Ishigaki, Okinawa

Ishigaki is a city in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It includes Ishigaki island and the Senkaku Islands territory. The city is the political, cultural, and economic center of the Yaeyama Islands. New Ishigaki Airport serves the city. As of December 2012, the city has an estimated population of 48,816 and a population density of 213 persons per km². The total area is 229.00 km².
It is also the seat of the Senkaku Islands administration, those islands being part of the territory of the city.

WWW city.ishigaki.okinawa.jp

History

One of the first Frenchmen ever to visit Japan, Guillaume Courtet, came ashore at Ishigaki in 1636.
The current city of Ishigaki was founded in 1908 as Yaeyama Village, an amalgamation of the Ishigaki, Ōhama, and Miyara magiri. In 1914 it was renamed to Ishigaki Village, and grew to become Ishigaki Town in 1926. Ishigaki was elevated to city status on July 10, 1947.

Geography

The city of Ishigaki covers the entirety of Ishigaki Island. The island is surrounded by coral reefs. The highest point on Ishigaki Island is Omotodake.
The uninhabited Senkaku Islands are located north of the Ishigaki Island. The Senkaku Islands cover roughly.

Administrative divisions

The city is divided in twenty-four wards.

Arakawa
Fukai
Hamasakichō
Hirae
Hirakubo
Ibaruma
Ishigaki
Kabira
Maezato
Misakichō
Miyara
Moriyama
Nagura
Nosoko
Ōhama
Ōkawa
Painuhamachō
Sakieda
Shin'eichō
Shiraho
Tonoshiro
Tonoshirosenkaku
Tōzato
Yashimachō

Economy

Ishigaki produces sugarcane and pineapples. Tourism is also an important part of the economy of the city.

Transportation

New Ishigaki Airport and Ishigaki Port serve the city.

Climate

Ishigaki has a tropical rainforest climate with frequent tropical cyclones so not equatorial. "Summers" are very hot and "winters" are warm. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year; the rainiest months are August and September while the driest months are in late winter.

Main sights

Sights in the town of Ishigaki include:Gongen Do is a Shinto shrine close to the center of Ishigaki town which was founded in 1614. The shrine was destroyed during a flood in 1771. The present buildings date from 1787. The neighbouring building is Torin Ji, a Buddhist temple which was founded in 1614 as well. It houses several statues dating from 1737 which possibly represent tutelary gods of Ishigaki Island.

Close by is Miyaradunchi, a residential building dating from 1819. Its architecture with a hip roof consisting of red tiles is similar to samurai houses on mainland Japan, but there have never been samurai on the Yaeyama Islands.
The Museum of the Yaeyama Islands, Shiritsu Yaeyama Hakubutsukan, is on Main Street in the center of Ishigaki town. Various kinds of boats and other items referring to the history and culture of the Yaeyama Islands can be seen. It is famous for being the southernmost museum of Japan.Fuzaki Kannon Do is a small Shinto shrine dating from 1742. It is west of the town on a hill offering a scenic view of Ishigaki and Iriomote, the neighbouring island. The shrine is dedicated to Kannon.Tojinbaka is tomb in a typical Chinese style about west the town on the ring road. 400 Chinese labourers who died during a rebellion on a ship sailing to America in 1852 are buried here.
Kabira Bay

Cultural properties

Designated cultural properties in Ishigaki City include:

