Tamatorizaki Observatory
玉取崎展望台24°29′ N 124°17′ EViewpointGood with kids
Tamatorizaki Observatory is a free lookout off Route 390 in north-east Ishigaki where the island narrows, so you see the Pacific on one side and the East China Sea on the other, with the green Hirakubo peninsula running away north. It is the obvious pause on any ride or drive to the northern cape.
Photo malfet_ · Flickr · CC BY 2.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Ishigaki pinches to a narrow neck at Ibaruma, and the lookout on the ridge above it shows both coasts at once. The city's tourism site calls it the place to take in the island's quiet green north, and hibiscus blooms along the paths around the lookout.
On a road bike it falls about where the east-coast run from town starts to feel long, and the peninsula ahead has few shops. Fill bottles before you leave Ibaruma, because Akaishi Shokudo up the road opens only three days a week. In a winter north-easterly the lookout takes the full wind.
Worth knowing
- Look north for the line of the Hirakubo peninsula; the lighthouse at its tip is a long ride further on.
- OpenStreetMap lists the lookout as wheelchair accessible.
FAQ
Quick answers about Tamatorizaki Observatoryよくある質問
What can you see from Tamatorizaki Observatory?
Both coasts of Ishigaki. Tamatorizaki sits where the island narrows, so the lookout shows the Pacific and the East China Sea on either side and the Hirakubo peninsula to the north.
Is Tamatorizaki Observatory free?
Yes. The lookout sits just off National Route 390 in north-east Ishigaki with no admission charge.
How long do you need at Tamatorizaki Observatory?
Plan about 30 minutes at Tamatorizaki Observatory.
Can you get to Tamatorizaki Observatory by bike?
The lookout sits just off National Route 390 north of the airport, on the way to the Hirakubo peninsula, and makes a natural regroup before the run north.
Within 8 km
Eat and drink nearby食
Book it
Line up the trip around Tamatorizaki Observatory
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