Travel / Tourism Spots in Yaeyama Islands Area

  • Nakama River Watershed
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    4.0
    161 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Yaeyama-gun Taketomicho Minami Kazami 201
    "In the watershed of Nakama River which flows in the southeast part of Iriomote Island, there is Japan's largest mangrove forest which consists of trees such as Heritiera littoralis and Sonneratia alba, and has been designated a National Natural Monument as ""Nakama River Conservation District."" It is also home to precious nature such as ""Ubundoru Yaeyama Palm Tree Grove"" which is designated a Natural Monument, and a pleasure boat ""Nakama River Mangrove Cruise"" operates so you can observe the watershed."

    石垣島からのツアーで行きました。大原港到着後バスで移動、程なくクルーズ船乗場に着きました。ここは国内最大のマングローブの原生林です。マングローブについて船頭さんの説明を聞きながらのクルーズです。「マングローブとは海水と淡水が混ざり合う汽水域に生える植物の総称であること」などと、実際の木を見ながら詳しく説明してくださいました。潮が満ちている時間帯でしたので船は比較的狭い水路まで入ることが出来ました...

  • Kuroshima Research Station
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    4.0
    108 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Okinawa Yaeyama-gun Taketomicho Kuroshima 136
    This research station is located in Kuroshima, Taketomi town, Yaeyama County. They research plant and animal life on Kuroshima Island, particularly the sea turtles who visit to lay eggs. Equipped with biological raising rooms and material display rooms, they have exhibits with living sea turtles, coconut crab, and habu snakes, as well as material exhibits with coral specimens, and fragments of H2A rockets which drifted ashore to Kuroshima Island from Tanegashima Island.

    Its one of the best aquariums Ive visited. I spent here more than 1,5 hour and absolutely didn t get bored. There are many species of sharks, turtles and various exotic fishes in open aquariums...

  • Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center
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    4.0
    87 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Okinawa Pref. Yaeyamaguntaketomichou Komi
    Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center is dedicated to the conservation of the Iriomote Cat and other species of animals and plants on Iriomote Island that are in danger of extinction. The Center has displays on the nature and wildlife of Iriomote, including panels that explain the habitat and reproductive status of the Iriomote Cat and the measures that are being taken to protect it. There are stuffed specimens of the Iriomote Cat, other animals that live on the island, and resident and migratory birds. All of the profits from the Iriomote Cat-related products sold at the Center are donated to the Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Fund.

    The Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center (IWCC) is a facility that has been established as a base for conservation activities of the Iriomote wiid cat. The IWCC is not on the bus street but it is...

  • Taketomi Yugafu-kan
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    3.5
    66 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Yaeyama-gun Taketomicho Taketomi 2350
    "This visitor center is located near Taketomi Port in Taketomi, Taketomi Town, Yaeyama County. It is the central facility of the ""Taketomi Island Field Museum,"" which consists of six facilities speckled around the island. It features a regular exhibit introducing you to the nature of Taketomi Island, and the culture and lifestyle of the island, by projecting movies on a large screen and such."

    Museum is a bit hard to find only one sign in Japanese, we walked past it at first.Small but a lot of items to see,we were the only two couples in at the time,the couple we were with were interested...

  • Ayamihabiru Museum
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    3.5
    50 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Okinawa Yaeyama-gun Yonaguni Cho Yonaguni 2114
    "This exhibit facility is in Yonaguni, Yonaguni Town, Yaeyama County. They have an exhibit of materials related to the ecology of ""Yonaguni-san (Atlas moth)"" one of the world's largest moths, which inhabits Yonaguni Island. In addition, you can learn about the precious flora and fauna of the island, and stroll along the well-maintained promenade in the surrounding forest."

    世界最大級の蛾が棲む島、与那国島 。入館料は500円で、アヤミハビルの生態を展示、解説しています。入館すると、20分ほどの与那国島の自然とアヤミハビルの生態についてのビデオを見せていただき、その後館内の展示を見学。1時間ほど滞在しました。貴重な標本のほか、羽化前の蛹もありました。実際に飛んでいるところも見てみたいものです。

  • Yonaguni Town Traditional Craft Hall
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    3.5
    18 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Yaeyama-gun Yonaguni Cho Yonaguni 175-2
    "This facility for creating and displaying traditional arts and crafts in Yonaguni, Yonaguni Town, Yaeyama County. You can observe the procedure for making ""Yonaguni ori"" weaving which boasts a tradition of about 500 years, and check out related materials. They also sell products such as small items made with Yonaguni ori."

