Last additions - YAEYAMA ISLANDS 八重山諸島 |
Landed on Ishigaki Airport's runway.Jan 22, 2021
|
|
Ishigaki is the gateway to Okinawa Prefecture's Yaeyama Islands. Ishigaki Airport near central Ishigaki is how most visitors get to Yaeyama.Bird's eye view of central Ishigaki from a jet plane going to land at Ishigaki Airport.Jan 22, 2021
|
|
Descending toward Ishigaki Airport adjacent to farmland.Jan 22, 2021
|
|
Butterfly in Banna Park.Jan 16, 2021
|
|
Bird of Paradise flower in Banna Park.Jan 16, 2021
|
|
Jan 16, 2021
|
|
Rest house in Banna Park. It's a large park with a variety of sights, playgrounds, lookout points, and nature.Jan 16, 2021
|
|
View of the mountains north of Banna Park.Jan 16, 2021
|
|
View of the mountains north of Banna Park.Jan 16, 2021
|
|
View of Sakieda Peninsula from Banna Park.Jan 16, 2021
|
|
View of Sakieda Peninsula from Banna Park.Jan 16, 2021
|
|
View of central Ishigaki from Banna Park. Taketomi Island can be seen on upper right.Jan 16, 2021
|
|
View of central Ishigaki from Banna Park.Jan 16, 2021
|
|
View of central Ishigaki from Banna Park.Jan 16, 2021
|
|
View of central Ishigaki from Banna Park.Jan 16, 2021
|
|
Banna Park on Banna Hill (230m elevation) in the northern fringe of central Ishigaki is a large nature & recreational park. This is one of the main lookout points. Named "Emerald Ocean Lookout Point" overlooking the city center and nearby isThis is in Zone B of the park along the Banna Skyline road. This photo was taken before the stargazing platform was built next to it. エメラルドの海を見る展望台Jan 16, 2021
|
|
Northern Iriomote coast.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Iriomote Hoshizuna Beach.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Iriomote Hoshisuna Beach.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Bus stop (Urauchihashi) for the Urauchi River boat dock. In the background is our tour bus.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
On the northern tip of Iriomote is scenic Hoshi-suna Beach. Famous for star-shaped sand grains, but hard to find. 西表 星砂の浜Map hereJan 15, 2021
|
|
Mangroves near the mouth of Urauchi River, seen from Urauchi Bridge.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Urauchi River boat dock as seen from Urauchi Bridge near the mouth of the river.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
River cruise back to the dock.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Hiking back. The lady in front of me was wearing rubber slippers on this muddy trail. She kept slipping and almost falling. Her dainty feet got all muddy.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Kanbire (Kanpire) Falls on Urauchi River, near the center of Iriomote. This is about 2 km from the Gunkan-iwa boat dock. Or 30-40-min. hike. You can get quite close to the falls. カンビレーの滝Instead of having one big drop, Kanbire Falls flow down on a series of steps on the river for about 200 meters. The riverside also has small potholes. Kanbire (Kanpire) means "where gods sit." This spot was considered to be a sacred site where the gods gathered.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Mariyudu Falls. From here, the hiking trail continues to another waterfall, Kanbire (Kanpire) Falls about 250 meters away.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Behind Mariyudu Falls looking from upstream.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Mariyudu Falls on Urauchi River. About 20 meters wide and 16-meter drop in total. One of Japan's 100 Famous Waterfalls. マリゥドゥの滝*People can no longer come this close to the falls. There were people who slipped and fell in, so the closeup path is blocked.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
After hiking about 30 min., a scenic point gives a view of Mariyudu Falls. Series of three waterfalls. It empties into a round stream pool. "Mariyudu" means stream pool. マリゥドゥの滝Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Lush forest, but rocky and muddy trail. Hiking shoes or sneakers are good. Sometimes a tree or branch has fallen over the trail. Need to go over/under it.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Ferns and a nameless mini waterfall.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Sometimes there are views from the hiking trail.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Urauchi River hiking trail to waterfalls. It can be quite muddy.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
At Gunkan-iwa dock, there's a hiking trail called Urauchigawa Shizen Kenkyu-ro. A nature trail that goes to two waterfalls.Note that cell phones won't work on the hiking trail. 浦内川自然研究路Jan 15, 2021
|
|
We got off the boat upstream here at Gunkan-iwa, named after a rock slab looking like the side of a battleship. 軍艦岩Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Another Urauchi River cruise boat. 西表島・浦内川 遊覧ボートJan 15, 2021
|
|
Ferns and tree ferns also grow at upstream. シダ類Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Wish we could see the Iriomote wildcat swimming across the river, but they are nocturnal.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Urauchi River is fed by the runoff from Iriomote's central mountains. Urauchi River jungle cruise is about 30 min. or 8 km upstream to another boat dock called Gunkan-iwa. 西表島・浦内川Jan 15, 2021
|
|
The boat operator narrates the sights along the river. There are even signs indicating the flora. This sign indicates a mangrove species called "me-hirugi" (メヒルギ) in Japanese or Kandelia obovata growing in brackish water.It has white, star-shaped flowers.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
