Local Column
COLUMN
7 night tour spots in Ishigaki Island! Recommended tours are also introduced!
The night sky is tinged with a serene and magical atmosphere that is not present during the day when the sun is shining.
Have you ever felt the "night sky"?
There are many ways to spend the night: working late into the night, drinking every day, or relaxing in your room watching youtube.
Take a moment to relax and look at the night sky once in a while.
It's very calming.
In the city, it is not easy to see the starry sky, but in an environment with clean air and few street lights, you can see a star-filled sky.
Ishigaki Island is surrounded by such clear air and nature that there is no need for artificial light, so you can feel the overwhelming beauty of the starry sky.
Wouldn't you like to experience such extreme healing?
This article introduces recommended night tours on Ishigaki Island.
目次
Features of Ishigaki Island Night Tours
Ishigaki Island was the first area in Japan to be recognized as a starry sky protection area, and you can see very beautiful stars.
A starry sky protection area is an area where the beautiful night sky is protected from light pollution from urban areas, etc., and must meet strict international criteria.
The very prerequisite for seeing and confirming many stars is that the air is clean with few city lights, as is the case on Ishigaki Island.
On Ishigaki Island, in addition to the above conditions, the sky is said to be clearly visible because it is out of the jet stream and the atmosphere is shimmering with smoke.
Why we recommend it
As mentioned above, the reason why night tours on Ishigaki Island are recommended is the point where you can observe the stars clearly and beautifully.
You can see various stars throughout the year, such as the Southern Cross in spring, the Milky Way in summer, and the constellation Cassiopeia in autumn. It is even said to be the place where the most stars can be seen in Japan.
The Milky Way is in the sky year-round and can be firmly visible for about four months.
Please check out night tours on Ishigaki Island, where you can enjoy beautiful starry skies year-round.
6 Night Tour Spots on Ishigaki Island
The night tour allows you to enjoy the starry sky of Ishigaki Island. The highlight of the night tour is the beautiful starry sky, but actually there are many other attractive points.
Each night tour spot will be introduced separately.
Night Tour Spots in Ishigaki Island (1) Banna Natural Botanical Garden
The first night tour spot on Ishigaki Island is the Banna Natural Botanical Garden.
Banna Nature Botanical Garden is located at the north entrance of Banna Park and is a tropical garden with a subtropical orchard and palm garden.
There is also a butterfly garden and an insectarium, making it a must-see for lovers of living things.
Going at night gives you a unique atmosphere that you cannot feel during the daytime, and you will receive a new stimulation.
It is also recommended for those who want to feel the tropical atmosphere!
Ishigaki Island Night Tour Spot (2) Banna Forest and Ikoi no Hiroba
The "Banna Forest and Recreation Area," located near the south entrance of Banna Park, has a more relaxed atmosphere than the other areas, with a forest of stone monuments and shaded hills.
There are pavilions and small boardwalks where you can rest and take a short walk.
It is often the starting goal of night tours.
Ishigaki Island Night Tour Spot (3) Banna Skyline
The Banna Skyline is a spot with three observation decks overlooking the ocean. The ocean at night is different from the emerald green of the daytime, and the quiet lapping of the waves creates an atmosphere that can be enjoyed for a long time.
It is a gathering place of popular observatories with different looks: the Emerald Sea Viewing Observatory, the Migratory Observatory, and the Southern Island Observatory, so you may compare each one.
Ishigaki Island Night Tour Spot (4) Forest Walking Plaza
The Forest Walking Plaza is an area that spans the north to east entrances of Banna Park and is one of the most popular areas.
In this area, there is the Crested Serpent Eagle Lookout where you can see the Ishigaki Dam, the Seishihana Bridge, and Mt. Omotodake.
The name of the observatory suggests that the area is inhabited by crested serpent eagles, so you may be able to watch them.
If you listen carefully during your night tour, you will hear animals, including crested serpent eagles. Please look for them.
There are also Segway tours and an insectarium with a collection of insects from around the world. This is a spot that can be enjoyed both day and night, so be sure to check it out.
Ishigaki Island Night Tour Spot (5) Nature Observation Plaza
The nature observation plaza is a favorite strolling spot for locals.
There is something different about such a nature observation plaza from other spots.
The reason is that there is a firefly highway, a place where many fireflies appear in season.
The fireflies living on Ishigaki Island are a species called Yaeyama firefly, the smallest firefly in Japan.
Yaeyama fireflies are known to fly close to the ground because they cannot fly high. They also gather in thousands upon thousands of fireflies and glow like a flashing light.
The sight is breathtaking. You will definitely be impressed by the beauty of the scene.
If you visit during the season from March to June, please look for fireflies.
Ishigaki Island Night Tour Spot (6) Water Bird Observatory
Next is the water-taking observation station. This is the last of the spots in Banna Park.
As the name suggests, the waterfowl observatory allows visitors to observe waterfowl that come to Ishigaki Dam on vacation.
It is also a famous bird-watching spot, and in addition to the crested serpent eagles introduced earlier, you can also observe black-tailed godwits and white-winged teal.
Recommended Night Tours in Ishigaki Island
Ishigaki Island Night Tour (1) Jungle Night Tour
This plan is a tour to observe the fantastic starry sky and unique flora and fauna of Ishigaki Island.
As I explained at the beginning, Ishigaki Island has a very beautiful starry sky.
However, there is a spot on Ishigaki Island where the stars look especially beautiful!
We will take you to such a spot that is sure to impress you.
Along the way, you can observe plants and animals unique to Ishigaki Island such as coconut crabs, so let's look for various creatures!
Here is a picture of a coconut crab.
It is very big.
The coconut crab is nearly 45 cm long, and its strong scissors are said to rival the strength of a lion's jaws.
Nocturnal, they hide behind trees and plants during the day, but at night they can be found walking along the sides of the boardwalk or climbing trees, using their eight legs with great dexterity.
In addition to coconut crabs, there are other very unusual creatures to look for!
When you arrive at the starry sky spot, the sky is full of stars and you will be filled with amazement and excitement.
There are spectacular views that can never be seen on the main island.
Ishigaki Island Night Tour②Starry Sky Photo Tour
If you want to leave a lifetime memory under the star-filled sky of Ishigaki Island, this is the plan for you.
In this tour, a professional photographer working in Ishigaki Island will take beautiful pictures of you and the starry sky of Ishigaki.
In fact, when photographing the starry sky, adjusting white balance, brightness, saturation, and other factors can be surprisingly difficult for the average person to do.
That is why it is highly recommended to have a professional and vivid photo shoot, as the memories will remain beautiful and vivid.
Just changing the focus and retouching shows such a difference.
We also use a variety of other techniques to add color to your memories.
Ishigaki Island Night Tour ③ Firefly Tour
The last Ishigaki Island night tour I would like to introduce is the firefly tour!
This tour is only available from March to June, but once you see it, you will definitely become a repeat visitor.
The smallest firefly in Japan, the "Yaeyama firefly," forms a swarm of several thousand to tens of thousands of fireflies, which flash and glow.
It is so beautiful that it is called a carpet of light.
Such beautiful fireflies can only be seen on Ishigaki Island!
Of course, you can also admire the Southern Cross and the Milky Way in the starry sky at different times of the year.
Enjoy the sky and the stars on the ground.
in the end
We introduced night tours in Ishigaki Island. How was it?
There were night tours that included jungle exploration, SUP/canoe cruising, and seasonal tours to view fireflies.
Which tour caught your attention? Please check out each tour as they are all designed to deliver excitement.
Thank you for reading to the end.
This article was written by.