    祖納の集落から徒歩10分ほどにある建物で伝統の織物についての 工芸品を展示しているらしいですが都合によりしばらく休館らしいです。 蛍光灯はこうこうとついていて窓から織り機が見えますが、無人なのか閉まっていました。田舎のありがちな気分次第で締めているのか行く前に事前に確認を

  • Furusato Cultural Center
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    4.0
    13 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Shimajiri-gun Minamidaitoson Zaisho 317
    A museum in Zaisho, Minami Daito Village, Shimajiri County. It tells the history of Minami Daito Island, from 1900, when the first settlers turned this into an inhabited island and also contains exhibits showing the island's natural history. The displays of such artifacts as the unique paper currency that circulated on the island and agricultural tools allow visitors to learn about the history of the island's settlement.

    大東相撲、開拓者の玉置半右衛門についての資料が展示されており、昔の生活に思いを馳せることができます。入館料は200円で営業時間は9-17時ですが昼の12-13時は一時閉館となるので注意が必要です。館内は(個人差があるかと思いますが)30分ほどあれば見て回れるくらいの大きさでした。

  • Taketomi Island
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Pref. Yaeyamaguntaketomichou Taketomi
    Taketomi Island is one of the Yaeyama Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, which has a circumference of about nine kilometers. It is about six kilometers from Ishigaki Island which is the center of Yaeyama and it takes about 10 minutes to get there by ferry. It is a beautiful island where you can strongly get a feeling of typical Okinawa, such as the white sand on the red tiled roof of private residences and the brightly colored flowers typical of the south. On the west side of the island, there is Kaiji Beach which is famous for “Hoshizuna” (star sand), which is one of Yaeyama’s most popular tourist destinations.
  • Hateruma Island
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Pref. Yaeyamaguntaketomichou Hateruma
    This is the southern-most inhabited island in Japan, which is one of the Yaeyama Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. There are three monuments lined up on the cliffs of Cape Takanazaki which are located at the southernmost tip of the island—a monument of the southernmost point in Japan, a monument of Hateruma and a monument of peaceful prayers. This island is also famous as you due to its low latitude are able to observe the Southern Cross. The Star Observatory Tower has a planetarium and a 200 millimeters refractorial telescope, and it is also possible to observe craters on the moon. It is popular with tourists seeking a beautiful starlit sky.
  • Yonaguni Island
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Prefecture Yaeyama-gun Yonaguni-cho
    This is the westernmost island of Japan. There is a lighthouse and a viewing platform at the cape which is at the most eastern part of the island where you can get an unbroken view of the cobalt blue sea. Also in Irizaki, there is a monument of the westernmost point in Japan. If the weather conditions are right, you can see a silhouette of Taiwan in the distance. It was also the setting for the drama series, “Dr. Koto Shinryojo”; even now the set used for filming remain there.
  • Ida no Hama (Beach)
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Pref. Yaeyamaguntaketomichou Iriomote
    Ida Beach is located in Funauki on the southwestern part of Iriomote Island. With crystal clear seas and a wide shallow sandy beach, it is also a popular place to bring children for sea bathing. As a result of there being no roads leading to Funauki, the only way to reach is to take a ferry (approximately 10 minutes) from the port of Shirahama. Ida Beach is about 10 minutes on foot from the port of Shirahama.
  • Mariyudu Waterfall
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Pref. Yaeyamaguntaketomichou Uebaru
    Mariyudu Waterfall is located upstream of the Urauchi River on Iriomote Island in Okinawa Prefecture, which has been selected as one of the 100 best Japanese waterfalls. Mari means “round” and Yudu means “Stagnation”, and as this name suggests, one of its characteristic is that the basin under the waterfall is round. You will arrive at the waterfall by walking about 40 minutes through the jungle from the sightseeing boat’s upstream docking station, but be careful as it can be slippery.
  • Kaiji Beach
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Pref. Yaeyamaguntaketomichou Taketomi
    Kaiji Beach is a beautiful beach on Taketomi Island which is famous as you can find star sand on it. It is also known as the “star sand beach”. It is also good to walk and search for star sand and gaze at the cobalt blue sea from the shade of the Hasuno clover trees. However, swimming is prohibited due to strong currents.
  • Taketomi Folk Craft Museum
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Pref. Yaeyamaguntaketomichou Taketomi 381-4
