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Last additions - Ishigaki 石垣市・石垣島
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Jan 10, 2021
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View from Nosokodake Lookout Point in northern Ishigaki. Jan 10, 2021
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View from Nosokodake Lookout Point in northern Ishigaki. Jan 10, 2021
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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
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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
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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
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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Jan 10, 2021
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Entering Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park. Nosokodake is part of the national park.Jan 10, 2021
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Some pineapple on Ishigaki.Jan 10, 2021
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Some pineapple on Ishigaki. No fruit in autumn though.Jan 10, 2021
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On the way to Mt. Nosoko, spotted a nice beach.Jan 10, 2021
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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
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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
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While walking here, I looked down since my intuition told me I might find something...Jan 09, 2021
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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.Jan 09, 2021
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Souvenir shopsJan 09, 2021
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Photo cutoutsJan 09, 2021
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Seesa lion dog with mask, Ishigaki.Jan 09, 2021
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Glass bottom boat tour vendor.Jan 09, 2021
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Back to the beach.Jan 09, 2021
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Parrot fish in Kabira Bay.Jan 09, 2021
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The cruise is scenic with tropical ocean and small islands.Jan 09, 2021
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Glass bottom boat in Kabira Bay, Ishigaki.Jan 09, 2021
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Glass bottom boat in Kabira Bay, Ishigaki.Jan 09, 2021
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Glass bottom boat in Kabira Bay, Ishigaki.Jan 09, 2021
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Glass bottom boat in Kabira Bay, Ishigaki.Jan 09, 2021
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Typical glass bottom boat in Kabira Bay, Ishigaki.Jan 09, 2021
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Boarding a glass bottom boat. Your feet don't get wet.Jan 09, 2021
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Kabira Bay beach.Jan 09, 2021
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There are many glass bottom boats that operate here.Jan 09, 2021
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Kabira Bay on Ishigaki, perhaps the island's most famous tourist spot. Glass bottom boats to see coral and tropical fish in shallow water.Jan 09, 2021
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Kabira Bay, Ishigaki. It's actually a large bay and this is only a small part of it. Scenic with white beach, blue ocean, small islands and coral on the bottom.Jan 09, 2021
     
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