Kabira Bay is a stunningly beautiful bay and beach area in Ishigaki, Okinawa, worthy of the front page of a travel magazine. The bay and beach is known as one of the most beautiful in all of Okinawa, but also for it’s Glass Bottom Boat Tours which allow visitors to watch corals and fish in the crystal clear water.
The blindingly white sand and the crystal clear emerald sea with a backdrop of lush green forests and the blue sky makes Kabira Bay one of the most representative locations for the tropical beautify of Okinawa. This is a place that can’t be missed when visiting Ishigaki. The area around the bay has a busy touristy area of cafes, restaurants and ice cream shops so you could probably stay and enjoy the stunning scenery all day, but why not try one of the popular Glass Bottom Boat Tours and get a view of the colorful corals and fish?
Kabira Bay Glass Bottom Boat Tours
A popular, and highly recommended activity at Kabira Bay is the Glass Bottom Tour Boats which, thanks to the crystal clear water, offer amazing views of the coral and animal life under the surface. While it is tempting to jump in the water, swimming is not allowed in Kabira bay due to the black pearl farming, strong currents and the high activity of motor boats. However, a large number of tour boats with glass bottom operate from the beach, and you can easily get a ticket onsite. Boats depart as often as every 15 minutes, so there are plenty of opportunities.
Getting there
By car: Kabira Bay is about 30 minutes by car from Ishigaki City. From Ishigaki City take route 79 north, then change to route 207 which takes you directly into Kabira.
By bus: From Ishigaki City Bus Terminal (at the port) you can take bus 2, 7 (some departures), 8, 9 or 11 (long detour) to Kabira. Line 9 is recommended as the most direct. It takes between 50 and 90 minutes depending on the line.