In northern Iriomote, Urauchi River is Okinawa's longest (19 km), widest (200 m), and deepest (15 m) river. It's home to a whopping 400 species of fish or 10 percent of Japan's fish species.Over 20 fish species are endangered. Urauchi River is within Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park. Both sides of the river are lush with mangroves and forests. 西表国立公園Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Boat dock at Urauchi River on Iriomote. If you come on your own, the jungle river cruise is ¥1,800 for adults. 西表島・浦内川The boat cruise takes about 30 min. to a dock upstream where you get off for the waterfall hike. Boats depart here once or twice an hour from morning to early afternoon.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Northern Iriomote has Okinawa and Iriomote's longest river, Urauchi River (18 km). It's a popular tourist route to go on the jungle cruise, then hike through the forest to see two waterfalls on the river.Near Urauchi-hashi Bridge at the mouth of the river, there's a boat dock for Urauchi jungle river cruises. Since the hiking trail is rocky or muddy, don't wear high heels or slippers. Wear sneakers or hiking shoes. Although there's a restroom along the hiking trail, it's not as clean as you would like. Better to use the toilet at the boat dock before the cruise. Also bring something to drink. The roundtrip cruise and hike will take about 3 hours. Map hereJan 15, 2021
|
|
On the tour bus on Iriomote going north. Lots of sugar cane. Jan 15, 2021
|
|
On Iriomote, one convenient way to tour the island is go on a sightseeing tour by bus. They pick you up when you arrive at the port and take you to the major sights like Urauchi River and Yubu.You can book a tour from Ishigaki.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
Sukuji Beach has a lot of shallow water, so it's safe to swim. But at low tide, there's lots of rocks. Be sure to swim within the designated area protected against jellyfish with underwater nets. 底地ビーチJan 15, 2021
|
|
Sukuji Beach is 1 km long. It has showers and changing rooms for the public. It's also where the Ishigaki Seaside Hotel is located. 底地ビーチJan 15, 2021
|
|
On the opposite side of Kabira on the other side of the peninsula is another stretch of white sands called Sukuji Beach. One of Ishigaki's major swimming beaches. 底地ビーチ.Jan 15, 2021
|
|
On Cape Ogansaki, memorial for the 35 people who died in the Yaeyama Maru that was shipwrecked on Dec. 8, 1952 off this coast. 御神埼Monument was built in Dec. 1976.Jan 13, 2021
|
|
Cape Ogansaki 御神埼Jan 13, 2021
|
|
Cape Ogansaki 御神埼Jan 13, 2021
|
|
Cape Ogansaki 御神埼Jan 13, 2021
|
|
Cape Ogansaki 御神埼Jan 13, 2021
|
|
Drive further around Sakieda Peninsula and see Ishigaki Cape Ogansaki Lighthouse. Built in March 1983. 石垣御神埼灯台Jan 13, 2021
|
|
Cape Ogansaki 御神埼Jan 13, 2021
|
|
Straight ahead is Kohama island (小浜島) in the distance. The small island in front of it on the right is Kayama (嘉弥真島). The big island on the right is Iriomote.Jan 11, 2021
|
|
Taketomi island in the distance. Flat, coral outcrop. Quaint, charming island, a short boat ride from Ishigaki Port.Jan 11, 2021
|
|
Looking toward Taketomi island in the distance.Jan 11, 2021
|
|
Too cloudy for a nice sunrise, but the views were marvelous on Mt. Yarabudake.Jan 11, 2021
|
|
Beyond the mountain in the center is Kabira Bay.Jan 11, 2021
|
|
Looking toward Sakieda Bay and Kabira.Jan 11, 2021
|
|
Our tour guide on Troll's Tongue playing his sanshin.Jan 11, 2021
|
|
Jan 11, 2021
|
|
Top of Mt. Yarabudake. This rock is known as Troll's Tongue.Jan 11, 2021
|
|
Typical mountain trail on Ishigaki. Jan 11, 2021
|
|
A few steep parts, but ropes help you up.Jan 11, 2021
|
|
Sunrise hike up Mt. Yarabudake (屋良部岳) on Sakieda Peninsula in western Ishigaki. It starts near the summit from this small, easy-to-miss trail.Jan 11, 2021
|
|
Thick, wild forest and lots of exposed tree roots. The frequent typhoons wash/blow away the soil from the tree roots.Jan 11, 2021
|
|
Stuffed toy Iriomote wildcat.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Times for sunrise, sunset, moon rise/set, and high/low tide on Iriomote in Oct.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
About habu snakes (venomous).Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Bats on Iriomote.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Bats on Iriomote.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Turtle on Iriomote.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Iriomote's birds.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Roadkill of Iriomote cats is a problem especially since they are nocturnal and Iriomote roads are dark. Residents are told to drive slowly at night.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Skeleton of Iriomote wildcat.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Life cycle of Iriomote wildcat.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Even though the Iriomote cat is all over Iriomote as a tourist symbol, we can't see any live ones.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Characteristics of the Iriomote wildcat.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Characteristics of the Iriomote wildcat.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
In the past, they did have a live Iriomote cat here, found injured on the road and treated here. Jan 10, 2021
|
|
There's no zoo, etc., where we can see a live Iriomote cat. They only have stuffed Iriomote cats here at the Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Only 100 or so left on the island. They are nocturnal and have stubby legs and a thick tail. Discovered relatively recently in 1965.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Iriomote is famous for the Iriomote wildcat (イリオモテ ヤマネコ). Endemic to Iriomote and critically endangered. Jan 10, 2021
|
|
The center's main exhibit is the stuffed Iriomote wildcats.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Iriomote with the main town of Ohara on the lower right.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
