Ishigaki Stalactite Cave and Squirrel Monkeys in Ishigaki

The air felt warm and damp, and the steady sound of light rain followed us as we stepped off the ship and began exploring Ishigaki by cruise excursion. Our bus wound through the island’s dense greenery before stopping at a small village where monkeys darted along ropes and branches. Even with gray skies overhead, the bright greens of the island stood out everywhere we looked.

As the day unfolded, our guide spoke about Ishigaki (石垣島 – Pronounced [ee-shee-gah-kee]), the main island of the Yaeyama archipelago in Okinawa Prefecture. The island sits closer to Taiwan than to mainland Japan and has long served as a trading point between cultures. That location helped shape its distinct Ryukyuan traditions, music, and architecture.

Our first stop was Ishigaki Yaima Village, a recreated Ryukyuan settlement with traditional homes and gardens. The highlight for many of us was the group of squirrel monkeys that climbed freely along ropes and trees. One climbed right onto my arm and settled there comfortably while others hopped between visitors looking for attention. Inside one of the wooden houses we watched a short cultural performance featuring local music played on a sanshin while a dancer balanced a metal tin on her head.

The second part of the excursion took us underground to the Ishigaki Stalactite Cave. From the outside the small red roofed entrance building gave little hint of what waited below. Inside, a network of limestone chambers stretched out beneath the island with stalactites hanging like stone icicles from the ceiling. Walkways led us past glowing pools and towering formations that had taken thousands of years to develop.

Ishigaki’s story stretches far beyond tourism. For centuries the island was part of the independent Ryukyu Kingdom and later became integrated into modern Japan. Today it serves as the gateway to the Yaeyama Islands, drawing travelers for its coral reefs, subtropical forests, and a culture that blends Japanese and Okinawan influences.