore corner recreating the traditional lifestyle of the Yaeyama Islands, as well as an animal corner with exhibits of squirrel monkeys, water buffalo, and other animals.

Whether you come specifically to watch the sunset or just enjoy the sunset while you're out having fun, this is a convenient spot where you can change how you spend your time depending on the weather.

4. Banna Park: "Observation deck with a view of the emerald sea"

Located in the northern part of Ishigaki city, the "Emerald Sea View Observation Deck" at Banna Park boasts the highest vantage point for watching the sunset, offering breathtaking views. It's only about a 10-minute drive from Ishigaki city center. Its proximity makes it easy to visit before or after dinner, and the unparalleled panoramic view is sure to leave you in awe, thinking, "This is the quintessential Ishigaki sunset!"

In addition to the main observation deck, there is also a "stargazing observation deck." This observation deck has luminous stones scattered throughout the hall and staircase, so as night falls, the walls, floor, and ceiling begin to glow like a starry sky. Visitors often exclaim, "Wow! It's beautiful!" as they reach the top of the observation deck, where a sky full of stars and a panoramic night view unfold before their eyes.

If you have some free time in the evening or at night, I highly recommend spending a luxurious moment at the observation deck in Banna Park, enjoying the transition from sunset to starry sky.

5. Southern Gate Bridge

©OCVB
The Southern Gate Bridge, located in the city center of Ishigaki Island, is a popular sunset viewing spot that's easily accessible on foot from the city center. It takes about 10 minutes to walk there from the city center, or about 3 minutes by car.

After enjoying shopping in the bustling downtown area, including Euglena Mall and the 730 Intersection, we highly recommend visiting the Southern Gate Bridge, which you can reach without renting a car!

While it's nice to watch the sunset over the Southern Gate Bridge from the top of the bridge, there's also a unique way to enjoy it from Tonoshiro Fishing Port a little further away. That's because you can see the blue Southern Gate Bridge gradually blending into the sunset against the backdrop of the red sky. As you can see, there are ways to enjoy the sunset other than directly watching it!

For those staying near the city center or without a rental car, Southern Gate Bridge is an easily accessible sunset spot that is typical of Ishigaki Island. Be sure to enjoy the beautiful sunset to your heart's content with your loved ones or friends.

6. Hamasaki Marina

Finally, we have Hamasaki Marina, a yacht harbor located in Hamasaki-cho, Ishigaki City. It's about a 15-minute walk from the city center, or about a 4-minute drive.

There are hotels such as Toyoko Inn and Vessel Hotel nearby, making this a recommended sunset spot if you're staying in the area.

What's more, it's not just the view of the sunset; the silhouettes of the yachts and cruise ships lined up at Hamasaki Marina, against the backdrop of the setting sun, create a resort-like atmosphere that is characteristic of Ishigaki Island!

Not only the sunset and the moored yachts, but also the cruise ships returning to the harbor and the people fishing on the breakwater all become part of the beautiful sunset in Ishigaki Island, creating a stunning spectacle.

This spot is popular not only with tourists but also with locals who come to watch the sunset. It's a power spot where people can get energized and say, "I saw such a wonderful sunset today. I'll do my best again tomorrow!" Please come to Hamasaki Marina and enjoy the magnificent sunset to recharge your energy for tomorrow!

Final thoughts

So, what do you think? This time, we've picked out six Ishigaki Island sunset spots that are "easy to get to" and "allow you to have time for dinner," based on the criteria of being within a 30-minute round trip by car or on foot, and that even locals approve of. The sunsets in Ishigaki Island are truly wonderful and will make you forget about time. But if you relax too much and can't fully enjoy dinner, your Ishigaki Island trip will be ruined, right?

Please use this as a reference and enjoy a wonderful and memorable trip.

Please make your hotel reservation here.

• Rakuten Travel
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