About Iriomote's wildlife.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Map of Iriomote.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Iriomote map shows where the Iriomote wildcat was sighted (orange tags with date and time) and roadkill locations (red tags). People need to drive carefully.If you see an injured or dead Iriomote wildcat, call 0980-85-5581.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
About the Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Inside Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center. One floor full of panel exhibits and stuffed specimens.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center is a great place to learn about the island's wildlife. There are some English captions too.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Our waitress in Okinawan dress explaining our lunch at Yaima Mura.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Yaeyama soba noodlesJan 10, 2021
|
|
Ishigaki cuisine for lunch. Main dish was soba noodles. Side dishes of pig's ear, goya & tuna, juushi flavored rice (じゅーしー), local seaweed, and brown sugar jelly (dessert). Pig's ear is chewy/crunchy, not really tasty, but has a lot of collagen, so it's a health food.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Yaima Mura Restaurant for tour groups.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Yaima Mura Restaurant. This is also where you can rent Okinawan clothing.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
The squirrel monkeys climb all over you.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Squirrel Monkey Garden リスザルの森Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Squirrel Monkey Garden entrance. You need to leave your bags at the entrance. リスザルの森Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Found only in Yaeyama, Ryukyu serpent eagle that was found injured and being treated here. They like to eat snakes. Called "Ayapani" (あやぱに) in Yaeyama. カンムリワシ保護ケージJan 10, 2021
|
|
Sugar cane processing factory.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Uechi Residence (Farmer;s house)Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Fisherman's home, side view.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Fisherman's home.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Fisherman's home.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Fisherman's home.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Fisherman's boat house.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Yaeyama fisherman's home.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Ryukyu matsu pine tree is endemic to Okinawa. It stands straight up and takes an umbrella shape like this. Okinawa's official tree. リュウキュウマツ (琉球松)We don't really see pine trees like this on mainland Japan. Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Ryukyu matsu pine treesJan 10, 2021
|
|
Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Ryukyu matsu pine trees 琉球松Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Ryukyu matsu pine treesJan 10, 2021
|
|
Ryukyu matsu pine trees are native to Okinawa. 琉球松Jan 10, 2021
|
|
About Amparu Lookout in Japanese. アンパル塔Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Sakieda Peninsula in the distance as seen from Amparu Lookout.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Top of Amparu Lookout gives nice views of the lush greenery in the park.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Reconstruction of a 17th-century Amparu Lookout tower used to look out for shipwrecked ships from China, Japan, and Okinawa. They were many of these towers in Ryukyu.There's a spiral slope going around the tower to reach the top.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Makishi Residence privacy wall. 旧牧志邸Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Can-type sanshin in Makishi Residence. 旧牧志邸Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Sanshin in Makishi Residence. 旧牧志邸Jan 10, 2021
|
|
They hold traditional music performances in Makishi Residence. 旧牧志邸Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Inside Makishi Residence. 旧牧志邸Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Makishi Residence is a traditional Yaeyama home. 旧牧志邸Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Several traditional Yaeyama homes in a park-like setting with lush greenery. "Yaima" means Yaeyama in the local Yaeyama dialect.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Yaima Mura is a small architectural park of traditional Yaeyama homes overlooking Nagura Bay. Open 9:00 am–5:30 pm. Adult admission ¥1,000, kids ¥500. https://www.yaimamura.com/Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Stargazing near Nosokodake. Photo by National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Stargazing at Nosokodake Lookout Point. Photo by National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Stargazing at Nosokodake Lookout Point. Photo by National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Lots of sugar cane in Yaeyama.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Jan 10, 2021
|
|
View of coral reefs from Nosokodake Lookout Point in northern Ishigaki. Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Jan 10, 2021
|
|
View from Nosokodake Lookout Point in northern Ishigaki. Jan 10, 2021
|
|
View from Nosokodake Lookout Point in northern Ishigaki. Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Even today, people who climb the mountain look for the Maape rock and assume this or that rock is her.This story is based on historical fact. The Ryukyu government sometimes forced people to migrate to undeveloped lands to start farming to increase agricultural production so they could pay more taxes. The kingdom was being heavily taxed by the Satsuma Domain in Kagoshima, and taxes had to paid in rice per head.
