How to Get to Kabira Bay in Ishigaki, Japan by Bus

*This article confirmed the information in May 2024.

Standard Sightseeing Plan
1. Take in the stunning view from Kabira Park Observatory.
2. Explore the beautiful underwater scenery on a glass-bottom boat ride.
Estimated time: About 1 hour

　 Contents　
♦ Welcome to Kabira Bay – A Must-See in Ishigaki, Japan
♦ Bus, Car, or Taxi? How to Get to Kabira Bay, Ishigaki
– By Route Bus (Azuma Bus)
– By Taxi
– By Rental Car
♦ Facilities and Services at Kabira Bay
♦ Where to Store Your Baggage Temporarily
♦ Exploring Kabira Bay by Glass Bottom Boat
♦ Restaurants around Kabira Bay
♦ Great view cafe near Kabira Bay
♦ Accommodations around Kabira Bay
♦ Map around Kabira Ishigaki area

Welcome to Kabira Bay – A Must-See in Ishigaki, Japan

More photos : Instagram

Kabira Bay is one of the most scenic spots on Ishigaki Island. With its crystal-clear blue waters, white sand beaches, and lush greenery of the small surrounding islands, the view is truly breathtaking.
We highly recommend visiting on a sunny summer day, when the scenery is at its most stunning. That said, even on a cloudy day, Kabira Bay’s beauty is sure to leave a lasting impression—especially for first-time visitors.

You can enjoy this spectacular view from the Kabira Park Observatory.
The area surrounding Kabira Bay is maintained as Kabira Park, which includes the observatory. It’s amazing that you can take in such a breathtaking view — all for free!

Please note that swimming is prohibited in Kabira Bay.

Swimming is not allowed here, but you can explore the bay on a glass-bottom boat. The boat features a transparent bottom, allowing you to see colorful coral reefs and tropical fish.
The best time to enjoy the underwater scenery is between low tide and high tide on a sunny day. But even on rainy days, you can still experience the beauty of the underwater world.

These boats are accessible to everyone—including young children, seniors, and wheelchair users—so anyone can enjoy the stunning underwater views of Ishigaki Island.

Sightseeing in Kabira Bay takes about an hour.
The most popular course includes enjoying the view from the Kabira Park Observatory, followed by a glass-bottom boat ride to explore the beautiful underwater scenery.

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Bus, Car, or Taxi? How to Get to Kabira Bay, Ishigaki

How to Get There
・By route bus
・By rental car
・By taxi

Kabira Bay is located on the western side of Ishigaki Island. It takes about 35 minutes by car from the city center (near the Bus Terminal or Ishigaki Port), and about 40 minutes from Ishigaki Airport.
As one of the most famous tourist spots on the island, Kabira Bay is well-served by route buses.

By Route Bus: Getting to Kabira Bay with Azuma Bus

Route buses to Kabira Bay depart from the Bus Terminal about once every hour, making it an easy destination to reach by public transportation.
The Kabira Park Observatory is just a 2-minute walk from the bus stop.

Getting to Kabira Bay by Bus
 Bus stop name 
Kabira Park ( 2-minute walk to Kabira Bay)

 Bus Route 
 From Bus Terminal (Eleven Buses per Day)
No.2(770), No.7(770), No.8(770), No.9(770)
 From Airport (Three Buses per Day) No.3(1,380), 11(860)

 Azuma Bus Schedule from the Bus Terminal

*Current Bus Schedule (Updated June 2025)

There are 11 buses per day from the Bus Terminal to Kabira Bay, operating approximately once every hour.
Although there are four different routes to Kabira Bay, we recommend Route 9, which travels along the scenic seaside road and passes by a resort hotel. This route offers beautiful ocean views from the bus.
When heading to Kabira Bay, the ocean will be on your left side, so we recommend sitting on the left side of the bus to enjoy the view.

The bus fare from the Bus Terminal to Kabira Bay is 770 one way.
If you’re planning a round trip by bus, it’s more economical to purchase a One-Day Bus Pass for 1,000.
Details on how to buy the Bus Pass are available on a separate page.

 Duration 
38 to 53 minutes (depending on the route)
 Fare 
770 yen

Timetable for Departure

Timetable for Return

Download Timetables
Route2 (PDF:0.4MB)
Route3 (PDF:0.4MB)
Route7 (PDF:0.3MB)
Route8 (PDF:0.4MB)
Route9 (PDF:0.4MB)

 Azuma Bus Schedule from Ishigaki Airport

*Current Bus Schedule (Updated June 2025)

There is a direct bus from Ishigaki Airport to Kabira Bay, so you can head there soon after you arrive.
However, please note that there are only two buses per day departing from the airport: 12:15 PM and 3:00 PM.
Be sure to plan your flight arrival accordingly.

