How to Get to Southern Gate Plaza, a Tourist Attraction on Ishigaki Island, and What to Do There

Hello everyone!
Although Ishigaki Island is a remote island, it is the third-largest island in the Yaeyama Islands. As a result, it has a meeting spot that serves as a sort of symbol for the island.
One of these is the Southern Gate Bridge. It is a large bridge connecting to Ishigaki Port, and once you cross it, you’ll find a spacious green plaza.
Since it's close to the harbor, you can enjoy the beautiful ocean while feeling the sea breeze.
In this article, we’ll introduce Southern Gate Plaza.

 

 

 

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What Is Southern Gate Plaza?

 

 

Southern Gate Plaza is a lush, natural park with well-maintained green spaces and walking trails, located just across the Southern Gate Bridge—which runs southeast from the Remote Islands Terminal. From the walking trails, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the beautiful ocean surrounding Ishigaki Island, making it the perfect spot for a leisurely stroll!
There are many tame cats living in the park, so it’s fine to pet them, but please do not feed them under any circumstances.
Adjacent to the plaza is an artificial beach called ”Minami-no-Hama Town Artificial Beach.”

 

 

 

This beach is open only during the summer. Just past the beach is a dolphin enclosure where you can interact with the dolphins. Since the dolphin interaction experience is only available as part of a tour, be sure to check the details in advance. Every year, the “Southern Island Festival” is held at Southern Gate Plaza, a fun spot featuring cats and dolphins. It’s easily accessible from the harbor, so be sure to check it out at least once.

 

 

How to Get to Southern Gate Plaza

 

Southern Gate Plaza is just a stone's throw from Ishigaki Port. Leave the port, head south on National Route 390, turn right at the Southern Gate entrance intersection, and you'll find Southern Gate Village right in front of you. You can access it by crossing the bridge.

 

Detailed Information on Southern Gate Plaza

 

 

Southern Gate Plaza is a square located just beyond the Southern Gate Bridge, which connects Ishigaki Port and Minami-no-Hama Town. The Southern Gate Bridge is also a symbol of the island and is often used as a meeting place. From the bridge, you can watch fishing boats coming and going. The sight of boats gliding across the sea as you feel the sea breeze is as beautiful as a painting.

 

 

On the southern island of Ishigaki, the blue sky stands out even more on sunny days, and the view of the sky across the Southern Gate Bridge is truly stunning and refreshing. Once you cross the bridge, the sun’s rays sparkling off the beach are absolutely beautiful. You can even swim at this artificial beach, so if you have time, be sure to take a dip. The area around the park, which offers a panoramic view of the man-made beach and the ocean, is home to some adorable cats. They’re very friendly, so you’ll want to pet them, but you must never feed them. It’s tempting to give them a treat because they’re so cute, but please resist the urge and just enjoy watching them!

 

 

The park, with its lush greenery, is fully equipped with a large parking lot, restrooms, and vending machines, so you can visit with peace of mind.
Every year during the summer season, an event called the "Southern Island Star Festival" is held, and the area becomes bustling with crowds during this time.
It’s also a scenic spot where you can enjoy beautiful sunsets and gaze at a star-filled sky. While the lack of surrounding structures allows for a stunning view of the night sky, the area is well-maintained, so you can relax and enjoy the scenery with peace of mind.

 

 

 

 

How to Enjoy Southern Gate Plaza

 

 

Next to Southern Gate Plaza is Minami-no-Hama Town Artificial Beach. Although it’s open only during the summer, it’s a safe beach to enjoy, with lifeguards on duty. Also, just beyond the beach is a dolphin enclosure. While reservations are required, there are tours where you can interact with the dolphins. This interaction experience is available even for infants as young as 0 years old. Since many activities aren’t suitable for families with small children, be sure to take advantage of this opportunity! Last but not least, interacting with the cats is another highly recommended activity. With nearly 100 cats living here, the island is even known as “Cat Island.” All the cats are very friendly and will come right up to you, so please feel free to pet and cuddle them.

 

 

summary

 

 

We’ve introduced Southern Gate Plaza. What did you think?
Southern Gate Plaza, with its beach, stunning views, and plenty of cats to interact with, was a spot that was also easily accessible from Ishigaki Port.
Here are some highlights of Southern Gate Plaza:

 

 

Be sure to check out the items listed above and stop by Southern Gate Plaza.
Thank you for reading to the end.

 

 

 

This article was written by.

Hello! I'm Niwa-chan, your source for all things Ishigaki Island. I have loved to be in touch with nature since I was a child, and I am especially fascinated by the rich natural environment of Okinawa. Currently based in Ishigaki Island, I provide information on how to enjoy activities such as snorkeling, SUP, and kayaking, as well as the hidden charms of the island.

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