Read more about the folk tale here: https://photoguide.jp/log/2020/12/yaeyama-folk-songs-nosokodake-maape/Jan 10, 2021
|
|
So she and her family were forced to move here to Nosokodake to start a new farming village and clear the thick jungle for farming. It was a hard life. Maape desperately missed her beloved Kanimui and couldn't forget him.
One day, she wanted to at least see Kuroshima where he lived, so she climbed up Mt. Nosokodake. At the top, she looked for Kuroshima, but her view of the island was blocked by Mt. Omotodake, Ishigaki's highest mountain. She collapsed on her knees and wailed in sorrow. Later, a worried villager looked for Maape who never returned home. On the top of the mountain, he found a crying rock gazing in the direction of Kuroshima. Maape had turned into stone.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Side view of Mt. Nosokodake. This mountain is associated with a famous local folk tale about a girl named Maape. The mountain is nicknamed after her, "Nosoko Maape" (野底マーペー).On the nearby island of Kuroshima (黒島) in the 18th century, Maape and her childhood sweetheart, Kanimui, were happily living as farmers. They were to be married someday.
However, one day, a Ryukyu government decree ordered half the island's residents to move here near Nosokodake on Ishigaki while the other half could remain on Kuroshima. The island's population was split along the island's main road. Maape and Kanimui lived on the opposite sides of the road, and Maape was on the side where people had to move to Ishigaki.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Nosokodake Lookout Point in northern Ishigaki. Under the roof is a side view of Mt. Nosokodake. 野底岳展望台Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Entering Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park. Nosokodake is part of the national park.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Some pineapple on Ishigaki.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Some pineapple on Ishigaki. No fruit in autumn though.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
On the way to Mt. Nosoko, spotted a nice beach.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Mt. Nosokodake (野底岳), Ishigaki’s second highest mountain at 282 m. Can be climbed up a steep, narrow trail in about 15 min. We didn't climb it though.Jan 10, 2021
|
|
Maira River, Iriomote. There's a waterfall upstream, but we didn't have time.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Maira River, Iriomote.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Mouth of Maira River at low tide when we passed by the day before.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Mouth of Maira River at low tide when we passed by the day before.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Mouth of Maira River at high tide. The brackish water is quite shallow, no more than 1 or 2 feet deep.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Lovely morning, too bad we didn't have time to kayak more upstream on Maira River, Iriomote.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Maira River lined with mangroves.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
After the sunrise, we paddled along the mangroves on the river's edge.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
After the sunrise, we paddled along the mangroves on the river's edge.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Our guide was Harubaru, but he doesn't normally do sunrise kayaking unless you ask him to: http://harubaru-iriomote.okinawa/course/Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Sunrise kayaking on Iriomote, Yaeyama, Okinawa.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Iriomote sunrise at Maira River.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Sunrise kayaking on Iriomote, Yaeyama, Okinawa.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Sunrise kayaking on Iriomote, Yaeyama, Okinawa.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
A few clouds, but the sunrise was getting to be nice.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
We anchored to watch the sunrise.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
We were on time for the sunrise.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Off we go. The water was shallow, but we still wore lifejackets.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Mouth of Maira River (マイラ川) before sunrise, short drive from the main town of Ohara. Sunrise was about 6:50 am. Jan 09, 2021
|
|
There was this dock where we could get on our kayaks. Maira River, Iriomote.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Iriomote mangroves.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Iriomote across the shallow water.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Iriomote mangroves.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
HibiscusJan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Water Buffalo MonumentJan 09, 2021
|
|
Lots of water buffalo sculptures on Yubu.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Lots of water buffalo monuments and sculptures on Yubu.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Lots of water buffalo monuments and sculptures on Yubu.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Old elementary and jr. high school on Yubu.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