Name

Cultural properties">Cultural Property (Japan)">Cultural properties

Akairome Miyatori On / Āra On Sacred Site
Akanmashū's Tomb
Chinese coolies' tomb stele
Cloth sample patterns
Former Miyara Dunchi residence
Former Waukei Family tomb
Gongen-dō Shrine
Iritakenishi Family residence
Ishigaki Yaima Mura: Former Kishaba Family residence
Ishigaki Yaima Mura: Former Ōhama Family residence
Kaiyuan Tongbao coins excavated from Sakieda Akazaki Shell Mound
Letter of appreciation to Tamayose Sonhan for the rescue operation in the Senkaku Islands
Letter of appreciation to Toyokawa Zensa for the rescue operation in the Senkaku Islands
Misaki On / Mishagi On Sacred Site
Miyagi Shin'yū Family Funerary Records
Nagata Family's Old Tomb
Niō god statue of the Tōrin-ji temple
Portrait of Miyahira Chōen, colour on paper
Portrait of Tō Nintaku, colour on paper
Sketches by the Kuramoto Master
Sketches by the Yaeyama Kuramoto Master
Star Chart
Takehara Family Documents
Tile Inscription
Tokuyama Family residence
Tomigawa Uēkata's Yaeyama Island Notebooks
Tomigawa Uēkata's Yaeyama Island Notebooks
Tomigawa Uēkata's Yaeyama Island Sailors Guild Records
Tomigawa Uēkata's Yaeyama Island Villages Public Records
Tomigawa Uēkata's Yaeyama Island Villages Public Records
Tomigawa Uēkata's Yaeyama Island Warehouse Supervisor Public Records
Tonoshiro Elementary School Hō-an-den shrine
Uehara Village Poll Tax Receipt Book
Warrant of Appointment of Chōchi of the San'yō Clan as the Ufushuiufuyaku
Warrant of Appointment of Chōen of the San'yō Clan as the Ufushuiufuyaku
Warrant of Appointment of Chōhō of the San'yō Clan as the Ufushuiufuyaku
Warrant of Appointment of Chōki of the San'yō Clan as the Ufushuiufuyaku
Warrant of Appointment of Chōyū of the San'yō Clan as the Ufushuiufuyaku
Warrant of Appointment of Intsumei, daughter of the former Yaeyama Island Ōamu, to the Post of Ōamu
Warrant of Appointment of Ken'ei of the Karin Clan as the Ufushuiufuyaku
Warrant of Appointment of Ken'ei of the Karin Clan as the Ufushuiufuyaku
Warrant of Appointment of Kenhō of the Karin Clan as the Ufushuiufuyaku
Warrant of Appointment of Kensoku of the Karin Clan as the Ufushuiufuyaku
Warrant of Appointment of Mahinama, daughter-in-law of the Yaeyama Island Ōamu, to the Post of Ōamu
Warrant of Appointment of Shinpan of the Chōei Clan as the Ufushuiufuyaku
Warrant of Appointment of Tōen of the Matsumō Clan as the Ufushuiufuyaku
Warrant of Appointment of Tōkatsu of the Matsumō Clan as the Ufushuiufuyaku
Warrant of Appointment of Tōsō of the Matsumō Clan as the Ufushuiufuyaku
Yaeyama Minzoku-en: Former Makishi Family residence
Yaeyama Minzoku-en: Former Morita Family residence
Yasumura Family Documents
Yoseyama Uēkata's Yaeyama Island Agricultural Books

Folk cultural properties">Cultural Property (Japan)">Folk cultural properties

Angama Masks of Tonoshiro Village
Feng-shui compass
Hatagashira flag books of Arakawa Village
Hatagashira flag book of Ishigaki Village
Hatagashira flag book of Ōhama Village
Hatagashira flag books of Ōkawa Village
Hatagashira flag book of Tonoshiro Village
Iyanasu On Sacred Site
Kubantu On Sacred Site
Mayun-ganashi masks
Miyatori On Sacred Site
Nusuku On Sacred Site
On of Yasura Village Remains

Places of scenic beauty">Monuments of Japan">Places of scenic beauty

Cape Ugan
Ishigaki Clan's Gardens
Kabira Bay – Mount Omoto
Miyara Dunchi Gardens
Nakamoto Clan's Gardens

Natural monuments">Monuments of Japan">Natural monuments

Ara River Formosan cherry habitat
Ehretia dichotoma tree of Kumō On Sacred Site
Ehretia dichotoma tree of Miyatori On Sacred Site
Fukidō River mangrove community
Fumidagāra watershed carbonate sediments
Ishigaki east coast tsunami rocks: Amatariya Sūari Rock
Ishigaki east coast tsunami rocks: Bariishi Rock
Ishigaki east coast tsunami rocks: Takakoruseishi Rock
Ishigaki east coast tsunami rocks: Tsunami Ufushi Rock
Ishigaki east coast tsunami rocks: Yasura Ufukane Rock
Miyara River mangrove forest
Mounts Dai-mangē, Shō-mangē and Chū-mangē
Ntanāra looking-glass mangrove community
Satake palm community of Yonehara
Subtropical coastal forest of Nebaru On Sacred Site in Nakasuji Village
Tamanu tree lane of Miyaha-hamagawabaru
Yaeyama rosewood tree habitat in Nosoko
Yaeyama rosewood tree of Hirakubo
Yasura Lantern tree communities of Hirakubo

Notable people from Ishigaki

Yudai Arashiro professional cyclist
Yukiya Arashiro professional cyclist
Begin (band) pop musical group
Yōkō Gushiken boxer
Rimi Natsukawa folk singer
Kaima Taira professional baseball pitcher