West Coast Cycling on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan — A Flat Seaside Route from Downtown to Kabira Bay with Local Fruit Stops

If you're going to cycle Ishigaki Island, the west-coast route from downtown to the famous Kabira Bay is the most popular choice.

The standard guidebook route — "head north on Prefectural Route 79" or "ride through the hills in front of Mirumiru Honpo" — involves moderate traffic and a series of sneaky hills that make it less than ideal for casual cyclists.

Instead, I — a resident who has actually pedaled every road on this island — present a virtually flat seaside promenade that leads through Nagura Bay and the Sakieda Peninsula all the way to Kabira Bay — a local's cycling route.

Perfect for those without elite fitness, or anyone craving an authentic local experience on two wheels.

Route Overview & Highlights

The greatest advantage of this route is the flatness from start to midpoint, combined with the sheer variety of pit stops along the way. Leverage the agility of a bicycle to taste and see the best of Ishigaki's nature and food.

1. Opening: Downtown → Kannonsaki (Seaside Promenade)

Leaving downtown, skip the hills on Route 79 and head toward the coast instead. Cross Arabiki Bridge and pick up the seaside promenade that runs past Funakura Park — that's your correct starting line.

Ride past "Sunny Café" and rejoin the promenade, where a completely flat, ocean-breeze-filled path stretches all the way to Kannonsaki Lighthouse.

The Kannonsaki area packs in Fusaki Kannon-do Temple, Tojinbaka (the Chinese Tomb), Kannon Beach, and a natural sea cave — an efficient cluster of Ishigaki's history and nature.

2. Middle: Nagura Bay → Sakieda (The Fruit-Farm Highway)

From Kannonsaki, the road north along Nagura Bay stays flat all the way to the Sakieda Peninsula.

This stretch is a treasure trove of delicious fruit farms — your refueling stations.

Sip a fresh juice at "Miyara Farm" while gazing at the ocean, and during pineapple season (summer), devour sweet cut pineapple at "Nakatoku Farm" — the classic rest-stop routine.

Along the way, the "lone mangrove of Nagura Bay" and "Ishigaki Yaima Village" — where you can explore traditional Yaeyama houses — are both worth a detour.

3. Finale: Sakieda Peninsula → Kabira Bay (Pine Tunnels & the Last Hill)

Entering the Sakieda Peninsula, you'll find "Maetake Farm" juices, a magnificent Kanhizakura (Taiwan cherry) tree that blooms in early spring, and "Ishigaki Shoten" for local eats — the local flavor deepens.

If time allows, detour to the north side of the peninsula and visit "Ishigaki Island Fruit Land". It's probably the only place on Ishigaki where you can taste-test gelato made from different mango varieties side by side — a hidden gem.

Past Sakieda, the vegetation shifts — tall Casuarina and Ryukyu pine trees begin to dominate the landscape.

Here's the honest truth: there is no "easy back road" from here to Kabira Bay. You'll pedal through pine tunnels and power up the final hill on sheer willpower. But the blue of Kabira Bay that unfolds beyond that crest is the ultimate reward — earned by your own legs.

Scenic Landmark

Kabira Bay on Ishigaki Island — The Michelin 3-Star "Blue Sanctuary" Where Simply Gazing at the Sea Is the Ultimate Luxury

Michelin Green Guide 3-star scenery. Glass-bottom boats, walking trails, and the deeper allure of this iconic bay.

Cycling Safety Tips

Spot Reference Table

Key pit stops along the route. Screenshot this for on-the-day navigation.

The wind, the scents, and the chance encounters with locals that only a bicycle delivers will make your time on Ishigaki Island unforgettable.

Getting to Ishigaki Island is easier than ever, with direct flights from Tokyo, Osaka, and other major cities: