Ishigaki Yaima Village | Yaeyama Culture Experience, Squirrel-Monkey Park, Old Houses & Fees

On a hill overlooking Nagura Bay, Ishigaki’s place of scenic beauty, is Ishigaki Yaima Village. A Japan-southernmost / westernmost theme park that recreates Yaeyama folk houses from around 1900. Red-tile old folk houses over 100 years old, nationally registered tangible cultural properties, a squirrel-monkey garden of about 70, a crested-serpent-eagle protection facility, and the Ramsar Convention-registered Nagura Anparu promenade—a hugely popular spot for families where you can enjoy history, culture, nature and animals all at once.

Live sanshin performance, Ryukyu-costume experience, shisa coloring, star-sand art, a Yaeyama-soba eatery—content is in place where both adults and children can play all day. It’s excellent as a Plan B for rainy days too. In this article, we’ll deliver a complete guide to Ishigaki Yaima Village’s appeal, entry fee, experience plans, and access.

What Kind of Place Is Ishigaki Yaima Village? Japan’s Southernmost Theme Park

Ishigaki Yaima Village is an old-folk-house theme park spreading on a hill overlooking Nagura Bay in western Ishigaki. “Yaima” is the dialect reading of Yaeyama. An open-air museum recreating the good old Yaeyama row of houses against a background of rich nature, with 4 red-tile old folk houses designated registered tangible cultural properties relocated and restored.

The content is varied—Ryukyu-culture experiences like songs and dances passed down in Yaeyama, nature observation, and ecological observation of flora and fauna. It’s a spot with a special presence even on Ishigaki, proclaiming itself “Japan’s southernmost / westernmost theme park.”

Nationally registered tangible cultural property old folk houses

What forms the core of Ishigaki Yaima Village is its over-110-year-old red-tile old folk houses. Four buildings relocated and restored from within the city are certified as national registered tangible cultural properties.

• Makishi Residence: a representative red-tile building with a nuki-gi structure that uses no nails
• Morita Residence: a traditional samurai-class house relocated from within Ishigaki City
• Ohama Residence: a red-tile old folk house that conveys Yaeyama life to the present day
• Kishaba Residence: built in 1923 (Taisho 12). A Minsa pattern adorns the tatami edges — a lucky pattern carrying the meaning “forever, until age 5 (itsu) and 4 (yo)”

Besides these, there’s also the Uminchu (fisherman)’s house, recreating a fisherman’s life, and the Harusa (farmer)’s house, recreating a farmer’s life. In each old folk house, audio guidance plays, and you can actually step inside the buildings to experience life as it was. The distinctive layout of ichiban-za, niban-za, and sanban-za, and the construction through which the wind passes so pleasantly — you can feel the wisdom of authentic Okinawan architecture firsthand.

Ishigaki Yaima Village Highlights | Enjoyable All Day with the Family

Squirrel Monkey Forest | touching over 70 squirrel monkeys

The most popular spot at Ishigaki Yaima Village is the “Squirrel Monkey Forest.” An area where Central/South-American-native Bolivian squirrel monkeys are raised using a subtropical natural forest, and currently over 70 island-born ones live.

The squirrel monkeys, small enough to ride on your palm, are friendly and may perch lightly on your shoulder or hand. You can have a feeding experience too, a time when children’s eyes sparkle. In the birthing period of June–July onward, there’s a chance to meet baby squirrel monkeys too.

As a caution, when entering the Squirrel Monkey Forest, depositing your belongings on the shelf in front is essential. Since squirrel monkeys may put their hands into pockets, manage valuables carefully.

Ya-ashibi | live sanshin performance and folk-song show

The “Ya-ashibi,” where you can enjoy Yaeyama’s traditional folk songs inside an old folk house. A free event held 4 times a day (10:00 / 12:00 / 14:00 / 15:30), with live sanshin performance, and the lively talk and dance of obaa and ojii—a specialty program you won’t tire of no matter how many times you see it, wrapped in authentic live voices and tones.

You can savor an overwhelming performance of a skilled obaa from Ishigaki dancing with a one-sho bottle on her head, and Yaeyama folk songs like Asadoya Yunta.

Crested-serpent-eagle protection facility

A facility protecting the endangered crested serpent eagle (Special Natural Monument) is attached too. A precious spot where you can observe up close the crested serpent eagle “Yonnaa-kun,” whose wing was fractured in a traffic accident, where you can learn the front line of Yaeyama’s protection activities.

Nagura Anparu promenade | a Ramsar Convention-registered wetland

Within Ishigaki Yaima Village’s grounds, there’s a promenade to the mangrove forest of the Ramsar Convention-registered wetland, Nagura Anparu. Part is maintained with a wooden deck, so casual mangrove observation is possible without dirtying your feet. You may meet rare creatures like the yellow-margined box turtle, large tree nymph, and Sakishima tree lizard.

