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What to do in Ishigaki when it's rainy?
5 suggestions...

In summer time it usually doesen't rain much in Ishigaki island (unless a typhoon is coming). However, during winter time, it can rain continuously, which makes outdoor activities less enjoyable.
The rainy season is between May and June. During this period it can rain suddently and heavily, and be sunny as well. It is the most humid season of the year.

1. Visit museums

Ishigaki city Yaeyama museum

Small museum located in the center of Ishigaki. The exhibited items show how the people were living before in the Yaeyama islands (folkcraft instruments, paintings, pottery, ancient tools, clothes...)

 

Address: 4-1 Tonoshiro, Ishigaki (next to the city hall)

Tel: 0980-82-4712

Opening hours: 9:00-17:00

Closed on Monday, public holidays and new year

Small entrance fee

Parking available

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Mineya Kobo

Mineya Kobo (みね屋工房) is a museum & craft center introducing a traditional Okinawan textile called Minsa. Made of cotton (originally ‘Min’ means cotton), its rectangles pattern is particularly famous in the Yaeyama islands, and since over 400 years.

In the past, the Yaeyama women used to give a minsa textile to the man they loved. Another common pattern is the Mukade moyo (centipede pattern). It is made of horizontal lines and beautiful indigo colours.

 

There are actually two minsa museums. One is located in the center of Ishigaki (Minsa Kogei Museum), the other one is in the South of Nagura bay and has more Indigo colours textile. Both craft centers have traditional hand-weaving work shops (coaster, handkerchief, table cloth...)

Nagura bay

Opening hours: 9:30-18:30 (open every day)

Entrance fee: free

Address: 1129-2 Arakawa, Ishigaki

Tel: 0980-83-0039

https://www.mineya.com/access.html

 

Ishigaki center

Opening hours: 9:00-18:00 (open every day)

Address: 909 Tonoshiro, Ishigaki

Tel: 0980-82-3473

https://minsah.co.jp/en/

 

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Satake Yaeyama Memorial Palm Museum

Yaeyama palm trees only grow in the yeayama islands (Ishigaki, Iriomote and the other islands around). This spicy of palm tree is endemic to here, and that's the reason why this museum exists. It's of course possible to see Yaeyama palm trees everywhere in Ishigaki, but at the memorial you can learn more about it. The memorial is surrounded by 20 meters high yaeyama palm grove. You will be able to see the palm grove from the memorial, and if the weather gets better, to walk amoung the huge palm trees. This palm tree forest is listed as a national treasure.

Close to the memorial, you will find the famous 'Papaya parlor' juice shop making juices with only fresh sugar cane and ishigaki fruits. Next to the shop stairs open a path to a palm grove walk. In June - precisely at twilight - just after the sun goes down, it's possible to see a lot of fireflies flying amough the palm trees.

 

Location: near Yonehara beach/the blue cave (30 min. drive from Ishigaki down town)

Free parking: yes

Entrance fee: 300 yen

Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (open all year round)

 

​https://www.satake-zaidan.or.jp/access/

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2. Visit limestone caves

Ishigaki stalactite cave - near downtown

Here is  a 200 000 years old limestone cave showing great stalactites. 10-15 min drive from downtown.

​The cave is lighted up for a better experience. Count 30 min. for the visit.

If the weather gets better there is a nice garden outside to do a walk.

Opening hours: 9:00-18:30

Address: Ishigaki 1666, Ishigaki city

Tel: 0980-83-1550

Entrance paying fee. Children discount available

​https://www.ishigaki-cave.com/en/

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Ishigaki Island Ibaruma Sabichi Cave

There are here and there limestone caves in Ishigaki.
Here is another one located in the north part of the island, opened for visitors.

This cave is close to the shore, the visit ends on a 'door' to the ocean.

Opening hours: 9:00-17:30

Address: Ibaruma 185-44, Ishigaki city

Tel: 0980-89-2121

Count 40 min. drive from downtown

Entrance paying fee. Children discount available

​https://www.ishigaki-ibaruma.com/

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3. Go shopping

Euglena mall & Ishigaki public market

Euglena Mall

This is a shopping place to buy souvenirs where shops are grouped in in a roofed place. Food, clothes, souvenirs, restaurants...

It's a touristic place...

Address: 207 Okawa, Ishigaki

https://www.euglenamall.com/

Opening hours: 9:00 - 20:00

Some shops open at 10:00

Ishigaki City Public Market

The Ishigaki public Market is located in the Euglena Mall (underground).

Meat, fish are on sale. Then few places to eat. The market is very small in comparison to the Okinawa main island.

 

Address: 208 Okawa, Ishigaki

Opening hours: 9:00 - 20:00 (close on Sunday)

Euglena mall Ishigaki
Ishigaki city public market

100 yen shop (Daiso Yaima)

If you have never been to a 100 yen shop in Japan, it can be the time to experience it.

Located next to the supermarket MaxValu Yaima, you will be able to buy a lot of things for everyday life for only 100 yen. They have different corners: kitchenware, decoration, gardening, stationery, accessories, beauty, toys, snacks and drinks... If nothing is written on the product, it means it costs 100 + consumer tax. Few items are more expensive. In this case, the price is specified on the product directly.

Address: 292-1 Maesato, Ishigaki

Tel: 0980-88-0100

Opening hours: 10:00 - 22:00

Daiso Yaima 100 yens shop Ishigaki

4. Participate to a handcraft workshop

Glass blowing / Glass workshop

Ryukyu glass has been created in 1998. Ryukyu is an old name used to designate Okinawa prefecture. The design reminds the beauty of Okinawa island. Blue color is often used as a symbol of the beauty of the sky and the sea of Okinawa.

 

Many workshops are available downtown in Ishigaki.

Activity Japan is a website available in English to look for activities.
Select the area and then the kind of activity you would like to do.

https://en.activityjapan.com/

Pottery workshop

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Many places offer pottery workshops in Ishigaki.

We always recommend Rinka, located between Kabira and Yonehara. Of course there are pottery workshops dowtown too.

At Rinka you will be able to do:

-Shisa making

-Vessel making

-Accessory making

​https://rinka-ishigaki.com/

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5. Go snorkeling

I always say to my guests when we go for a snorkeling tour and it starts raining: 'We will be wet anyway!'

Rain doesn't alter the visibility when snorkeling so it is definitely an enjoyable activity. Ocean water temperatures are warm enough all year round and do not go under 20 degrees in winter. January and February remain the coldest time to go swimming. On the Northest coast (Kabira and Yonehara) it's in winter that the water is the clearest.

Vacances à la mer Ishigaki

海の休日石垣島

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