 Most viewed - YAEYAMA ISLANDS 八重山諸島 |
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Inside the Ishigaki Port terminal building. One big hallway with doors to the boat docks and ticket windows and tour agency counters.20 views
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Ishigaki Port boat dock. Anei Kanko (安栄観光) and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry (八重山観光フェリー) are the two main boat companies operating here.20 views
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Ishigakijima Beach Hotel Sunshine's newer Ocean Garden annex. 新館20 views
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Very modern room.20 views
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Walked along the oceanfront.20 views
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Ishigaki sunset.20 views
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The hotel's oceanfront does have great Ishigaki sunset views.20 views
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Hotel restaurant terrace at sunset. オープンレストラン 海辺のテラス20 views
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They also had a telescope to see Saturn and the moon.20 views
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Ishigaki Port for tourist boats to other Yaeyama islands. Terminal building is on the right with the front entrance on the right side. On the left are four floating piers.20 viewsTaketomi island can be seen in the distance. Photo from Wikipedia.
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Gentle water buffalo knows the direction. Photo by Kinjo Toru.20 views
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Iriomote's forests are a mishmash of all kinds of flora growing wild everywhere in all directions. It's not like the neat, orderly forests of trees on mainland Japan. 大富林道大正池20 views
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Beehive roped off. (Do not disturb.)20 views
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Bird feeder for research purposes.20 views
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Otomi Lookout Deck 大富展望台20 views
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Great views of the greenery from the Otomi Lookout Deck.20 views
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Map of the boardwalk going through the Sakishima suounoki mangroves in the Komi district. Near the mouth of Maira River. サキシマスオウノキ (古見)20 views
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Boardwalk at Sakishima suounoki mangroves in the Komi area. サキシマスオウノキ (古見)20 views
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Mangrove seedling.20 views
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Iriomote cattle/beef.20 views
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Ohara Port is Iriomote's main port and gateway. Boats from Ishigaki run to Ohara quite frequently. Iriomote has another port up north, but rough waters in winter can cancel boat runs.20 views
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Ohara Port, Iriomote. One floating dock.20 views
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Ohara Port dock.20 views
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Boat ticket for Ishigaki Port.20 views
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Anei Kanko high-speed boat named "Paijima" for 181 passengers. We rode this boat from Ohara, Iriomote back to Ishigaki Port. ぱいじま20 views
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Southern Cross No. 5 boat at the old Ohara Port.20 views
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Glass bottom boat in Kabira Bay, Ishigaki.19 views
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Back to the beach.19 views
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Yubu is a small, sandbar island near Mihara, Iriomote. They converted the island into a lush botanical garden. 19 views
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The water buffalo all have names and are highly trained to put on the harness by itself. They originally came from Taiwan.19 views
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Water buffalo taking tourists to Yubu Island from Iriomote.19 views
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Water buffalo cart ride (水牛車 suigyusha) from Mihara (美原) to Yubu island (Yubu-jima 由 布島) takes 15 min.19 views*Water buffalo cart roundtrip and Yubu island admission for adults: ¥1,760, Children (elementary school and below): ¥880 https://yubujima.com/
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Water buffalo taking toursts to Yubu Island from Iriomote.19 views
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Water buffalo hoof prints.19 views
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Old elementary and jr. high school on Yubu.19 views
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View of coral reefs from Nosokodake Lookout Point in northern Ishigaki. 19 views
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Top of Amparu Lookout gives nice views of the lush greenery in the park.19 views
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Ryukyu matsu pine trees19 views
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Uechi Residence (Farmer;s house)19 views
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Our waitress in Okinawan dress explaining our lunch at Yaima Mura.19 views
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About the Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center.19 views
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The center's main exhibit is the stuffed Iriomote wildcats.19 views
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Turtle on Iriomote.19 views
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Too cloudy for a nice sunrise, but the views were marvelous on Mt. Yarabudake.19 views
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Taketomi island in the distance. Flat, coral outcrop. Quaint, charming island, a short boat ride from Ishigaki Port.19 views
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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19 views
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Bird's eye view of New Ishigaki Airport. Only one runway, 2,000 meters long, long enough for widebody jets. Terminal has four jet bridges.19 views(Photo from Wikipedia.)
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It took years to decide where to build the new airport. One disturbing plan was to reclaim part of Shiraho coral reef. Fortunately, this plan was scratched.19 viewsIn 2000, the location was finally decided inland on the island's east side and more northerly from the old airport. Construction began in 2006 with a 2,000-meter runway. New Ishigaki Airport opened in March 2013. Airport terminal with the control tower on the right.
