During our trip to Ishigaki Island, we joined a VELTRA optional day tour!
We chose this tour:
It is a popular full-day plan that lets you explore both islands efficiently in a single day.
After actually joining the tour,
we were surprised to find that most of the participants were older travelers like us!
Even though I was in my 60s and a little concerned about stamina,
I was able to enjoy the tour comfortably.
At the same time, however,
we also discovered a few unexpected things you should know before joining.
In this article, I’ll share our honest experience of the tour from the perspective of travelers in their 60s.
2026 Ishigaki & Taketomi Island Day Tour: Overview and Price
We joined a tour that picked us up directly from ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort.
- Tour: Taketomi Island + Ishigaki Island Sightseeing Tour with Buffalo Cart Ride and Okinawan Home-Style Lunch
- Price: ¥8,400
- Transportation: Sightseeing bus + ferry
“I’m nervous about renting and driving a car,
but I still want to visit all the famous sightseeing spots!”
If that sounds like you,
this tour is a very convenient option.
Ishigaki Island: Four Popular Stops on an Efficient Day Tour
First, I’ll introduce the sightseeing spots and lunch we enjoyed on Ishigaki Island.
I especially liked that we had plenty of time at Kabira Bay,
which was the main highlight of the Ishigaki portion of the tour.
First Stop: About 15 Minutes at Tojinbaka
The weather looked like it might start raining at any moment that morning.
Feeling a little nervous about the weather,
we arrived at our first sightseeing stop,
Tojinbaka.
We were told that this memorial was built in 1971
to honor Chinese people who lost their lives following the Robert Bowne incident.
Seeing a Chinese-style memorial structure on Ishigaki Island
felt somewhat unexpected and interesting.
We stayed for about 15 minutes.
Kabira Bay: The Emerald Sea Depends on the Weather!
When you think of Ishigaki Island,
Kabira Bay is one of the most famous scenic spots.
“I know it can look even more beautiful!”
I had been really looking forward to seeing it,
but unfortunately the sky was cloudy that day.
Of course, it was still beautiful,
but knowing how jewel-like and emerald green the water can look on a sunny day,
I found myself thinking,
“Hmm… maybe today isn’t Kabira Bay at its best.”
Okinawa Weather Can Feel Like a Lottery
The weather in Okinawa can change quickly,
and forecasts do not always seem to match what actually happens.
Sometimes, it really does come down to luck!
“If it looks this beautiful under cloudy skies,
how amazing must it be when the sun comes out?”
That is how I decided to look at it positively!
I’m determined to come back one day
and see the perfect “Kabira Blue.”
Next, we took a glass-bottom boat.
You can sign up and pay locally.
The boat was completely full,
so it felt crowded and quite warm inside.
If possible, opening a window or wearing layers that are easy to remove may make the ride more comfortable.
Looking out at the scenery while riding the boat was very relaxing.
I imagine it would be even more beautiful on a sunny day!
This is the underwater view through the bottom of the boat.
You can actually see quite a lot.
We even spotted a sea turtle!
It was adorable.
Looking underwater,
we also spotted about three
cute clownfish — the fish made famous by the movie Finding Nemo!
Tip for Avoiding Motion Sickness
If you are worried about motion sickness,
try not to spend the entire ride looking straight down through the glass.
Instead,
look up regularly and focus on the distant scenery outside.
I was able to enjoy the whole trip without taking motion-sickness medication.
It Can Get Surprisingly Hot Inside
What bothered me more than seasickness
was the combination of crowding and heat inside the boat.
When every seat is occupied,
everyone is quite close together and the heat can build up.
A little more space would have made it perfect,
but that may simply be the downside of such a popular attraction.
Editor's Note
Air conditioning may not always keep the inside of the boat cool,
so a small handheld fan can be very useful!
The weather may not have been ideal,
but we really enjoyed the glass-bottom boat.
If you visit Kabira Bay,
I definitely recommend giving it a try.
I would love to come back again on a sunny day.
✅Check this tour's price and details on VELTRA
Lunch at Poser Obasan no Shokutaku
For lunch, we visited Poser Obasan no Shokutaku, located close to Kabira Bay.
The restaurant has a nostalgic,
casual local-diner atmosphere.
The food also feels a little like eating at your grandmother’s home,
with simple and comforting Okinawan home-style dishes.
Shared Tables, Quick Lunch and Efficient Service
Because the tour group arrives together,
everyone sits side by side at long tables.
Since the schedule is limited,
this is not really the kind of lunch where you sit around talking for a long time.
Instead,
it feels more like a quick opportunity to recharge
before heading to the next beautiful sightseeing spot!
There was also a cute goat near the restaurant♡
About 15 Minutes at the Yonehara Palm Grove
After lunch,
we visited a grove of Yaeyama palms,
a nationally designated natural monument found naturally on Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands.
We spent around 15 minutes walking through the palms.
When people think of Okinawa,
they often think first of the ocean,
but the lush green nature is beautiful too.
However,
there are steps and uneven areas,
so I recommend wearing sneakers or comfortable walking shoes.
We stayed for approximately 15 minutes.
Tamatorizaki Observatory: Beautiful Views and a Great Photo Spot
Next, we visited Tamatorizaki Observatory.
It is a popular viewpoint
where you can look out across the emerald-green ocean.
By the time we arrived,
the weather had improved,
so the scenery looked beautiful and the atmosphere was wonderful.
