Summary
This time, I went to Ishigaki Island in Okinawa and enjoyed a lot of gourmet food. Ishigaki Island is known for its beautiful coral reefs and crystal clear waters, and is a popular tourist spot for its historic landmark, Ishigaki Castle, and the spectacular view of Kabira Bay. Since I came to Ishigaki Island, I had to eat a lot of Ishigaki beef! ✨, I ate a lot of Ishigaki beef , Ishigaki beef hamburger , Ishigaki beef sukiyaki donburi, and even Ishigaki beef nigiri! All the meats and seafood are delicious. The hotel was lovely, and the sweets and breakfast buffet we had while overlooking the spectacular view were all great.
*Please note that the information and prices listed are subject to change.
Travel Itinerary
8:20am New Ishigaki Airport (Painushima Ishigaki Airport) – 新石垣空港（南ぬ島石垣空港）
Arrival at Ishigaki Island! We are blessed with fine weather and clear skies. We are going to enjoy Ishigaki Island’s gourmet food from now on… The view of the vast sugarcane fields against the blue sky seen from the car window on the way to Ishigaki City was fantastic!
It takes approximately one hour from Naha Airport to Ishigaki Airport. From Tokyo, it takes about 3.5 hours ✈️
New Ishigaki Airport (Painushima Ishigaki Airport), located in Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, is the southernmost airport in Japan. There are stores and restaurants where you can enjoy meals and souvenirs. There is also a direct bus service to the remote island terminal, so there is no need to worry even if you do not have a rental car. Also, word of mouth says that it only takes about 1 hour from Naha Airport, so you can enjoy a relaxing trip.
9:10am Euglena Mall（ユーグレナモール）
First, take a walk in the city♪ Euglena Mall is an arcade shopping street located at the southernmost tip of Japan. There are more than 100 stores from restaurants to souvenir shops where you can enjoy Ishigaki Island’s gourmet food. Just walking around is fun!
Discover the sign
Euglena Mall in Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, is Japan’s southernmost arcade shopping street with over 100 stores, restaurants and souvenir shops where you can enjoy Ishigaki Island’s gourmet food. It is the best spot to find souvenirs of Ishigaki Island.
10:45am 730 Monument（730記念碑）
The intersection that serves as the center of the stone wall by the Euglena Mall is called the 730 intersection, and the 730 Monument is located there. It was built on July 30, 1978 to commemorate the change of road traffic rules in Okinawa Prefecture to “driving on the left side of the road”.
The “730 Monument” is a monument located at 3 Misaki-cho, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture. It was erected at the 730 intersection, which is the central intersection of Ishigaki, to commemorate the July 30, 1978 change of road traffic rules in Okinawa Prefecture to “driving on the left side of the road”. The Euglena Mall is located nearby and is a popular spot for tourists.
11:00am Euglena-Ishigaki Ferry Terminal（ユーグレナ石垣港離島ターミナル）
The gateway to the outlying islands by passenger boat further from Ishigaki Island. There is also a souvenir shop!
Ferry ticket office
Exterior
Euglena-Ishigaki Ferry Terminal, located in Misaki-cho, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, is a passenger terminal connecting Ishigaki Island with the outlying islands around Yaeyama. It is a departure and arrival port for high-speed boats that provide transportation for tourists and residents, and many ships depart from here. Also, since the weather is changeable on the island, you need to pay attention to the weather at the time of departure.
11:30am Southern Gate Bridge（サザンゲートブリッジ）
The iconic blue bridge of Ishigaki Island near Ishigaki Port. It is a superb view spot where you can overlook the ocean and the city!
sea
It is indeed beautiful. The sea is beautiful no matter where you cut it off.
Southern Gate Bridge located in Yashima-cho 1-chome is a large bridge near Ishigaki Port. From this bridge, you can overlook the ocean and the city, and it is popular as a superb view spot. According to the word of mouth, the view is reputed to be wonderful.
12:30pm Vanilla Deli（バニラ・デリ）
I went to Vanilla Deli for lunch! A diner-style restaurant serving meaty burgers with 100% Ishigaki beef patties, the JA Ishigaki Beef Gourmet Hamburger (Avocado Wasabi Sauce) (960 yen) is nothing but the best. with its fluffy bun and juicy double patty! The rich avocado and wasabi sauce was also a nice accent. The juices were so overflowing that they pooled at the bottom of the bag.
Shikuwasa Mojito 637 yen
Tropical frozen drinks for summer The drink is very refreshing, with seekwarser instead of lime. It tasted perfect on a hot day.
Gurukun’s (Pterocaesio digramma) fish and chips 630 yen
It is said to be the most popular side dish! A typical British dish arranged with Okinawan fish, gurukun. Large fried fish and crispy potatoes served with a generous drizzle of tartar sauce. The best level of snacks 😁.
JA Ishigaki beef sukiyaki donburi – blissful rib eye – 3,121 yen
Sukiyaki rice bowl made with Special JA Ishigaki Beef which won the top prize at the contest. The most luxurious menu item at the restaurant ✨The sweet flavor of sukiyaki goes great with the rice, too delicious!