The bus stop at Ishigaki Airport is Stop B.

The one-way bus fare from Ishigaki Airport to Kabira Bay is 860.
If you plan to use other route buses during the day, it’s a good idea to purchase a One-Day Bus Pass for 1,000, which offers unlimited rides and saves you money.

If you’re carrying large baggage like a suitcase, consider using the Baggage Delivery Service for convenience.
Please note: There are no coin lockers available in Kabira Bay, so it’s best to send your luggage ahead.

 Duration 
43 minutes
 Fare 
860 yen

Timetable for Departure

Timetable for Return

Download Timetables
Route3 (PDF:0.4MB)
Route11 (PDF:0.4MB)

Best Bus Trip Plan to Kabira Bay

This is a suggested itinerary for exploring the Kabira Bay area using only local route buses.
Instead of stopping at the Takamine Awamori Brewery (No. 4 on the list), you might enjoy a relaxing stroll through Kabira Village while savoring some delicious local gelato.

 Best Plan 
1. 8:55 AM – Catch Route Bus No. 9 from the Bus Terminal
   Get off at Kabira Park (Kabira Bay)
2. Take a glass-bottom boat ride and marvel at the colorful tropical fish and vibrant coral reefs beneath the surface.
3. Enjoy the stunning ocean views from the Kabira Park Observatory.
4. Visit the Takamine Awamori Brewery to learn about Okinawa’s traditional spirit.
5. 11:23 AM – Board Route Bus No. 8 from Kabira Park
   Get off at Yamabare at 11:37 AM
6. Have lunch with a view of the sea at the cozy and scenic Carib Cafe.
7. 1:20 PM – Take Route Bus No. 8 from Yamabare
   Arrive back at the Bus Terminal at 2:11 PM

By Taxi: The Easiest Way to Reach Kabira Bay

There may or may not be taxis in Kabira Bay.
You can call a taxi with the taxi app “DiDi”.

Taxi fare and riding time to Kabira Bay
  Approximate fare  
Airport Kabira Bay : 5,800
Bus Terminal Kabira Bay : 4,200

  Riding Time  
Airport Kabira Bay : About 40 minutes
Bus Terminal Kabira Bay : About 35 minutes

By Rental Car: Exploring Kabira Bay at Your Own Pace

You can see the beautiful sea the coastline around Nagura Bay, which you take when going from Bus Terminal to Kabira Bay.

It is convenient to use a MAPCODE to set the destination of the car navigation system.
*MAPCODE is numerical number that the latitude and longitude of a place in Japan are converted into.

How to get to Kabira Bay by rental car
  address  
911 Kabira, Ishigaki-shi, Okinawa
 : 366 422 819*34

  Riding Time  
Airport Kabira Bay : About 40 minutes
Bus Terminal Kabira Bay : About 35 minutes

  Parking Lot  
Paid parking（About 100 cars）

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Facilities and Services at Kabira Bay

There are several cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops around Kabira Bay, which are bustling with people. In addition, shops dot in the Kabira area, and it is fun to stroll through the area.

In addition, Kabira Bay has a large paid parking lot and a clean multipurpose toilet, but no lockers. Therefore, if you bring large baggage such as a suitcase, it will interfere with storage. We recommend a convenient “Baggage Delivery Service“.

Kabira Park

Map of Kabira Bay

download MAP (PDF:0.4MB)

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Where to Store Your Baggage Temporarily

We introduce you how to sightseeing without your baggage before check in your hotel.

Two ways
・You can send it from the airport to your hotel.
・You can leave it at the glass bottom boat shop in Kabira Bay.

Buses from Ishigaki Airport to Kabira Bay operate daily, but baggage can interfere with sightseeing.

Therefore, we recommend the “Baggage Delivery Service“.
This service can be processed at the airport and will deliver baggage to partner hotels or Ishigaki Port Ferry Terminal on the same day. Even if your hotel is not a partner hotel for this service, you can pick it up at the Ishigaki Port Ferry Terminal. Therefore, if you plan to stay near the Ishigaki Port or on a remote island such as Taketomi Island, you can use it.
This service requires a reservation.

On the other hand, if you take a glass bottom boat, you can leave your baggage at the glass bottom boat shop you take for free.

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Exploring Kabira Bay by Glass Bottom Boat

More photos : Instagram

You are not allowed to swim in Kabira Bay, but you can enjoy the beautiful underwater on a glass bottom boat.

There are two glass bottom boat companies. The services, such as fares and business hours of operation, are the same for these companies, and you can take both boats without reservation.

First, you pay the boarding fare at the reception. Then, the reception staff will explain the time and boarding place for the next boat.

