Things to do in Ishigaki

I booked the night tour on Klook because they said there were countless stars in the night sky, but unfortunately, due to the forecast of rain the next day, there were too many clouds and I couldn't see a single star. It was pitch black~~~ as we walked through the forest path relying on only one flashlight, but surprisingly, the kids observed the forest, talked a lot about this and that, and didn't get annoyed at all, they actually liked it. We saw frogs, water snakes, terrestrial snakes(?), millipedes, silverfish, and coconut crabs. We saw all sorts of things, haha. Thanks to the bright energy and kindness of our guide, Makoto-san, I wasn't afraid of the rough jungle. The Ryukyu (Okinawa) Islands are islands formed by tectonic plate movements. Coral reefs formed in the sea, and the land rose up (upward rise) turning the coral reefs into land. The terrain of the night tour was made of coral! That's why even now, the seawater is clear, coral reefs are well-developed, and there are many caves and limestone formations. I thought they would be bored because there was no Wi-Fi, but they accepted the situation and turned their attention to other things faster than I expected. I had an 'aha' moment. Instead of scolding them for using their phones so much, I should create environments where they can't use their phones more often. It's been two days since the tour ended, and they're still talking about how much they liked the night tour! For reference, they are boys going into 11th and 8th grade.

Taketomi Island is an extremely serene island, and the water buffalo cart experience is very special. I highly recommend spending a whole day on Taketomi Island to thoroughly explore all the island's attractions. The beaches are stunning (unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to fully explore them).

we are able to use this pass and you are able to save a lot when buying this, just make sure that u reserve and with the correct dates of visit, were able to explore ryukyu, okinawa world and cave and the zoo.

Great place to bring kids! The squirrel monkeys are adorable, especially during feeding time when lots of them come to snatch the food – that sight will bring a smile to your face. There are also folk performances; we couldn't understand them, but they were still great to watch.

The guide and driver are very kind. They don't speak Korean, but they do speak English, and if you install a translation app like ChatGPT, you can communicate with them sufficiently. The itinerary and explanations were great, and the meals were good too. 100% satisfaction. We traveled with a 3-year-old child. It was the first half-day trip, so the child was a little tired, but when we asked at the hotel, they said they enjoyed it. The child fell asleep during the latter part of the itinerary, and the guide watched over the sleeping child, so my wife and I were able to enjoy the final course. A glass-bottom boat is not included, but you can still ride one. Whenever they introduce local specialties, they slow down the car to explain in detail. When the itinerary was over, we told them we were going to Don Quijote after being dropped off at the ANA hotel, and they even told us the bus route in front of the hotel, so we were able to get there comfortably. I would definitely use them again in the future. I recommend this for family trips without renting a car or doing any strenuous activities.

We went snorkeling with Makoto. The water was crystal clear, and we saw lots of colorful fish and coral. Makoto took photos and videos throughout. It was so much fun, we wish we could have stayed longer!

I had an incredible snorkeling tour with Makoto from Ishigaki Adventure PiPi. Despite worrying about the weather, Makoto smoothly relocated us to beautiful Osaki Beach. As a nervous first-timer and non-swimmer, I felt completely safe under Makoto's expert and reassuring guidance. She led our small group with constant attention and care. The underwater world was breathtaking—vivid blue waters filled with colorful fish and sea turtles. Makoto also captured amazing photos and videos for us with her action camera, which was a fantastic personal touch. This tour was the absolute highlight of my cruise stop and has made me want to return to Ishigaki. Thank you, Makoto, for your outstanding professionalism and for creating such a wonderful, memorable experience. Highest recommendation!

I went with my 10-year-old, and even though neither of us speaks English or Japanese, they kindly explained everything. We were the only two Koreans there, and even though I'm a total beginner at swimming, the staff stayed with us and took care of us. We saw sea turtles twice, and the water was teeming with fish. It was a half-day tour, but I wish we had booked the full-day option. I highly recommend it. Equipment: They rent out everything. You wear a wetsuit instead of a life jacket, which is a bit difficult to put on and take off, but it's better than a vest. They also rent out flippers and goggles. Safety: If you stray too far, the instructor will tell you to stay close. They seem to keep checking on beginners like me who are worried. Listening to the experts is the best thing to do. Experience: If you go to the shops they tell you about, they'll check your wetsuit and flipper sizes, and then tell you to follow them in your car (rental car). After about a 5-minute drive, you park at the harbor and board the boat - after about a 30-minute ride, you'll have about 1 hour of water activities - 10 minutes of rest - another 1 hour of water activities - 30 minutes to the harbor. We took the boat back around 8:40 AM and arrived around 11:40 AM.

we enjoyed our Ishigaki tour, our driver MR.Shimizu was very attentive, helped us push our dad’s wheelchair and made great recommendations too. We appreciate his kind gestures.