ISHIGAKI, OKINAWA PREF. ¨C Even before we alight the plane at Ishigaki Airport, passengers have started to comment on the heat. It¡¯s around 9 a.m., already topping 34 degrees Celsius and so humid I confess to a twinge of uneasiness.
As a weak swimmer who not only feels uncomfortably restless on a beach but suffers heat exhaustion after mere minutes of sunbathing, for me the Okinawan islands ¡ª despite their stunning turquoise waters, white sand and clear blue skies ¡ª had never really been top of the to-do list. But when a friend challenged me to try Ishigaki ¡°for just one night¡± claiming she¡¯d find plenty to do without sun-worshipping or diving, I couldn¡¯t help but be intrigued.
Just three hours from Haneda, a 6 a.m. flight gets us to Ishigaki in time for a full day of exploring. Many hotels offer shuttle buses, but we opt for a taxi, hoping the driver will offer a wealth of local information.
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