Cape Hirakubo

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About Cape Hirakubo

Cape Hirakubo is the northernmost point of Ishigaki, at the tip of a narrow peninsula between the East China Sea and the Pacific. On top of the cliff stands Hirakubozaki Lighthouse, white and surrounded by grass and low wind-swept vegetation. The lighthouse is a concrete structure painted white that guides vessels passing between Ishigaki and the Miyako islands.

From the lookout beside the lighthouse you can see both seas at once, with reefs tracing bands of color in the water, and the small uninhabited Taka Island just ahead. On clear days the view extends far over the ocean. The site is popular early in the morning and late in the afternoon, when side light enhances the water’s colors.

The route to the cape is part of the attraction: the north coast road passes cattle pastures, farms and nearly empty beaches such as Kabira-Ishizaki, Yoshiwara and Ibaruma, and overlooks like Mount Tamatori, with views of both coasts. On the return, the Tamatori lookout, in the center of the island, shows Ishigaki Bay on one side and the Pacific on the other, with the reef forming pale bands.

There is a small parking area and restrooms at the cape; shops and restaurants are scarce in this part of the island. The wind is often strong, and the cliff is not fully fenced in all sections.