There’s a mangrove-strolling tour with a dedicated guide too, ideal for SDGs learning. It’s a convenient facility usable as an entrance for safely enjoying Nagura Anparu.

A superb view of Nagura Bay from the Tomimi-dai Anparu Tower

From the 5-m-high Anparu Tower, you can survey at a glance Nagura Bay and the island shadows of Taketomi Island, Kohama Island and Iriomote Island on the sea. A historical tower that was once a place of “signal fires” for watching for foreign ships and managing Ryukyu’s tribute ships, you can enjoy both the superb view and history.

Ishigaki Yaima Village Experience Plans

Experience	Fee (reference)	Time needed
Shisa coloring	¥1,800 for 1 / ¥3,300 for a pair	About 60 min
Star-sand art	¥1,000 each	About 20 min
Ryukyu-costume experience	Costume rental ¥1,000 / with photo ¥1,200	15–20 min
Island-zori art	Individual fee	30–60 min
Mystery-solving game	¥1,000 / person	Reception 10:00–16:00
Ya-ashibi (sanshin performance)	Free	Held 4 times a day
Mangrove guide tour	With a dedicated guide	Consult

Experiences include ones OK for same-day reception and ones requiring booking. In busy periods like Golden Week and summer break, advance booking is certain. Check the experience menu and reception status on the HP in advance.

Ishigaki Yaima Village Basic Information / Access

Item	Details
Location	967-1 Nagura, Ishigaki City, Okinawa
Hours	9:00–17:30 (last reception 17:00)
Closed	Open year-round
Entry fee (adult)	¥1,200 (junior high and up)
Entry fee (child)	¥600 (ages 3–12)
Annual passport	¥3,000
Parking	Free
Time needed	2–3 hours
Eatery	Anparu Shokudo (Yaeyama soba, etc.)
Shop	Awamori, plush toys, chinsuko, pipachi, etc.

Departure point	Time needed
New Ishigaki Airport	About 30 min by car
Ishigaki Port Remote-Island Terminal	About 15 min by car
Kabira Bay	About 15 min by car

A rental car is basic, but access by local bus from town is possible too. Get off at the “Yaima-mura Iriguchi” bus stop, about a 3-minute walk. Use the 10%-off Web discount ticket and you can enter more cheaply.

Anparu Shokudo | Enjoy the Local Taste

Within the park there’s “Anparu Shokudo,” where you can savor popular Yaeyama soba and dishes using local ingredients.

• Yaima soba: authentic Yaeyama soba
• Beef-soup set meal: ¥1,150
• Yaima gozen: ¥1,620
• Shaved ice: a standard that eases Ishigaki’s heat

The convenience of finishing sightseeing and a meal in one place is Ishigaki Yaima Village’s appeal too.

Ishigaki Yaima Village FAQ

Can I enjoy it with kids?

Yes, it’s the best place for families. Packed with content children can get absorbed in—the squirrel-monkey garden, shisa coloring, old-folk-house exploration. Since you can spend time in the indoor old folk houses even on rainy days, it’s ideal as a Plan B for bad weather too.

How long does it take?

Standard is 2–3 hours. Including experience plans and eatery use, half a day. Since it’s a spot where you can spend time thoroughly, securing half a day is recommended.

Can I enjoy it as a set with Nagura Anparu?

Yes, from Ishigaki Yaima Village’s grounds, the promenade to Nagura Anparu connects directly. Visiting by combining both is the standard pattern.

Any worry about being bitten by a squirrel monkey?

They’re basically used to people, and rarely bite. However, avoid acts like putting your hand in your pocket or staring fixedly into their eyes, and be considerate so as not to stress the squirrel monkeys.

Summary | Yaeyama Culture and Touching Animals at Ishigaki Yaima Village

Ishigaki Yaima Village is Japan’s southernmost theme park where you can enjoy three things at once—culture, nature and animals: registered tangible cultural property old folk houses, 70 squirrel monkeys, a crested-serpent-eagle protection facility, mangrove strolling of a Ramsar Convention wetland, and live sanshin performance.

The good access of about 30 minutes by car from New Ishigaki Airport and about 15 minutes from town. With an entry fee of ¥1,200 for adults, ¥600 for children, the high cost performance of being able to play plentifully for half a day is appealing too. Since indoor content enjoyable even on rainy days is extensive, you can visit without being swayed by the weather.

Combine it with nearby sightseeing spots like Nagura Anparu, Tojin Baka and Uganzaki, and a full course of Ishigaki’s west coast is complete. On your next Ishigaki trip, be sure to visit with the family. Surely it’ll become a memory remaining in the hearts of both children and adults.