Kabira Bay and Yonehara from Ishigaki town

Pottering Okinawa reckons the ride from town to Kabira at 36 km and about two hours there and back, along Nagura Bay with few ups and downs before the road crosses the hills. We stretch it east to Yonehara, which adds the Yaeyama palm grove and a snorkelling beach to the day. By our route data the whole lollipop comes to 50.2 km with 469 m of climbing.

Ishigaki City counts Kabira Bay among the most visited sights in Okinawa Prefecture. Swimming is banned in the bay, so the glass-bottom boats show you the coral, and Ishigaki City says late morning on a clear day brings out the colour. Lock the bike at the park for the walk to the lookout. Kabira Koen Chaya beside it has served soba since 1961.

East of Kabira, Route 79 runs along the north coast to Yonehara, where one of only three natural stands of Yaeyama palms grows beside the road. Turn there, ride back to the Kabira junction and take Route 208 past Ishigaki Yaima-mura into town.