Club Med Kabira Ishigaki — the island's only all-inclusive where you can stop counting and just enjoy
Have you ever been on an island trip where you kept totalling up every meal, every drink, every activity? Club Med Kabira Ishigaki is the answer for travellers who want to drop all of that at the door and simply enjoy. With a score of 9.1 from 1,200+ reviews on Booking and its status as the only all-inclusive resort on Ishigaki, this is the name that families and honeymooners keep coming back to.
Club Med Kabira Ishigaki sits on the northern side of Ishigaki Island at 1 Kabira Ishizaki — about 35 minutes by car from ISG Airport (the resort runs a shuttle) and just 8 minutes from Kabira Bay. Kabira Bay is not an ordinary beach: it regularly ranks among the world's top 100, with crystal-clear turquoise water and coral reefs still largely intact. That location means the resort isn't simply "near the sea" — it's close to one of the finest snorkelling and manta ray watching spots in all of Okinawa.
"Guests who've been say the same thing — ¥48,000 sounds expensive until you do the maths: three meals, unlimited drinks, all activities included, and suddenly it makes a lot more sense."
The core of Club Med is all-inclusive that actually means all-inclusive. The ¥48,000/night rate covers three daily meals (international buffet) plus open bar around the clock — alcohol included — plus sports activities (snorkelling, kayak, beach volleyball, yoga), fitness facilities, and the Kids Club for children from 4 months to 17 years. Think about it this way: a mid-range hotel at ¥18,000 plus three meals at ¥6,000, drinks at ¥3,000 and activities at ¥4,000 already adds up to ¥31,000 per day. Club Med at ¥48,000 all-in is clearly better value for families and couples who genuinely intend to eat, drink and play properly.
For families travelling with children, the Kids Club is the aspect guests talk about most. Children are accepted from 4 months old — Petit Club (ages 4–10) and Junior Club (ages 11–17) — with a team of GO (Gentil Organisateur) staff caring for them throughout the day. Parents therefore have actual time to themselves on the beach or at the spa without having to watch their children every moment. For many families, that is what turns this trip into a real adult holiday for the first time in years.
There is one important fact about Kabira Bay worth knowing in advance: it is a public beach where swimming is prohibited due to strong currents. However it is open for snorkelling from glass-bottomed boats or by kayak, and manta ray sightings are excellent here in season. If you want to scuba dive (PADI certified) or join a manta ray dive, the resort arranges these trips — but book ahead, because slots during July and August fill up very quickly.
Some guests mention that the buildings feel a little dated — the resort opened in 1979, which is true — but a recent renovation improved things noticeably, especially for Club tier rooms which received a full refurb. If you want the newest-feeling rooms and access to a private lounge, upgrading to Club tier at ¥72,000 is worth considering. And if sunset views matter, the Sunset Wing Premier at ¥52,000 faces west over the East China Sea — the view every evening is genuinely spectacular.
It is worth being honest: Club Med Kabira Ishigaki is not the right fit for everyone. If you prefer a small boutique feel or enjoy exploring local restaurants on your own, the resort-bubble atmosphere here may feel like too much. But for families with children, honeymooning couples wanting everything in one place, or groups of friends planning to eat, drink and play seriously — Club Med Kabira has virtually no competition on this island.
Ultimately, a score of 9.1 maintained across 1,200+ reviews speaks for itself. On an island where most hotels cluster around 8–9, holding 9.1 as an all-inclusive property — which must balance the expectations of families, couples and various traveller types all at once — is a genuinely impressive achievement.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ The only all-inclusive on Ishigaki — eat, drink and play without limits
- ✓ Kids Club from 4 months — parents get genuine personal time
- ✓ 8 minutes from Kabira Bay — snorkel + manta rays in season
- ✓ Open bar 24/7 + fitness + yoga included in the all-in price
- ! Buildings feel dated (opened 1979, recently renovated)
- ! Kabira Bay does not permit swimming — viewing only by boat or kayak
- ! 35 min drive from ISG Airport — further than city-centre hotels
- ✓ Staff speak 8 languages — Club Med global service standard
- ✓ Manta ray dives + snorkel trips arranged from the resort
- ✓ Diverse activities — kayak, volleyball, yoga, cooking class
- ✓ Perfect for families and honeymooners — no extra planning required
- ! ¥48,000 starting price — only good value if you actually use everything
- ! Book 4–6 months ahead — peak season sells out fast
- ! No private beach — Kabira Bay is a public area
- 💡If you enjoy exploring local restaurants independently — Club Med is a resort bubble where meals are already included → if you want more flexibility, look at hotels in central Ishigaki instead.
- 💡If your budget is tight and you eat and drink modestly — ¥48,000/night is only good value if you genuinely use everything that is included → light eaters and drinkers who skip activities may not break even.
- 💡If you want to swim freely in the sea — Kabira Bay prohibits swimming due to strong currents → snorkelling and diving are only possible through resort-arranged boat trips or guided excursions.