    The Taketomi Folk Craft Museum was founded in 1972 with the aim of training craftspeople to carry on Taketomi Island’s traditional crafts, including the making of Yaeyama Minsah Cloth, Yaeyama Jofu Cloth (high-quality plain-woven hemp cloth), and Abaca Cloth, etc. The process for making Abaca Cloth is shown using explanatory display panels, and visitors can also watch displays of actual weaving loom use. Entrance to the museum is free.
  • Cape Takanazaki
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Pref. Yaeyamaguntaketomichou Hateruma
    Cape Takanazaki is located to the south-east of Hateruma Island. It is a cape pounded by wild waves with a coast of sheer cliffs extending for roughly one kilometer. It is a picturesque place where you can enjoy the force of the waves which rise with a splash and the clear cobalt blue sea right in front of your eyes. There are three monuments lined up, a monument of the southernmost point in Japan, a monument of Hateruma and a monument of peaceful prayers. As there is also a Star Observatory Tower nearby, you can also enjoy the starlit sky at night.
  • Cape Irizaki & Monument of the Westernmost Point of Japan
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Prefecture Yaeyama-gun Yonaguni Machihisa BuRyo
    Yonaguni Island is located at the westernmost end of Japan. The cape at the westernmost extremity of the island is Irizaki, and on a sunny day, you can command a view of the silhouette of Taiwan in the distance. Built on the leading edge of the cape with its sheer cliffs of more than 50 meters in height is a lighthouse, an observation platform and a “Monument of the Westernmost Point of Japan”. The setting sun is a magnificent sight as it shines orange and dissolves in the cobalt blue sea. Also, the Yonaguni-Cho Tourism Association has published evidence that this is the westernmost point of Japan.
  • Tategamiiwa Rocks
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Prefecture Yaeyama-gun Yonaguni-cho
    These are oddly-shaped rocks which tower up and are located on the south-eastern coast of Yonaguni Island. As legend has it, in olden times, a young person climbed these rocks in order to try to get sea bird eggs, but could not get down from the rocks. He fell asleep when praying to God and when he awoke he had safely returned from the rocks. There are two observation platforms which command a view of Tategamiiwa Rocks: one is an old observation platform which is located 600 meters west of the “Sanninu” parking lot. The other is a new observation platform which is located approximately 500 meters west of the old observation platform.
  • Cape Agarizaki
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Prefecture Yaeyama-gun Yonaguni Higashizaki Machi
    Cape Agarizaki is a cape at the easternmost tip of Yonaguni Island. It is a cape covered with idyllic meadows, and there is a lighthouse and a viewing platform at the tip of the cape—you can get an unbroken view of the cobalt blue sea which spreads out under the sheer cliffs. Yonaguni horses and cattle are graze in the meadow, and you can gaze at the tranquil rural landscape.
  • Submarine Ruins (Yonaguni Island)
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Prefecture Yaeyama-gun Yonaguni-cho
    These are the mysterious structures called “Submarine Ruins” that lie submerged just 100 meters off the cape of Arakawabana on the south coast of Yonaguni Island. It is still shrouded in mystery whether they are artificially made historical ruins or a product of nature. It is a mysterious world on the reef where you can see stairs and terrace-like things. It is also possible to see the Submarine Ruins by diving or by glass bottom boat.
  • Yukui Iriomote Island's dyeing and weaving遯カ遖ーands on art studio
    Travel / Tourism
    Okinawa Pref. Yaeyamaguntaketomichou Haimi 201-53
    This workshop is located near Iriomotejima-Jungle Hotel Painumaya and offers visitors a chance to create their own dyed fabric. You can create dyed textiles using a combination of mangrove bark and seawater that never creates the same pattern twice, as well as straps, mini tapestries made using a loom, and many other handcrafted goods. You can also purchase handwoven coasters and T-shirts that use dyes created from island plants.

Okinawa Areas

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Let go of your image of a busy, ordered Japan and replace it with crystal-clear waters, white sand beaches, and relaxing folk music: You’ve arrived in Okinawa. A world away from the high intensity of Tokyo, Okinawans appear to live a laid-back beach life on this paradisiacal tropical island that lies in the middle of the East China Sea almost 1,000 kilometers south of mainland Japan’s most southern tip. Home to a spattering of islands, prepare yourself to discover underwater caves, star-shaped sand, and an island culture sometimes unrecognizable from mainland Japan.

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