Okinawa boasts numerous scenic spots not found on the main island of Japan, and its emerald green seas are particularly well worth seeing. While the seas around Okinawa Island are undoubtedly beautiful, did you know that the seas around the outlying islands of Okinawa possess a beauty that cannot be found on the main island?

Among the many remote islands of Okinawa, Ishigaki Island is especially recommended. And within Ishigaki Island, Kabira Bay is an absolute must-see, a place you should visit at least once in your lifetime. Let me introduce you to the charm of Kabira Bay, where breathtaking scenery unfolds.

<Contents>
1. What is Kabira Bay?
2. Access to Kabira Bay
3. Activities to enjoy at Kabira Bay
4. Lunch and cafe information in Kabira Bay
5. Recommended accommodations for those who want to enjoy Kabira Bay
6. Other questions you should know

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Kabira Bay is a scenic spot located in the northwestern part of Ishigaki Island, one of the largest islands in Okinawa Prefecture. It has been selected as one of Japan's 100 most beautiful landscapes, and is a must-see spot if you are traveling to Ishigaki Island.

Kabira Bay is a popular tourist spot that is always featured in Ishigaki Island guidebooks and is famous for its black pearl cultivation. However, the real highlight of Kabira Bay is its beautiful emerald green waters and the lush islands scattered throughout the sea. Its beauty is even more striking when viewed from a distance rather than up close.

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Once you step onto Kabira Bay, the contrast between the pure white sand and the emerald green sea is breathtaking and transports you to another world. However, although there are plenty of corals and tropical fish that will make you want to swim, please be aware that swimming is strictly prohibited in Kabira Bay due to the strong currents and dangers.

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2-1 How to get there from the airport

- If using the bus

There are two buses from the airport to Kabira Bay, one bound for Yonehara Campground, running at 12:00 and another at 15:00. If you take a bus during these times, you can go directly from the airport to Kabira Bay. This is the fastest way to get to Kabira Bay on the same day you arrive at Ishigaki Airport.

At other times of the day, you would take the airport line from the airport to the bus terminal, then transfer to the "Kabira Resort Line" bus bound for Kabira.
The direct bus takes approximately 40 minutes. If you need to transfer, it takes 35 minutes to the bus terminal and approximately 40 minutes from the bus terminal to Kabira Bay.
The "Airport Line" runs every 30 minutes, but the "Kabira Resort Line" only runs about six times a day, so it's important to research the schedule in advance.

【Related article】
・[Ishigaki Island Buses] A summary of how to get from Ishigaki Airport to the city center and hotels!

- In the case of a rental car

If you're renting a car, it's about 25km northwest of the airport, a 40-minute drive. If you can drive, renting a car is definitely the most convenient way to explore the island, including Kabira Bay!

【Related article】
・Renting a car in Ishigaki Island | We'll teach you all about smart ways to rent and choose a car!

2-2 How to get there from the city center and Ishigaki Port

- If using the bus

There are two bus routes from Ishigaki Port to Kabira Bay: Route 9 (Kabira Resort Line) and Route 11 (Yonehara Camp Line).
The "Kabira Resort Line" is recommended because it takes a shorter route to Kabira Bay and gets you there faster. The Kabira Resort Line costs 720 yen from Ishigaki Port Bus Terminal to Kabira and makes 8 stops.

On the Yonehara Campground Line, the fare from Ishigaki Port Bus Terminal to Kabira is 1150 yen, and there are 24 stops. This route goes via Ishigaki Airport, so it is a longer journey.

- When using a rental car

It takes about 35 minutes to get there by heading northwest from Ishigaki Port. The route is easy to follow as it's mostly a straight road along the prefectural road.

2-3 Directions from major hotels

From Fusaki Resort Village

It's very convenient as there's a bus departing right in front of the hotel. The Kabira Resort Line bus stop is located at the hotel, so you can easily get to Kabira Bay from there. It takes about 25 minutes to reach Kabira Bay from the hotel.
If you're using a rental car, take Prefectural Road 79 north and then turn onto Prefectural Road 207. You'll arrive at Kabira Bay in about 20 minutes.

From ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort

There's a bus that departs right in front of the hotel, making it very convenient. The Yonehara Campground bus stop is located at the hotel, so you can easily get to Kabira Bay from there. It takes about 50 minutes to reach Kabira Bay from the hotel.
If you're using a rental car, take National Route 390, then Prefectural Route 209, then Prefectural Routes 87 and 79, and finally Prefectural Route 207. You'll arrive at Kabira Bay in about 40 minutes.

3-1 About Glass Boards

Image provided by: Marin House Suguru-kun

Swimming is prohibited in Kabira Bay. If you want to see the coral, tropical fish, and beautiful ocean underwater, your only option is to take a glass-bottom boat tour.
Once inside the glass-bottom boat, the bottom of the boat in the middle is made of glass, allowing you to see marine life up close.

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Kabira Bay is home to countless colorful corals, creating a truly beautiful underwater landscape. Kids will be thrilled to spot clownfish and other marine life!

There are several shops that offer glass-bottom boat tours in Kabira Bay. Most shops are open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you want to take a glass-bottom boat tour, you need to go to Kabira Bay during these hours.

The going rate is around 1,700 yen for adults and a little over 800 yen for children. Glass-bottom boats depart every 15 to 20 minutes, so you won't have to wait long.

Image provided by: Marin House Suguru-kun

3-2 To a deserted island

Kabira Bay has nine uninhabited islands, and there are tours available that allow you to land on these islands and explore them.

The uninhabited island retains its untouched nature, and is densely covered with mangrove-like trees that grow in unusual ways unique to Okinawa and not found on the main island of Japan, making for a thrilling and invaluable experience.

Image provided by: Marin House Suguru-kun
One thing to be aware of is that the water level around the island changes drastically with the tides. (I once almost got swept away when the tide came in quickly onto the beach where I had left my belongings.)

To visit an uninhabited island, it's recommended to join one of the uninhabited island tours organized by the many marine shops located in Kabira Bay. The tour takes half a day, so it's a fun option for those with plenty of time to spare. The price is approximately 7,000 yen for adults and 5,000 yen for children.

3-3 Other Activities

In Kabira Bay, there's a tour where you can kayak around an uninhabited island in the bay, land on the island, and enjoy snorkeling. It's the only tour that allows you to enter the water in Kabira Bay, where swimming is prohibited.

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Kabira Bay boasts exceptionally clean water, teeming with coral reefs and countless tropical fish. Snorkeling offers a different perspective of Kabira Bay than what you see from a glass-bottom boat.

Also, the scenery of Kabira Bay from a kayak is absolutely breathtaking. Paddling a kayak across the emerald green sea is incredibly exhilarating. Children of elementary school age and older can participate in the kayaking! It's a great activity for the whole family.

The package tour, which includes kayaking, landing on an uninhabited island, and snorkeling, costs around 8,000 yen for adults and 6,000 yen for children. Since the tour takes at least half a day, you might want to schedule a full day to enjoy the area around Kabira Bay.

Additionally, you may find discount coupons for various tours at Kabira Bay by using the internet. Checking these coupons in advance and using them will allow you to enjoy sightseeing in Ishigaki Island at a more affordable price.

● For glass-bottom boat tours, transfers to uninhabited islands, and kayak rentals
Marin is so cute
TEL: 0980-88-2898

●SUP or canoe experience tours
Ishigaki Island ADVENTURE PiPi
TEL: 0980-87-5722

4-1 Oishisa Encounter

This restaurant is located behind the Kawadaira Police Station, and is easily recognizable by its large Shisa statue.
The homemade Okinawan soba noodles, which are popular with the locals, come in four varieties: regular noodles, mugwort noodles, pipachi (island pepper) noodles, and chili pepper noodles (*).
(Note: Chili noodles are made depending on the availability of chili peppers, so they may not be available every day.)

Furthermore, to ensure that it can be safely enjoyed by everyone from young children to the elderly, it contains no eggs, preservatives, or artificial colorings.

While straight, thin, round noodles are currently the mainstream in the Yaeyama region, this shop deliberately makes the flat noodle type that was prevalent in the Yaeyama region until around 1972, demonstrating a commitment to quality.

Recommended for summer: chilled ramen

The green noodles are colored with a medicinal herb called Chomeiso (Japanese name: Botanbofu), which has been eaten in Okinawa since ancient times, and the green noodles look beautiful in the shell bowl. You can also enjoy the differences in seasonal ingredients as the seasons change. In addition to soba, they also have other menu items such as katsudon.

