As part of the Yaeyama Islands, Ishigaki has a rich, storied history that makes it a unique addition to the Okinawa Prefecture. Before the island was incorporated into Japan, Ishigaki was ruled by the Ryukyu Kingdom, and its influence can be felt to this day in the island’s architecture, language, and culture. The Ryukyu Kingdom was a state of imperial China, and from the 14th century until the 19th, the island of Okinawa and the Sakishima Islands—which included Ishigaki and the Yaeyama Islands—were critical players in international maritime trade.
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