Ishigaki | Japan

I was finally here. The tropical paradise far secluded from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. In fact, it's merely a 45 minutes flight from Taiwan but more than 3 hours from the capital in Honshu. It's almost as if I've arrived at the Hawaii of the Orient.

Ishigaki is a huge island that needs to be explored by car. Scenic spots are sprsely distributed around the island and public transport operates at most once or twice per hour. They start late in the morning and finishes early in the evening. There are just so many spots to visit that you simply would have trouble getting around not renting a private vehicle.

Come in early summer to beat the crowd. Visit one of the ubiquitous whitewashed sandy beaches and enjoy some of the most pristine waters around Asia. Take care that no snorkeling and swimming is allowed in some designated beaches, such as that of Kabira Bay. However, you can participate in one of the half-hour tours on a glass boat to view the coral reefs in the water at the guidance of the boat operators.

Otherwise, if you have time to spare on the island, check out one of the outlying islands within the Yaeyama archipelago with a boat ride the varies from 10 minutes to a couple of hours. You can even join in for the buffalo walks on Taketomi Island and enjoy Okinawan village life at its purest form.

If island hopping is too much of a hassle, simply enjoy a soothing dip at one of the seaside hotel and be mesmerized by the picturesque sunset.