Cruises to Ishigaki
石垣the Yaeyama Islands, Okinawa Prefecture — the far south-west of Japan
About IshigakiNo upcoming voyage currently calls at Ishigaki
NYK Cruises publish new voyages a few times a year. Tell us when you would like to sail and we will write to you when a call here is scheduled.
About Ishigaki
The main island of the Yaeyama group, closer to Taiwan than to Okinawa Island and the southernmost city in Japan. Eleven inhabited islands sit around it inside one of the largest coral lagoons in the country, and the ferry terminal in town reaches most of them inside an hour. The whole area, sea included, is a national park.
Within reach of the port
Kabira Bay
Sand, islets and water in three shades of green on the north-west coast, and a nationally designated place of scenic beauty. Swimming is not allowed — the currents are the reason — so it is seen from the shore or from a glass-bottomed boat. Black pearls are farmed in it.
Ishigaki City Tourism Association (official) ↗in Japanese — your browser can translate it
Taketomi
Ten minutes by ferry: one village of coral-walled houses under red tile roofs, white sand streets, and water buffalo carts instead of taxis. The whole settlement is a preservation district, which is why it looks the way it does.
Ishigaki City Tourism Association (official) ↗in Japanese — your browser can translate it
Iriomote
Forty minutes on. Mangrove rivers, jungle and the Iriomote cat, a subspecies found on this island alone and nowhere else on earth. Boats go up the Urauchi river; the interior has no road across it.
Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park (Okinawa Prefecture) ↗in Japanese — your browser can translate it
Shore excursions
NYK Cruises run their own guided excursions at each port, booked by guests themselves through My ASUKA PLANS — the booking window opens before departure and depends on your cabin class. They are conducted in Japanese. Going ashore independently is always an option.
Official sources
- Ishigaki City (official) ↗in Japanese — your browser can translate it