On the boat, the captain will explain the fish and corals that are currently visible, but unfortunately only in Japanese.

The boat operates even when it rains. You don’t have to worry about getting wet because you observe the underwater in a boat with a roof.
However, it may be canceled on a typhoon or a windy day, so you might want to check the website in advance if the weather is bad.

Cancellation information
Marine House Gurukun (in Japanese)
Kabira Marine Service (in Japanese)

The boats cruise only in the bay and usually hardly shakes.

Marine House Gurukun

This is one of the companies that operates glass bottom boats in Kabira Bay.

This company issues coupons on their website. When you buy a glass bottom boat ticket, show the staff a printed coupon or a screenshot of the coupon and you can buy the ticket at a 20% discount.

The coupon is here.

The coupons are placed in the leaflet area of the Bus Terminal and airpot, and you can get them freely. The coupon also gives you a 20% discount on the ticket. But we don’t know if it’s always there.

In addition, there are reservation discounts. If you book in advance through the official website, you can get a 23% discount on tickets.

Normally, when you go to Kabira Bay, you use a paid parking lot operated by the city. However, if you use the glass bottom boat of this shop, this shop has a customer parking lot and you can use it for free. Please see Map  5  (below) for the location of the parking lot.

Kabira Marine Service

This is another company that operates glass bottom boat in Kabira Bay.

There are reservation discounts. If you book in advance through the official website, you can get a 44% discount on tickets.

Comparing Glass Bottom Boat Options

*Information as of April 2025

This is a comparison of two glass bottom boat companies.

These regular prices are the same, but the lowest prices are different.
If you make a reservation for “Kabira Marine Service” from their website, you can buy a boarding ticket at a maximum discount of 44%.
On the other hand, “Marine House Gurukun” has a free parking lot for customers. If you go to Kabira Bay by car, you usually have to park in a paid parking lot (200 yen per hour).

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Restaurants around Kabira Bay

There are several restaurants around Kabira Bay where you can have lunch. It’s fun to find your favorite restaurant while wandering through the area.

*Business hours and menu prices may have changed.

Oi-shi-sa-gu

This is a restaurant where you can not only eat meals such as Kabira-Noodle (Yaeyama soba), but also desserts such as gelato.
*It seems like they’re on a long break.

Koen Chaya

This restaurant is located near the Kabira Park Observatory and has the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese *Shokudo. Yaeyama soba is popular here.

*Japanese Shokudo
Japanese Shokudo is a small restaurant where you can eat home-cooked meals at a reasonable price.

**Goya Chanpuru
This is a traditional dish of Okinawa prefecture. Bitter Melon Stir Fry with Tofu and Egg.

R’s Cafe

You can have lunch at this restaurant while looking at Kabira Bay.

*Raw cheesecake
This is a Japanese style no bake cheesecake.

Ajiya Jimbei

This restaurant is an Izakaya at night. You can eat fresh fish at night.

Umaru

Let’s try *Okonomiyaki !!

*Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki is a dish of flour, eggs, water mixed with cabbage, pork, seafood, etc. and cooked on an iron griddle. It is Japanese pancake.

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Great view cafe near Kabira Bay

There are several restaurants around Kabira Bay. However, there are few restaurants where you can eat while looking at the sea.

Therefore, we recommend the Yamabare area, which is about 15 minutes by bus from Kabira Bay. There are several restaurants in this area with great views, and you can have lunch while looking at the beautiful sea.

*Business hours and menu prices may have changed.

Carib Cafe

You can eat while looking at the beautiful sea. It is a restaurant where you can see beautiful scenery, which was introduced in Japanese TV shows.

More information on Carib Cafe can be found on another page, “A popular superb view cafe on Ishigaki Island Japan“.

*Hayashi Rice
Hayashi Rice is hashed beef and rice. It has demiglace sauce on top of the rice.

Cafe sunkiss

This cafe seems to be closed. (Confirmed in 2024)
This is a cafe on a hill where you can have lunch while looking at the beautiful sea. Meals such as curry soup and bubble waffle are also delicious.

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Accommodations around Kabira Bay

There is no supermarket around Kabira Bay. In addition, there are not many restaurants where you can eat dinner.

It is recommended for those who want to stay in a quiet place, rather than convenience. There are no hotels in this area, only guest houses.

The hotel is about a 30-minute walk from Kabira Bay, and there are resort hotels Seaside Hotel and Club Med facing the sea.

iriwa

It is a dormitory with private rooms.

joya

This guest house has a bathroom in all rooms.

Lulaliya

It is a guest house where all rooms are private rooms.

SORAYADO

It is a guest house operated by a diving shop.

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Map around Kabira Ishigaki area

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