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First floor of Ishigaki Airport terminal also has a restaurant and gift shops.19 views
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Bales of grass for cattle feed.19 views
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Oceanside from Ishigaki Airport.19 views
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Our JTA Boeing 737-800 plane at Ishigaki Airport.19 views
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Here it comes for a smooth landing.19 views
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My nice room at Ishigakijima Beach Hotel Sunshine's Ocean Garden annex.19 views
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Roomy balcony of my hotel room.19 views
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View from my room.19 views
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Although the hotel's name has the word "Beach," there's no beach and it's not for swimming. 19 viewsIn summer, they have marine activities, but no ocean swimming or sunbathing on a beach. There's a pool and lawn though.
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Ishigaki sunset.19 views
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Breakfast buffet at the hotel restaurant in the main building. Plastic partitions protect the food. ブーゲンの浜19 views
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Hotel lobby sofas.19 views
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Nakama River is beyond this area.19 views
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These mangroves are a National Natural Monument.19 views
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Sakishima suounoki mangroves, Iriomote. サキシマスオウノキ (古見)19 views
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Outside my room at Takemori Inn on Iriomote. View of the bridge to Ohara across Nakama River.19 views
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Approaching Ohara Port. Although its official name is "Nakama Port" (仲間港), nobody calls it that.19 views
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Ohara Port dock.19 views
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On board Anei Kanko's high-speed boat "Paijima" for Ishigaki Port. The front of the passenger cabin has a space for luggage. ぱいじま19 views
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Boarding a glass bottom boat. Your feet don't get wet.18 views
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Typical glass bottom boat in Kabira Bay, Ishigaki.18 views
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Water buffalo footprints.18 views
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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).18 views
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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).18 views
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Lots of water buffalo sculptures on Yubu.18 views
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Hibiscus18 views
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Iriomote mangroves.18 views
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Maira River, Iriomote. There's a waterfall upstream, but we didn't have time.18 views
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Stargazing at Nosokodake Lookout Point. Photo by National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.18 views
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Sakieda Peninsula in the distance as seen from Amparu Lookout.18 views
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Ryukyu matsu pine trees18 views
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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.18 viewsIf you see an injured or dead Iriomote wildcat, call 0980-85-5581.
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In the past, they did have a live Iriomote cat here, found injured on the road and treated here. 18 views
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About habu snakes (venomous).18 views
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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.18 views
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Ishigaki Airport's runway.18 views
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Approaching the jet bridge.18 views
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Our JTA plane that landed at Ishigaki Airport.18 views
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At Ishigaki Airport, a large welcome and warning sign after getting out of baggage claim in fall 2020. 18 viewsIt says to please wear masks, wash your hands, avoid crowds, etc., to protect local residents. We of course took all the necessary precautions.
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Ishigaki Airport Arrivals gate on the frist floor. Where local friends or tour guides can meet you after you arrive.18 views
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First floor of Ishigaki Airport terminal has a restaurant and gift shops.18 views
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Ishigaki Airport can be seen.18 views
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Jet way18 views
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Another lookout deck at Ishigaki Airport.18 views
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Another lookout deck, round, open-air structure.18 views
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View of Ishigaki Airport terminal from the jet bridge. The circular structure above the roof toward the control tower is a lookout deck.18 views
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Ishigaki Airport control tower.18 views
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Taking off from the runway at Ishigaki Airport.18 views
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Statue of Gushiken Yoko at Ishigaki Port, former pro boxer and local hero from Ishigaki. He held the WBA light-flyweight title from 1976 to 1981.18 views
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Hotel pool if you want to swim. Because you cannot swim in the ocean...18 views
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Room rate is about ¥15,000/person in this new annex. Pricing also depends on the season.18 views
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Refrigerator.18 views
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An adjacent hotel had chairs on the waterfront for the sunset.18 views
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Dinner at the hotel's Nami no Shi (波の詩) restaurant. Dinner was kaiseki ryori (会席料理) including Okinawan beef. 赤瓦レストラン 波の詩18 viewsにがなの白和え、グルクン南蛮漬、小松菜の胡麻和え、お造り 2 点盛、島魚の煮つけ、県産和牛の 陶板焼き、ゆし豆腐のすまし汁
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Dinner at the hotel's restaurant. 18 views
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We're lying flat on cots and staring at the sky as our stargazing guide used a laser pointer to point out stars and constellations.18 views
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Our water buffalo's name was Musashi. (Photo by tour guide motti.)18 views
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Our tour guide took a picture of us on Yarabudake.18 views
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Top of Yarabudake, Ishigaki. Waiting for the sunrise.18 views
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My Japanese-style room at Takemori Inn on Iriomote. Nice two-room suite.18 views
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My Japanese-style room at Takemori Inn on Iriomote.18 views
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Ticket counter inside Ohara Port's passenger terminal.18 views
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The cruise is scenic with tropical ocean and small islands.17 views
