Kabira

Kabira is one of Ishigaki's oldest villages, and the city's tourism site says ships from overseas once anchored in its bay. Kabira Park sits above the water with the lookout and the 17th-century Kabira Kannon-do, and the glass-bottom boats leave from the beach below. A monument in the park marks the birthplace of the local hero Nakama Mitsukeima. Swimming in the bay is banned, so people go a few minutes west to Sukuji.

Kabira Koen Chaya has served soba in the park since 1961, and the Pinacolada bakery sells out early on its Thursday-to-Sunday mornings. On the road in, Kabira Farm pours passion fruit juice. Offshore, the dive boats work Manta Scramble off Kabira Ishizaki from May to October, when the south wind blows.

In winter the north-west coast takes the north-east wind side-on, and the bay turns choppy on grey days. Kabira post office has a Japan Post Bank ATM that takes foreign cards.