"Ishigaki no Shio" was first started about 300 years ago in the Yaeyama Islands, the southernmost region of Okinawa and the birthplace of salt making. We make salt that is 100% from Ishigaki Island of the Yaeyama Islands in Okinawa. The Ishigaki Salt contains the essence of nature of the forest on Mount Omoto, the tallest mountain in Okinawa that towers over Iriomote Ishigaki National Park and the coral reef. It is ‘brewed’ by Shimanchu (or islanders) by keeping in a pot surrounded by nature for three months.
With the recent trend of natural food-oriented ideas such as organic and macrobiotic, the Ishigaki Salt has gained higher recognition and we have had many transactions with major food manufacturers. Our factory is used as a place for training to companies, commerce associations, local governments, union groups, schools, and other institutions.
As part of the visit to the Ishigaki Island Salt Factory, visitors can learn about the different types of salt and the difference in the taste of each salt, and can then experience making Ishigaki salt by themselves. The tour takes about one and a half hours, and is budgeted at 2,880 yen per person.
“Ishigaki Salt" is registered as a regional collective trademark recommended by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japan Patent Office (the first in Japan, the first in the salt industry, and the first in Okinawa), and the place from where water is drawn for making salt is registered under Ramsar Convention as an international natural conservation area. Iriomote Ishigaki National Park is quite beautiful, and we recommend that you attend the "Ishigaki no Shio" workshop at least once.