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We ride these water buffalo carts to the island across shallow water. 17 views
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Water buffalo carts coming back from Yubu.17 views
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Water buffalo pond on Yubu.17 views
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Inside the restaurant on Yubu17 views
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Our Okinawan lunch (Makunouchi Bento Akabana). Very good.17 views
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Manta Beach on Yubu. マンタの浜17 views
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Water Buffalo Monument17 views
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Iriomote across the shallow water.17 views
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Mouth of Maira River (マイラ川) before sunrise, short drive from the main town of Ohara. Sunrise was about 6:50 am. 17 views
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We anchored to watch the sunrise.17 views
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Iriomote sunrise at Maira River.17 views
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Sunrise kayaking on Iriomote, Yaeyama, Okinawa.17 views
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Several traditional Yaeyama homes in a park-like setting with lush greenery. "Yaima" means Yaeyama in the local Yaeyama dialect.17 views
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Sanshin in Makishi Residence. 旧牧志邸17 views
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Can-type sanshin in Makishi Residence. 旧牧志邸17 views
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Makishi Residence privacy wall. 旧牧志邸17 views
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Fisherman's boat house.17 views
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Fisherman's home.17 views
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Fisherman's home.17 views
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Sugar cane processing factory.17 views
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About Iriomote's wildlife.17 views
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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.17 views
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Iriomote's birds.17 views
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Bats on Iriomote.17 views
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Landed on Ishigaki Airport's runway.17 views
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Baggage claim at Ishigaki Airport.17 views
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Outside Ishigaki Airport terminal for ground transportation.17 views
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Car rentals across the road.17 views
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Ishigaki Airport's control tower.17 views
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Ishigaki Airport terminal lookout deck on the top floor.17 views
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Ishigaki Airport control tower.17 views
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JTA Boeing 737-800 plane at Ishigaki Airport.17 views
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Boeing 737 winglet waving goodbye to the control tower at Ishigaki Airport.17 views
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Runway traffic stop for an incoming plane.17 views
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Painting of Okinawan yotsudake dancer in the hotel corridor.17 views
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Another stargazing spot on Ishigaki, in the middle of sugar cane. We were with a large group of people also sitting on camping chairs.17 viewsThe guide standing on the left talked nonstop in Japanese with a microphone. He used a laser pointer to point out constellations and stars.
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Moon was nice too.17 views
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On the water buffalo cart to Yubu Island from Iriomote. The guide also played the sanshin. (Photo by tour guide motti.)17 views
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Water buffalo walks through shallow water to Yubu Island from Iriomote. (Photo by tour guide motti.)17 views
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Having tea or ice cream on an old water buffalo cart. (Photo by tour guide motti.)17 views
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Entrance to Takemori Inn/Ryokan (竹盛旅館) in Otomi, where we stayed for a night. Photo by Kinjo Toru. https://www.takemori-inn.net/17 viewsMap: https://goo.gl/maps/pG9zEMWQ1Zozys1x5
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Stargazing amid sugar cane in Mare district, Iriomote. (マーレ地区)17 views
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Old Ishigaki Port for tourist boats. This old port was in operation until 2006 before the new and current terminal was built for tourist boats. 旧石垣離島桟橋。17 views
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Old Ishigaki Port for tourist boats. This is only 200 meters away from the new Ishigaki Port terminal building. The high-rise Hotel East China Sea is under construction. 旧石垣離島桟橋。ホテルイーストチャイナシー建設中。17 views
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Old Ishigaki Port for tourist boats. Only one floating dock for the larger boats. This dock has been dismantled when the new Ishigaki Port was built.17 views
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Old Ishigaki Port for tourist boats. 旧石垣港。17 views
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Floating dock at the old Ishigaki Port. 離島桟橋17 views
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Leaving the old Ishigaki Port.17 views
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Okinawan welcome sign at Takemori Inn/Ryokan (竹盛旅館).17 views
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My buffet breakfast at at the hotel restaurant in the main building. Most dishes are covered with Saran wrap.17 views
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Souvenir shops16 views
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Map of Yubu sights and attractions.16 views
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Gift shop inside the restaurant. The Iriomote Wildcat is used as a tourist smbol everywhere, but we can never see the real cat.16 views
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A nice cafe at Manta Beach on Yubu. マンタの浜16 views
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Lots of water buffalo monuments and sculptures on Yubu.16 views
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Mouth of Maira River at low tide when we passed by the day before.16 views
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Maira River, Iriomote.16 views
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Nosokodake Lookout Point in northern Ishigaki. Under the roof is a side view of Mt. Nosokodake. 野底岳展望台16 views
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They hold traditional music performances in Makishi Residence. 旧牧志邸16 views
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Squirrel Monkey Garden entrance. You need to leave your bags at the entrance. リスザルの森16 views
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Even though the Iriomote cat is all over Iriomote as a tourist symbol, we can't see any live ones.16 views
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Skeleton of Iriomote wildcat.16 views
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Times for sunrise, sunset, moon rise/set, and high/low tide on Iriomote in Oct.16 views
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Looking toward Sakieda Bay and Kabira.16 views
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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16 viewsMonument was built in Dec. 1976.