Exterior
Interior
Colorful and pop-like interior like a foreign burger shop
Vanilla Deli, located in Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, is a diner-style cafe,restaurant. Especially popular is the hamburger using 100% Ishigaki beef patty, and the fluffy bun and the juicy double patty are reputed by word of mouth to be exquisite. Also, there is a wide variety of menu items and the volume is large, and there is sometimes a wait time because of the great popularity.
3:00pm Art Hotel Ishigakijima（アートホテル石垣島）
A resort hotel where you can enjoy the sky and sea of Ishigaki Island from the island’s heights. You can also experience the art and traditional performing arts of Ishigaki Island. It was great to hear a live island song performance during my stay!
front
room
View from the room
You can see the sky, the sea, and the city at a glance! The sunset is beautiful in the evening.
garden pool
A stylish pool with a tropical feel. There were shallow pools and slides!
Art Hotel Ishigakijima is a key station hotel in Ishigaki, Okinawa. The Sky Bar on the top floor, all-day dining, and unique restaurants, cafes are some of the attractions. Relaxation facilities are also available, and you can enjoy the seasonal outdoor swimming pool. In the evening, guests can enjoy free live island singing. Word of mouth has it that guests can enjoy the resort’s peaceful atmosphere even though it is located in the city center.
4:00pm Sky Bar Capricorn（スカイバー カプリコン）
A spot on the 13th floor where you can enjoy a cafe while enjoying the spectacular view. In addition to coffee and alcohol menu, there is a full range of cakes and coffee.
Cake set 930 yen / watered coffee
I chose the beniimo (Okinawan sweet potato) mont blanc recommended by the waitress! The coffee is easy to drink with a strong taste and a clean aftertaste. The beniimo mont blanc was also delicious, with a rich flavor and sweetness from the red sweet potato! There was a whole chestnut inside. It was a blissful sweet time.
Sky Bar Capricorn is a spot located on the top floor of Art Hotel Ishigakijima. You can enjoy coffee, alcoholic menu, and cakes while admiring the spectacular view. According to the reviews, the view is amazing and it is the best place to enjoy cafe time and night view.
5:30pm Teppen（てっぺん）
A restaurant where you can enjoy Okinawan cuisine, Ishigaki beef dishes and seafood dishes. We are proud of the freshness of our meat and fish! Lots of dishes from the standard izakaya menu to Okinawan specialties. We also have a wide variety of alcoholic beverages on the menu.
Interior
Lots of daily menu items!
Orion Draft (medium beer mug) 547 yen
Orion beer, chilled to a crisp. Delicious!
appetizer is Kubuirichi
The Okinawa dish which fries seaweed and pork. It contained pork, kelp, konnyaku and radish!
Teppen assorted platter (sashimi) 1,639 yen
The specialty here is a gorgeous platter! Red snapper (Flame snapper), (Ruby snapper), island octopus, (Grouper), etc.
Selected Ishigaki beef grilled nigiri (salt and sauce) 250 yen (one piece)
The meat is very fatty and tender!
Mozuku tempura 649 yen
You can enjoy it with two flavors: ten-tsuyu (soy-based dipping sauce for tempura) and pipachi (salt mixed with island pepper and Ishigaki Island salt).
Ishigaki beef stamina teppan-yaki 1,309 yen
Great dark seasoning. This is a winner with beer!
Teppen is a restaurant located in Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture. We are especially proud of our extensive menu of Ishigaki beef dishes, seafood dishes, and Okinawan specialties, and the freshness of our meat and fish. We also have a wide variety of alcoholic beverages, and you can enjoy both standard izakaya menu and special drinks. Word of mouth says that the restaurant offers a service that will save a seat for you when it is available, and it looks cozy as well.
8:30am All Day Dining Aqualis (Art Hotel Ishigakijima 1F) – オールデイダイニング アクアリス（アートホテル石垣島1F）
On the second day, breakfast is served here! The main dining room is located on the first floor of the hotel. The buffet-style menu offers a choice of 50 dishes made from a variety of ingredients from Ishigaki Island, ranging from Okinawan dishes such as rafte and goya chanpuru to Western and Japanese dishes.
Interior
Okinawan cuisine
Yaeyama soba noodles were also available!
A great selection of hotel breads.
They seem to recommend the croissants here.
Blue Seal soft serve ice cream is also.
As an after-dinner dessert, I had French toast with Blue Seal beniimo soft serve ice cream!
What a surprise! Coffee and Sataandagi available for takeout.
You can also take out and eat in your room until check-out time♪
All Day Dining Aquaris in Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, is the main dining room of Art Hotel Ishigaki Island. Here, the buffet-style breakfast with 50 dishes using ingredients from Ishigaki Island is popular. There is a wide range of menu from Okinawan dishes such as rafte (This is the best representation of pork dish in Okinawa), Goya chanpuru, Western food to Japanese food.