It was incredibly beautiful,
almost like looking at a painting.
I definitely think this is one place you should visit on Ishigaki Island.
It is also a fantastic place for photos!
I wore a bright, highly saturated dress,
and the vivid colors looked perfect against the blue ocean.
The dress is from Mister Zimi,
an Australian fashion brand.
Don’t forget to take a few memorable photos here!
✅Check this tour's price and details on VELTRA
Taketomi Island: Ferry Ride, Buffalo Cart and a Relaxing Island Experience
Next,
let’s move on to the Taketomi Island portion of the tour.
We took a ferry to the island
and enjoyed a traditional buffalo cart ride.
It was extremely hot,
so I’ll also share a few things travelers in their 60s should keep in mind.
Taking the Ferry to Taketomi Island — Ferry Fare Included
After saying goodbye to our sightseeing bus,
we continued our journey by ferry to Taketomi Island.
The ferry was cool, clean and comfortable.
The ferry fare was included in our optional tour.
The view from the ferry was lovely too,
and after enjoying the scenery,
we arrived at Taketomi Island in about 15 minutes.
Falling in Love with Niran, Our Water Buffalo
The weather on Taketomi Island was beautiful,
and we could really feel how strong the sun was.
A rash guard is highly recommended!
This is the sunscreen I was using.
It is an Australian sunscreen
designed not to completely block the UV exposure associated with vitamin D production.
It also uses ingredients intended to be more considerate of coral reefs and the marine environment.
There was a fun display introducing the water buffaloes
that pull the carts.
Some of their profiles included humorous descriptions,
such as calling one of them a handsome “idol type.”
Definitely take a look!
The buffalo pulling our cart that day was
Niran.
Niran was still young,
roughly equivalent to a 17- or 18-year-old human,
and we were told that Niran learned how to pull the buffalo cart in only three months.
Apparently,
some buffaloes need as long as four years of training before mastering the job.
Niran was very smart and talented!
Niran gave us a nice, safe ride.
Sometimes the buffalo even stops along the way for a bathroom break!
As soon as we arrived on Taketomi Island,
we were greeted by vivid pink bougainvillea.
Beautiful for Photos — But Very Bright!
The roads on Taketomi Island are covered in brilliant white coral sand.
When the weather is sunny,
the sand acts almost like a giant natural reflector,
brightening your face and producing surprisingly vivid photos!
However,
the reflected sunlight can be extremely bright,
so sunglasses are very useful.
After our buffalo cart ride,
we were able to take a photo with Niran.
So cute!
✅Check this tour's price and details on VELTRA
The ¥1,500 Professional Buffalo Cart Photo Was Worth Buying
After enjoying the buffalo cart ride,
there was also an opportunity to have a professional commemorative photo taken.
Surprisingly Affordable for a Tourist Attraction!
Photos at tourist attractions often seem to cost ¥2,000–¥3,000,
don’t they?
But here,
one photo was around ¥1,500.
For this type of professional tourist photo,
I thought the price was surprisingly reasonable.
Digital Copy Included via QR Code
You receive not only the physical photo,
but also a QR code.
That makes it easy to save the image to your phone or computer
and share it with your family.
You Even Get a Small Free Photo If You Don't Buy
Even if you decide not to purchase the larger photo,
you receive a small card-sized photo for free.
That alone makes a lovely souvenir.
“Niran was so adorable that I opened my wallet without hesitation!
After a relaxing 30-minute buffalo cart ride,
I thought the photo was definitely worth buying.”
✅Check this tour's price and details on VELTRA
VELTRA Tour: Benefits and Important Things to Know
After joining the
I put together the advantages we experienced
as well as the important things to know before booking.
What We Liked About the Tour
Transportation was incredibly easy.
Because the bus and ferry transportation are organized for you,
it is especially reassuring for older travelers who do not feel comfortable driving a rental car.
Extremely efficient sightseeing.
Being able to visit so many of Ishigaki Island’s major attractions in a single day
would be difficult to organize independently.
Important Things to Know
Things to Know Before Joining
There is almost no free time on Taketomi Island.
Our stay on Taketomi Island was about 90 minutes.
Once you include the buffalo cart ride,
there is not enough time to visit famous beaches such as Kondoi Beach or Kaiji Beach, known for its star-shaped sand.
If your main goal is to enjoy Taketomi Island’s beaches,
taking the ferry independently is probably the better choice.
Do not underestimate the summer heat.
It can be extremely hot and humid,
and much of the sightseeing involves walking outdoors.
There are relatively few opportunities to cool down in air-conditioned spaces,
so travelers in their 60s and older should be careful not to overdo it.
Do not rely completely on online opening hours.
We were disappointed to discover that a shaved-ice shop we wanted to visit was temporarily closed.
Life on the islands can move at its own relaxed pace.
If there is a shop you absolutely want to visit,
calling ahead is the safest option.
If your priority is,
“I want to spend as much time as possible looking at the ocean!”
rather than visiting places such as Tojinbaka or the palm grove,
you may be happier organizing your trip independently.
On the other hand,
if you are thinking,
“I don’t want to drive, but I want to see the famous sights efficiently and comfortably,”
this is an excellent option for senior travelers and families.
✅Check this tour's price and details on VELTRA
During our Okinawa trip,
we stayed at ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort.
You can read our hotel review here too ^^
