Okinawa, Japan
Ishigaki Island & Kabira BayISHIGAKI
The sea of Kabira Bay, changing colour with the angle of the light.
24°27'N 124°09'E
01IntroductionIntroduction
The sea of Kabira Bay, changing colour with the angle of the light.
Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture. Kabira Bay, in northwestern Ishigaki Island, is known for its white sand, small green islands and a sea that changes colour moment by moment. It is a national Place of Scenic Beauty and part of Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park. Swimming in the bay is prohibited; glass-bottom boats let you view the underwater world.
02Key InformationKey information
Key information about Ishigaki Island & Kabira Bay
Only information confirmed in the sources (listed at the bottom of the page) is shown. Please check the latest official information before your visit.
- PrefecturePrefecture
- Okinawa
- RegionRegion
- Okinawa
- MunicipalityMunicipality
- Ishigaki City
- CategoryScenery
- SeasIslandsNational parks
- Protected areasProtection
- Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park
- Place of Scenic Beauty "Kabira Bay and Mount Omoto"
- LocationCoordinates
- 24°27'N 124°09'E
Ishigaki Island & Kabira Bay — Okinawa
Photo: Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
03StoryStory
The Story of
Ishigaki — Kabira Bay
The sea in Kabira Bay is a different colour every time you look. With the height of the tide and the angle of the sun, turquoise, emerald and cobalt take turns.
Swimming in the bay is prohibited. Instead, glass-bottom boats run, and you can watch coral and fish through the hull.
04GalleryGallery
Photographs of Ishigaki Island & Kabira Bay
4 photographs
—FilmTravel through film
Ishigaki Island & Kabira Bay on film
西表石垣 | サンゴ礁を未来へつなぐ、地元の人々の取り組み | 日本の国立公園
Source: 環境省 日本の国立公園 / Watch on YouTube ↗
The films shown here are published on YouTube by official channels such as the Ministry of the Environment, local governments and tourism associations, and are presented using YouTube's embed feature. Copyright remains with each publisher. No connection is made to YouTube until you press play.
05SeasonsThrough the seasons
The four seasons of Ishigaki Island & Kabira Bay
SpringSpring
The season when the sea begins to brighten.
Recommended
SummerSummer
Under strong sunlight, the bay's colours are at their most vivid.
Recommended
AutumnAutumn
Many days of continuous clear weather, and high water clarity.
Recommended
WinterWinter
Some cloudy days, but a mild and quiet season.
Recommended
06LocationLocation
24°27'N 124°09'E
Okinawa, Ishigaki City (Okinawa)
An interactive map is in preparation. For now, the location is shown among all destinations.
07NearbyNearby scenic spots
Another landscape, close by.
Iriomote Island
IRIOMOTE
About 36 km (straight-line distance)
Miyako Island
MIYAKOJIMA
About 117 km (straight-line distance)
Northern Okinawa Island
OKINAWA
About 462 km (straight-line distance)
08RelatedSimilar landscapes
If you love this landscape.
SETOUCHI
Seto Inland Sea
Hiroshima / Okayama / Kagawa / Ehime / Yamaguchi / Hyogo
A calm inland sea of layered island silhouettes.
MIYAJIMA
MiyajimaHiroshima · Chugoku
Itsukushima (Miyajima), Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture. The buildings and great torii of Itsukushima Shrine, built over the sea, were inscribed as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1996. One of the Three Views of Japan.
Islands / Seas / World Heritage
AMAMI
Amami OshimaKagoshima · Kyushu
The main island of the Amami Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture. Subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests, mangroves and a sea of intricate inlets spread across the island. In 2021 it was inscribed as part of the World Natural Heritage site "Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island".
Islands / Seas / Forests
10Photo CreditsPhoto credits
| Photo | Title / Photographer | Source | Licence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ishigaki Kabira BayBenedettaR | Wikimedia Commons ↗ | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
| Kabira Bay (52117120393)Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan | Wikimedia Commons ↗ | CC BY 2.0 |
 | Kabira Bay (52117120293)Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan | Wikimedia Commons ↗ | CC BY 2.0 |
 | Chabanchikipanari 2Syced | Wikimedia Commons ↗ | CC0 |
 | Kabira Bay 13RitikaPahwa4444 | Wikimedia Commons ↗ | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
 | Kabira Bay (100907385)Firas Kraïem | Wikimedia Commons ↗ | CC BY 3.0 |