We also offer a wide variety of 18 homemade gelato flavors (made with milk from Ishigaki Island; some varieties use soy milk)!

【business hours】
Business hours 10:00 to 17:00
Regular holiday Irregular holiday
Phone number 0980-88-2233
Address: 906-1 Kawadaira, Ishigaki City

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4-2 Okonomiyaki Umaru

This is a teppanyaki restaurant specializing in okonomiyaki and other grilled dishes. It's located about a 2-minute walk from Kabira Bay.

Okonomiyaki is a specialty dish of the Kansai region, particularly Osaka, in Japan. It's not a very common dish in Okinawa, a southern region of Japan.

However, the first thing that catches your eye when you visit the shop is the old Okinawan house with its distinctive red tiled roof. The interior also makes the most of the charm of the old house, allowing you to enjoy an authentic Okinawan atmosphere.

The menu also reflects the character of Ishigaki Island. There are dishes like okonomiyaki made with island tofu and hamburgers made with Ishigaki beef, among others. They skillfully adapt regional dishes from outside Okinawa using Okinawan specialties. They also offer Okinawan dishes like champuru. In short, many of the dishes feature ingredients sourced from Ishigaki Island.

The okonomiyaki made with island tofu is especially popular for its fluffy texture and delicious taste! You should definitely try it.

The Ishigaki beef sirloin steak set meal is also highly recommended. The tenderness of the Ishigaki beef, grilled on a hot plate, makes for a comforting steak. It's a mild flavor that's easy to eat not only for meat lovers but also for those who don't usually eat meat.

Phone orders and takeout are also available.

【business hours】
Lunch 12:30 - 14:00
Dinner 17: 30 ~ 22: 00
Regular holiday Tuesday
Phone number 0980-88-2841
Address: 844-1 Kawadaira, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture

Official website

4-3 R's Cafe

Located just a 3-minute walk from the Kabira Park Observation Deck, this cafe is attached to the Ryukyu Pearl Kabira Main Store and faces the bay, so you can enjoy the blue waters of Kabira Bay from inside the shop.

The restaurant has a wooden deck terrace, and dining while feeling the breeze of the vast, timeless nature is a truly luxurious experience.

Yayama soba and taco rice on the menu

Yaeyama soba can be seasoned to your liking using pipachi (island pepper) and koregusu (island chili peppers pickled in awamori).
Taco rice, with its spicy salsa sauce and ground meat, the crisp texture of lettuce, the tanginess of tomatoes, and the sweetness of cheese and rice, creates a flavor that will have you coming back for more.

For dessert, we recommend our homemade rare cheesecake.

The cheesecake, generously topped with passion fruit syrup, is rich and decadent.

Furthermore, Ryukyu Pearl Kawadaira Main Store is the world's first direct sales store from a pearl farm in the birthplace of black pearls. As such, they have a great selection of accessories including black and white pearls, making it a fun place to visit for souvenirs.

【business hours】
9:00 AM - 17:00 PM (Last order at 16:30 PM)
Regular holiday Open all year round
Phone number: 0980-88-2596 (This will connect you to the cafe from Peruge Kabira)
Address: 934 Kawadaira, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture
Parking: Free parking available at Ryukyu Pearl (15 regular cars, 6 buses)
Click here for the homepage

5-1 Ishigaki Seaside Hotel

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This hotel is located on Sukochi Beach, one of the most representative beaches in the Yaeyama Islands. It's approximately a 5-minute drive from Kabira Bay, making it an ideal hotel for sightseeing in the bay. A key attraction is the choice between high-rise hotel rooms and cottage-style accommodations.

The clarity of the water at Sukochi Beach in front of the hotel is simply breathtaking. The first time I saw it, I was speechless, as it was a beauty of the sea that you don't see at ocean-view hotels on Okinawa Island.

This hotel is highly recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy ocean views from their room. The view of Sukochi Beach from the upper floors is spectacular. Of course, there are plenty of marine sports available as well.

For those who want to relax, we also recommend the cottage-style accommodations called Kabira Village. It's a bit pricey, but you can enjoy a luxurious time there.

Ishigaki Seaside Hotel
Address: 154-12 Kawadaira, Ishigaki City
TEL: 0980-88-2421

5-2 Inn Marine House

Next, we'd like to introduce "Yado Marine House," the closest accommodation to Kabira Bay, located just a 10-second walk away.

This accommodation is very reasonably priced, yet clean, and highly recommended for women. It also has a shared microwave and coin laundry, making it suitable for extended stays.

Inn Marine House
Address: 915-3 Kawadaira, Ishigaki City
TEL: 0980-88-2822

5-3 Fusaki Resort Village

Although it's a little distance from Kabira Bay, this resort hotel features cottage-style accommodations. A bus to Kabira Bay (Kabira Resort Line) departs from right in front of the hotel, making it a convenient base for sightseeing in Kabira Bay.

This hotel has a natural beach, but unfortunately, you can't see the ocean from the rooms. It's not recommended for people expecting an ocean view.
On the other hand, the rooms are spacious, the facilities are clean, and the meals are excellent, making it a hotel that provides a very high level of satisfaction.

Furthermore, they offer a wide range of services for families with young children. These include a children's menu at the dinner buffet, playground equipment and a swimming pool, and (though limited in number) rooms equipped with children's amenities.

Since it's a cottage-style accommodation, one of its charms is that you can feel like you're living on Ishigaki Island rather than staying in a hotel. Of course, as it is a luxury resort hotel, the facilities are very opulent. The area surrounding the hotel is rich in nature, allowing you to relax and enjoy the island time of Ishigaki.

Fusaki Resort Village
Address: 1625 Shinkawa, Ishigaki City
TEL: 0980-88-7000

How long should I expect to stay there?

It depends on what you plan to do. If you just want to take a glass-bottom boat ride and enjoy the scenery, one or two hours should be enough. However, if you plan to do activities such as kayaking, uninhabited island tours, or snorkeling, you will need at least half a day. If you plan to take any of the various tours at Kabira Bay, it's best to plan a full day to relax and enjoy yourself.

Will the surrounding roads be congested?

It depends on the season. During peak seasons like Golden Week and summer vacation, when many tourists flock to the island, Ishigaki Island itself is not a large island, and Kabira Bay is the main tourist spot, so it naturally gets crowded. Furthermore, the road leading to Kabira Bay is only one lane in each direction. As a result, the surrounding roads become congested.
If possible, you can avoid the crowds by traveling during off-peak seasons, such as after long weekends or the Obon holiday (late August onwards).

Can I go see it on rainy days or typhoon days?

On rainy days, the water quality deteriorates and the sea becomes cloudy, so you won't be able to see the beautiful emerald green sea as usual. Also, glass-bottom boat tours are canceled the day after it rains because the seawater is polluted.

Naturally, glass-bottom boat tours are cancelled during typhoons. If you choose to view Kabira Bay from a hilltop instead of taking a glass-bottom boat tour, the weather won't matter at all. However, you won't be able to see the beautiful emerald green sea unless it's a sunny day with strong sunlight. Therefore, we recommend planning your trip with some flexibility in your itinerary.

What should I wear if I go in winter?

The best clothing for winter in Ishigaki Island is a sweater, hoodie, or jacket.
While southern islands are often imagined as being warm all year round, they do get quite cool during the winter months.

Even in winter, daytime temperatures can rise to around 25 degrees Celsius when the sun is shining, but it can feel chilly on rainy or windy days.
In Ishigaki Island during winter, the best attire is to wear a long-sleeved shirt over a short-sleeved shirt, and take off the long-sleeved shirt if it gets too hot.

A cat fast asleep on the beach. You can see them pretty much all year round!

Until what time in the evening can we see them?

Shops in Kabira Bay start closing around 5 PM. Glass-bottom boat tours also end at 5 PM, so this is the best time to visit.

You can still enjoy the scenery even after 5 PM, so if you don't need to look around or eat, you can enjoy the view until just before sunset. However, I recommend going during the daytime when the sun is high in the sky. As evening approaches, the emerald green glow fades. If possible, I hope you can see the sea at its most beautiful during the daytime when the sun is shining brightly.

Summary

We've introduced some of the charms of Kabira Bay, but what did you think? We highly recommend that you see the scenery of Kabira Bay, which you often see in posters, on TV, and in magazines, with your own eyes at least once! You're sure to be impressed!

Please make your hotel reservation here.

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