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Japan Tours

Okinawa beach extension

6 Days/5 Nights - Gateway: Tokyo
Standard Tour: from £859pp
Superior Tour: from £1204pp
Prices valid for 2009.
Peak supplements may apply.

Surrounded by stunning blue seas and rich coral reefs, the small island of Ishigaki makes the perfect beach based addition to any trip to Japan. Some 1200 miles south of Tokyo and with a semi tropical climate, this island boasts a number of clean, sandy beaches as well as fantastic snorkeling, scuba diving and water sports. Kabira Bay is a scenic place to spend an afternoon - you can take a glass-bottomed boat trip for an easy and relaxing view of the coral reefs or there are plenty of scuba schools around for the more daring!

With car hire included for the duration of your stay, you can try out the numerous beaches, visit the main town and also explore the interior of the island easily. Accommodation is at a beach side hotel and internal flights from mainland Japan are included.

Day 1: Fly from Tokyo to Ishigaki
Today you’ll take an early afternoon flight from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Ishigaki Island, part of the chain of Okinawan islands. The flight is three and a half hours in duration taking you direct from the big city to Ishigaki Island’s small airport. From here you’ll pick up a pre-arranged hire car and drive to your beach side hotel – it’s a thirty minute drive or so along quiet and easily navigable roads. There are eating options at your hotel or you can venture into town for dinner.
Standard: Pension Ekuresia
Superior: Seamen’s Club

Day 2-4: Ishigaki Island
Spend these three full days on Ishigaki Island simply relaxing on the beach if you wish! Alternatively, try your hand at a number of water sports, explore the wild interior of the island or take day trips to the nearby islands or Iriomote or Taketomi. If you wish, a longer stay in Ishigaki can be arranged.
Meals: Breakfast.

There are some great day trips to take from Ishigaki as well. Short boat rides will take you to the wilderness of Iriomote Island where you can take a river trip through the jungle and to Taketomi Island where traditional village houses can still be seen and transport is by water buffalo cart. Beautiful sunsets can be enjoyed from the lighthouses at Uganzaki Cape or you may wish to take a twilight drive past Mt. Omotodake in search of the rare Ishigaki fruit bat.

Other natural sights on Ishigaki include a unique Yaeyama Palm tree forest and the mangrove swamps around the Miyara River. For food and drink head into the small main town where there are a number of restaurants preparing local specialities such as Ishigaki noodles, local beef steaks or bitter melon stir fry and of course a wide variety of freshly caught sea food. Wash it all down with some Awamori – a rice-vodka drink – and a traditional dance show at a local bar.




Day 5: Fly from Ishigaki to Tokyo You’ll take a morning flight from Ishigaki making a brief touch-down at Miyako Island before heading on to Tokyo and spending the final night in the bustling Shinjuku area of the city. Meals: Breakfast Standard: Kadoya Hotel Superior: Keio Plaza Hotel
Day 6: Departure Sadly your adventures in Japan are at an end. We will provide you with a voucher for the airport bus transfer from Shinjuku to Tokyo Narita Airport. Meals: Breakfast

Prices are based on twin share. Includes 4 nights in Ishigaki, 1 night in Tokyo, breakfast every day, return scheduled flights between Tokyo and Ishigaki, car hire in Ishigaki and Ishigaki Info-Pack. Excludes international flights, transfers to/from Haneda airport, local transport, entrance fees and baggage handling.