Ishigaki-jima

Ishigaki-jima, the main island of and gateway to the entire Yaeyama region, is known for its black-pearl industry, pineapples, white-sand beaches, and emerald waters. It's also the only island in the Yaeyama chain with a sizable town. Unlike Hirara on Miyako-jima, Ishigaki is not sprawling, and it's easy to explore on foot. Consisting of a harbor—with great connections to the rest of the Yaeyamas and, occasionally, even Taiwan—and a couple of main streets lined with shops, diving outfitters, hotels, bars, and restaurants, you can scout out downtown Ishigaki in an hour or two.