Japan's Ishigaki Island

Ishigaki Island is a stunning white island in the Japanese archipelago of Okinawa

Ishigaki is the most frequented tourist destination for 2018 on Trip Advisor  tripadvisor .

This Japanese island topped the list of “most frequented destinations”

As Ishigaki is one of the largest islands of Yaiyama in Okinawa Prefecture of Japan

It is home to many white sandy beaches, rare coral reefs, mountains and mangrove forests.

Information about Ishigaki Island

The only thing that Ishigaki Island lacks in terms of tourist sites is that there are many man-made sites.

Such as shrines, temples, and museums, as these places are abundant in Japan

But we can ignore this in order to enjoy the stunning beauty of nature.

In 2009 the island received international attention when Kabira Bay was awarded 3 stars by the Michelin Guide.

This did not come as a great surprise to those who visited Ishigaki

But in fact, there are other must-visit spots on the island, such as the peaks of Oganzaki and Hirakubo, which lie alongside the summit of Mount Nosoko.

Which comfortably overlooks the beauty of the emerald green waters of Kabira Bay.

Although Ishigaki is part of Japan, its culture differs from urban culture

Traditional festivals such as Honensai, Hari, and Anigma are evident in the Ishigaki culture

(This is the period when grandparents are welcomed back into their family homes.)

Locals love their music, and throw many outdoor parties

Where traditional sanshin performances blend with modern performances are held throughout the warmer months.

Tourism in Ishigaki Island

Ishigaki Island is a favorite destination for swimming and food enthusiasts

It is famous for its many beaches, as well as the Yayama Soba noodles

It is a noodle made from flour rather than the more traditional buckwheat.

There is also Ishigaki beef, which is famous for the island

Although the cost of beef dishes is very expensive on the island, it is considered one of the most delicious dishes in the world.

The average price of a one-night stay in a hotel on the island is £114

The Art Hotel Ishigaki is one of the best-rated value hotels

The cost per night in June was £87.

Okinawa has become the new Bali or Hawaii, as the growth rate of global tourism increases very rapidly

According to Bloomberg, the number of visitors to Okinawa increased by 10.5%, or 8.77 million, in 2016.

This data was taken from Okinawa Prefecture records, and this compared with the 8.93 million visitors who went to Hawaii that year, which represents a relative increase of 2.9%.

Besides Ishigaki Island, these are the top 10 tourist destinations

1. Ishigaki, Japan.
2. Kappa, Hawaii.
3. Yerobi, Kenya.
4. Halifax, Canada.
5. Gdansk, Poland.
6. San Jose, Costa Rica.
7. Riga, Latvia.
8. Rovinj, Croatia.
9. Nerja, Spain.
10. Casablanca, Morocco.

Island location on the map

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