[Ishigaki Urakabira Beach] Escape the Crowds of Kabira Bay. Walk the Sand Path Floating in the Sea

The lively scene of colorful glass-bottom boats coming and going is not here. All you hear is the rustling of trees in the wind and the gentle sound of waves.
This place called "Urakabira" (Back Kabira) is not listed in the island's guidebooks. Beyond the dense green tunnel, a serene time spreads out where only the ebb and flow of the tide serves as a clock.

1. "Sand Path" and Invitation to a Small Island

In Urakabira, there is a phantom "Sand Path" that appears from the sea at low tide.
However, you don't need to wait for the sand to be completely exposed. When the tide level drops below 80cm, the water depth drops to about ankle to shin level. The real thrill here is to walk across to the small island (uninhabited island) on the opposite shore while soaking your feet in the highly transparent seawater.

The sand underfoot is not powdery like a luxury resort. It feels natural, mixed with some coral fragments. Especially on the right side after getting down to the beach, it is a bit muddy and has a unique softness. You can walk barefoot, but if you want to land on the small island and feel like an adventurer, it is safe to bring a pair of marine shoes.

Sometimes, kayak and SUP tours pass by, making it temporarily lively. But once they paddle offshore, silence returns. At the peak of low tide, the water is too shallow for boats to enter, so a privileged view exclusively for "walkers" spreads out.

2. Insider Tips: Best Time to Capture Blue Sea and Orange Silhouettes

You can't take good photos just by going there. Reading the light is everything.

The time when "Ishigaki Blue" shines the most is around 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM.
It is the time when the oblique light illuminates the sea towards the settlement before the sun rises directly above. At this timing, the reflection on the water surface is suppressed, and surprisingly transparent blue emerges.

Conversely, in the evening, it becomes difficult to take pictures of the sea with front lighting. However, at dusk, "backlighting" becomes a weapon. The water surface of Kabira Bay burning in orange receiving the setting sun is indescribably beautiful.

3. Approach to Not Get Lost

Access requires a little trick. After parking your car at "Parking Overlooking Kabira Bay", look at the pasture grassland on your left towards the sea and go straight. Where it turns largely, there is a path that looks like entering a dense jungle towards the sea. It is an unpaved road, but if you aim for the sea, you won't get lost.

4. "Etiquette" in a Place with Nothing

There are no changing rooms, showers, or even toilets here. That is the proof of being "Ura" (Back).

• Essential Gear: A 2L PET bottle filled with fresh water for rinsing sand. With this, you can quickly wash your feet before returning to the car. And insect repellent spray.
• Caution: Habu jellyfish also appear here. Protect yourself with a rash guard top and bottom.
• Recommended Stop: The nearby "Karimata Store" is an oasis. Ice cream and drinks are available, and the seasonal fruits are exquisite. It soaks into your body after getting out of the sea.

5. Choice to "Float" Instead of Just "Seeing"

Walking on the sand path is fun, but changing your perspective a little is also recommended.
Actually, there are two "handmade swings" in Urakabira. The one on the land if you go right after getting out to the beach is famous, but did you know that there is a "Water Swing" if you go left along the rocks for a while?

To reach this, you need a means to move on the water surface, not walking.
If the tide timing doesn't match (the sand path disappears at high tide), or if you want to taste the silence of this bay more deeply, consider approaching by SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) or kayak. Kabira Bay seen from a point you can't go on foot is completely different from the view from the observatory. It feels like floating between the sky and the sea.

Paddling through the silence and swaying on an unmanned water swing. To secure such luxurious time, the correct answer is to visit by rental car with mobility and participate in a guide tour that knows the quality of the local area.
Personally, I highly recommend bringing an inflatable SUP and enjoying a private cruise in Urakabira at high tide.

Because it is a place difficult to reach by public transport, secure "legs" to move at your own pace and "wings" to walk on the sea.

6. Basic Info and Current Status in 2026

Finally, I summarize realistic information for visiting Urakabira.

Item	Details
Location	Opposite shore area of Kabira Bay (Commonly known as: Urakabira)
Access	About 30-40 min by car from City Center. Use "Parking Overlooking Kabira Bay"
Parking	Available (Free, Unpaved). Capacity for 5-6 cars
Toilet/Facilities	None (Please use beforehand)
Recommended Style	Clothes that can get wet, Marine shoes, Towel, Change of clothes
Status in 2026	Although popularity is rising and tour usage is increasing, it remains quiet early in the morning and at peak low tide. Entry into nearby private lands such as pastures is strictly prohibited.

*Setting "Parking Overlooking Kabira Bay" as a landmark in navigation is smooth.

🚣‍♀️ Enjoy More of Kabira Bay

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