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First floor of Ishigaki Airport terminal has a restaurant and gift shops.16 views
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First floor of Ishigaki Airport terminal has a restaurant and gift shops.16 views
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Giant clam decoration at Ishigaki Airport.16 views
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Some tropical plants at Ishigaki Airport.16 views
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The drive between the airport and central Ishigaki is largely rural with farmland and cattle.16 views
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Cleared for takeoff, Captain. Roger!16 views
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Coral reef along Ishigaki.16 views
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There are four floating boat docks where boats can dock on both sides. They have red roof tiles.16 views
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Inside our Anei Kanko high-speed boat to Iriomote, No. 12 Anei with a capacity for 89 passengers. 第12あんえい号16 views
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Painting of Okinawan dancers in the hotel.16 views
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Starry night from Ishigakijima Beach Hotel Sunshine's roof.16 views
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Stargazing on the Ishigakijima Beach Hotel Sunshine's roof. This tour option is called "Shani-shani Hoshizora Tour" (しゃにしゃに星空ツアー). 16 viewsInfo in Japanese: https://www.utakuna-ishigakijima.com/hoshizoratour
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When going on hikes, best to wear long sleeves and long pants so the tree branches, leaves, etc., don't scratch you. Also protection from bugs. 16 views
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Different plant growing on a branch of this looking-glass mangrove.16 views
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Stargazing amid sugar cane in Mare district, Iriomote. (マーレ地区)16 views
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Orion constellation above Iriomote.16 views
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In front of Ishigaki City Hall, a tree planted to reaffirm sister-city relations in 1999 between Ishigaki and Kauai, Hawaii. Planted by then Kauai Mayor Maryanne Kusaka. Ishigaki and Kauai have been sister cities since May 1963.16 views
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Glass bottom boat tour vendor.15 views
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Photo cutouts15 views
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Also possible to walk over to Yubu and not pay for the water buffalo ride, but no one does this.15 views
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Yubu is a very lush, green island.15 views
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Off we go. The water was shallow, but we still wore lifejackets.15 views
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Maira River lined with mangroves.15 views
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Mouth of Maira River at high tide. The brackish water is quite shallow, no more than 1 or 2 feet deep.15 views
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Some pineapple on Ishigaki. No fruit in autumn though.15 views
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Lots of sugar cane in Yaeyama.15 views
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Ryukyu matsu pine trees 琉球松15 views
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Iriomote with the main town of Ohara on the lower right.15 views
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Cape Ogansaki 御神埼15 views
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Tour agency office near the port terminal.15 views
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About Gushiken Yoko. Born 1955.15 views
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Tropical plant.15 views
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View of coral reef from Nosokodake Lookout Point in northern Ishigaki. 15 views
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Modern bathroom at Takemori Ryokan on Iriomote.15 views
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Old Ishigaki Port for tourist boats. It didn't have a passenger terminal building like today, only tour agent offices.15 views
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Entrance to Ishigaki Yaeyama Museum that opened in 1972 to mark the reversion of Okinawa to Japan. It's right near Ishigaki Port. 石垣市立八重山博物館15 views
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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.14 views
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We were on time for the sunrise.14 views
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Sunrise kayaking on Iriomote, Yaeyama, Okinawa.14 views
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Entering Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park. Nosokodake is part of the national park.14 views
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