A nice cafe at Manta Beach on Yubu. Sit on old water buffalo carts.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
A nice cafe at Manta Beach on Yubu.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
A nice cafe at Manta Beach on Yubu. マンタの浜Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Manta Beach on Yubu. マンタの浜Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Manta Beach on Yubu. マンタの浜Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Manta Beach on Yubu. マンタの浜Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Gift shop inside the restaurant. The Iriomote Wildcat is used as a tourist smbol everywhere, but we can never see the real cat.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Our Okinawan lunch (Makunouchi Bento Akabana). Very good.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Lunch was named, "Okinawa Makunouchi Bento Akabana" (沖縄幕の内弁当「アカバナ」. ("Akabana" means "hibiscus" in Okinawan.) Price was ¥1,320.Iriomote black rice, champuru, brown sugar yokan: 西表産黒紫米入りごはん、アーサのお吸い物、うみぶどう、ミミガー、漬物、沖縄黒糖煮、 アンダー味噌、野菜天ぷら、ウムクジ(紅イモを米粉であえて揚げたもの)、かまぼこ、チャンプ ルー、黒糖羊羹Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Inside the restaurant on YubuJan 09, 2021
|
|
There's a restaurant on Yubu.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Large tree nymph (Ogomadara), Japan's largest butterfly. Wingspan 95mm or more. Very eye-catching and elegant glider. オオゴマダラ(大胡麻斑) Butterfly hothouse in Yubu (蝶々園).Jan 09, 2021
|
|
About the common tiger butterfly or Danaus genutia. スジグロカバマダラ Butterfly hothouse in Yubu (蝶々園).Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Common tiger butterfly (from India) or Danaus genutia. Looks like the monarch butterfly common in Hawaii. スジグロカバマダラ Butterfly hothouse in Yubu (蝶々園).Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Kinds of butterflies in the butterfly garden (蝶々園). It's a greehouse full of flowers and plants, so it's quite warm.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Way to butterfly hothouse (蝶々園).Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Bougainvillea on Yubu, in bloom year round.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Red hibiscusJan 09, 2021
|
|
Red hibiscusJan 09, 2021
|
|
Red hibiscusJan 09, 2021
|
|
Lots of tropical flowers on Yubu Island, especially hibiscus.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Yubu is a very lush, green island.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Water buffalo pond on Yubu.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Map of Yubu sights and attractions.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Water Buffalo Pond (水牛の池) on Yubu.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Yubu arrival station. (Admission charged, included in the water buffalo cart ride.) https://yubujima.com/Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Water buffalo hoof prints.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Water buffalo footprints.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Also possible to walk over to Yubu and not pay for the water buffalo ride, but no one does this.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Water buffalo taking toursts to Yubu Island from Iriomote.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Water buffalo cart ride (水牛車 suigyusha) from Mihara (美原) to Yubu island (Yubu-jima 由 布島) takes 15 min.*Water buffalo cart roundtrip and Yubu island admission for adults: ¥1,760, Children (elementary school and below): ¥880 https://yubujima.com/Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Water buffalo taking tourists to Yubu Island from Iriomote.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
The water buffalo all have names and are highly trained to put on the harness by itself. They originally came from Taiwan.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Water buffalo carts coming back from Yubu.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
The cart is driven by a guide who usually plays the sanshin for passengers as the water buffalo sloshes to the island.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
We ride these water buffalo carts to the island across shallow water. Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Yubu is a small, sandbar island near Mihara, Iriomote. They converted the island into a lush botanical garden. Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Sure enough, a well-disguised starfish moving in slow motion. Hope it's not the kind that eats coral or other native species. Kabira Bay, Ishigaki.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
While walking here, I looked down since my intuition told me I might find something...Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
On another part of Kabira Bay, typical low-tide beach in Yaeyama. Ahead is the main part of Kabira Bay with the glass bottom boats and former Kabira Village.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Souvenir shopsJan 09, 2021
|
|
Photo cutoutsJan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Seesa lion dog with mask, Ishigaki.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Glass bottom boat tour vendor.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Back to the beach.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Parrot fish in Kabira Bay.Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
Jan 09, 2021
|
|
|