A thorough investigation of the "New Ishigaki Airport Terminal," packed with the charm of the Yaeyama Islands!

Ishigaki Island, popular as "Japan's Hawaii" and "Japan's southernmost resort," is a popular destination not only during major holidays like summer vacation and Golden Week, but also as a "day trip weekend getaway," and is frequently featured in travel magazines.

One of the reasons for its popularity is the excellent facilities and convenience of the newly opened "New Ishigaki Airport." This time, we'll explore the appeal of "New Ishigaki Airport (Painushima Airport)," which is extremely convenient for travel, sightseeing, and business!

The "compact and smart" terminal, which allows you to immediately experience Ishigaki Island, is proving popular!

Opened in 2013, the new Ishigaki Airport features a unique 1.5-story terminal concept, with 26 retail and food/drink establishments concentrated on the first floor, directly in front of the arrival lobby and check-in lobby.

Therefore, the convenience of being able to enjoy local specialties and dishes as soon as you arrive in Ishigaki Island, and being able to enjoy souvenirs and meals right in front of you after checking in before departing, is a major attraction.

New Ishigaki Airport is located about 15km northeast of Ishigaki city center, and it takes about 30 minutes by car, so many people go to the airport in advance. Even if you realize you forgot to buy souvenirs or want to eat that local dish again, New Ishigaki Airport can fulfill all your wishes!

You can always find what you want! Souvenir booths at New Ishigaki Airport

The main reason for the popularity of New Ishigaki Airport is the abundance of shops within the airport. In addition to food products such as Ishigaki beef, local sweets, and Ishigaki salt, a wide variety of goods are sold, including Ryukyu glass, pearls, and T-shirts. There are a whopping 18 shops! Being able to find such a wide variety of souvenirs in one place is something only an airport can offer.

Here, we've investigated the hottest and most popular must-have items at souvenir shops and stores! Check them out! This will not only help you choose souvenirs, but you might even find yourself coming to Ishigaki Island just to buy these souvenirs!

Ishigaki Island sea salt, Ishigaki salt

"Ishigaki Salt" is a flavorful, mineral-rich sea salt carefully produced in Nagura Bay, located west of Ishigaki Island. Please try this product from the bountiful sea that includes the Sekisei Lagoon, a coral-producing area in Japan, and the Amparu Wetland, which is registered under the Ramsar Convention.

Sunagawa Frozen Foods Airport Store

We are a specialty shop for locally sourced meats, including Ishigaki beef and Moromi pork. Our original hamburgers, developed in collaboration with top hotel chefs and using carefully selected ingredients, are made by hand, one by one.

Island Confectionery Yaeyama-ya

"Shima no Ka Yaeyama-ya" is a local confectionery brand that sells local specialties such as purple sweet potato, brown sugar, pineapple, and pipatsu (a type of citrus fruit). With the desire to share the charm of Yaeyama with more people and connect with a wider audience, it was launched as a new face of island confectionery, initially opening at the airport. Now, it's a popular shop with long lines of customers.

Tsubasa Confectionery Shop

This shop sells sweets and specialty confections from the Yaeyama Islands. We have recommended products such as our store-exclusive premium salt cake and maasu cookies, as well as Ishigaki Island-exclusive "Royce' Ishigaki Island" chocolate confections, Ishigaki Island purple sweet potato tarts, purple sweet potato pies, and more.

Specialty shop for souvenirs and alcoholic beverages: Ishigaki Island Limestone Cave

We offer a wide selection of souvenirs representing the Yaeyama Islands, from Soki Soba and Yaeyama Soba to island shallots, sea grapes, recommended awamori and liqueurs, and Okinawan craft beer.
This store has the widest selection of alcoholic beverages, so you don't have to worry if you forget to buy something.

T-shirt specialty shop: Kaijin Kobo

This is the original shop for the now-popular "Uminchu" (sea person) T-shirt. "Uminchu" means someone who loves the sea, someone who plays in the sea, someone who works in the sea (fisherman), or someone with the heart of the ocean. We also have many T-shirts exclusive to New Ishigaki Airport.

Traditional Textiles & Local Specialties Azamiya

This is a specialty shop for the traditional Yaeyama Minsaa weaving. Minsaa is a product characterized by its ikat pattern, which symbolizes "forever and ever..." The "coral reef" color, which evokes the image of Yaeyama and Ishigaki Island, is a popular item available exclusively at our airport store. We also have a wide variety of other popular items that are in season.

You can enjoy plenty of local cuisine and ingredients! The food booths are also very popular.

