New Ishigaki Airport

New Ishigaki Airport is a pleasant surprise for anyone expecting the usual forgettable terminal fare. The small but well-curated dining area sits landside and airside, and the emphasis is firmly on showcasing the Yaeyama Islands' distinct culinary identity. You'll find yourself lingering longer than planned, which, honestly, isn't the worst thing in the world when you're about to leave one of Japan's most beautiful island chains behind.

The standout for most travelers is a bowl of Yaeyama soba — a local riff on Okinawa soba that's lighter in broth and served with distinctive thin, straight noodles rather than the curly variety you'd find up north. Several airport eateries serve it, and the quality is genuinely solid. Look out too for rafute, the melt-in-your-mouth Okinawan braised pork belly, often available as a rice set. If you're in the mood for something lighter, fresh mozuku seaweed dishes and taco rice make for satisfying pre-flight bites.

Drink-wise, don't leave without sampling awamori, the potent Ryukyuan spirit distilled from indica rice — a few of the small counters stock local Ishigaki labels worth taking home as gifts. The airport gift shops blend seamlessly with the food stalls, so it's easy to pick up brown-sugar sweets and Ishigaki salt alongside your meal. Portions are honest, prices are fair for an airport, and the staff are genuinely warm. It's a fitting final taste of the islands.