If you arrive at the airport and think, "I forgot to eat that!" or "I want to taste that again!", don't worry. While New Ishigaki Airport has plenty of merchandise booths, its food and drink offerings are just as impressive! With such a wide variety and volume of options, you might even find yourself completely satisfied just by staying at New Ishigaki Airport!

Here you'll find a total of five restaurants, including "SKY CAFE Ishinagiya" which serves authentic Ishigaki beef, "Gen" which offers plenty of fresh seafood, "Yaima Village" where you can enjoy local cuisine such as Yaeyama soba and island tempura, and "Ishigaki Island Mirumiru Honpo" which sells gelato and hamburgers.

Seafood/Island Cuisine Gen

This restaurant specializes in locally sourced seafood. We offer a variety of seafood dishes, including the traditional "Tuna Broth Soba" created by local fishermen, nigiri sushi made with only ingredients sourced from Ishigaki Island, and "Tuna Hamburg Steak" made with bluefin tuna. For your trip to Ishigaki Island, we highly recommend trying the island's unique sushi.

SKY CAFE Ishinagiya, a specialty restaurant for Ishigaki beef.

This restaurant specializes in dishes featuring Ishigaki beef. Ishinagiya is a company that handles everything from breeding to selling and serving Ishigaki beef. They offer a wide variety of dishes where you can enjoy plenty of safe and carefully selected Ishigaki beef.

Gelato specialty shop Ishigaki Island Mirumiru Honpo

This is a gelato ice cream specialty shop. We use freshly squeezed milk from the farm and fruits grown under the abundant sunshine of Ishigaki Island to create rich and creamy gelato. You can combine two of your favorite flavors in a half-and-half style, so please enjoy trying a variety of flavors. Our locally sourced beef hamburgers are also very popular.

They also introduce local experience tours! Tourist bus and hire car information center

The "Tourist Bus and Hire Car Information Center" is located in the center of the first floor of Ishigaki Airport.
In addition to arranging tour buses and hired cars, we can also introduce and arrange marine activities in the Yaeyama Islands, such as snorkeling.
Our knowledgeable local staff will advise you on the best experiences to enjoy in the Yaeyama Islands!

From the observation deck, you can enjoy watching airplanes and the scenery of Ishigaki.

The airport's design is spacious and stylish, with glass walls throughout the observation deck and check-in lobby, and a nearly open atrium on the first floor!

The rooftop observation deck, offering ocean views of the airport and Shiraho Beach, is also a popular attraction. The walls are constructed using Ryukyu limestone, making it a high-quality airport in terms of both design and functionality.

▼View of Shiraho Beach from the observation deck

▼View of the runway from the observation deck

▼View from the waiting room on the first floor

Access from New Ishigaki Airport to the city center and other areas.

For getting from the airport to the city center and tourist attractions, buses, taxis, and rental cars are all recommended options. Rental car companies are particularly popular because they are located very close to the airport and within walking distance, making them extremely convenient.

Bath

There is a bus stop in front of the main entrance of the airport terminal.
[Time required to reach the city center] Approximately 45 minutes
[Fee] 540 yen
[Flight Schedule] Flights operate at approximately 15-minute intervals.
There are two bus companies operating on the island: Higashi Transport, which operates a route that circles the island, and Curry Kanko Bus, which has direct service to the remote island terminal.

TAXI

There is a taxi stand in front of the entrance/exit of the airport terminal.
[Time required to reach the city center] Approximately 30 minutes
[Price] Approximately 2,700 yen
*The above travel times and fares are average estimates. Please note that these may vary depending on the time of day and traffic conditions.

Rental Car

The shuttle bus stops for each rental car company are located across the pedestrian crossing from the main entrance of the airport terminal. For more details, please contact the rental car company.

Parking

New Ishigaki Airport has 369 public parking spaces. The fee is 100 yen per hour, with a maximum charge of 1,000 yen for 24 hours and 2,000 yen for 48 hours.

~Please also see this~
・[Ishigaki Island Buses] A summary of how to get from Ishigaki Airport to the city center and hotels!
・Renting a car in Ishigaki Island | We'll teach you all about smart ways to rent and choose a car!
A complete guide to Ishigaki Island Ferry Terminal, the gateway to the Yaeyama Islands!

Afterword

So, what do you think? New Ishigaki Airport, the gateway to the skies of Yaeyama and Ishigaki Island, is a very convenient and well-equipped airport with plenty of attractions. In addition to souvenir shopping and dining, there's also a Starbucks Coffee, so enjoying your usual resort coffee will be a wonderful way to savor the lingering memories of your trip!

Why not make the most of New Ishigaki Airport, a popular stop for locals on their drives as a place to relax and unwind, and fully enjoy your time on Ishigaki Island and the Yaeyama Islands?