 Most viewed - Ishigaki 石垣市・石垣島 |
Ryukyu matsu pine trees are native to Okinawa. 琉球松91 views
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Seesa lion dog with mask, Ishigaki.84 views
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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)83 viewsWe don't really see pine trees like this on mainland Japan.
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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.78 views
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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. 73 viewsMaape 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.
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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).71 viewsOn 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.
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Even today, people who climb the mountain look for the Maape rock and assume this or that rock is her.70 viewsThis 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/
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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). 56 viewsPig's ear is chewy/crunchy, not really tasty, but has a lot of collagen, so it's a health food.
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Old Ishigaki Airport terminal, Arrivals. No jet bridges. Jets (Boeing 737) started flying here only from 1979. 56 views
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This is the old Ishigaki Airport before it closed in March 2013 and was replaced by the new and current airport slightly north of this old airport.51 views
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Old Ishigaki Airport terminal for JTA. Small building. The old airport first opened in 1943 for military use. It became a civilian airport in 1956.51 viewsThis passenger terminal building was built in 1961 and used mainly by JTA (Japan Transocean Air) and RAC (Ryukyu Air Commuter). ANA had its own adjacent terminal.
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Yaeyama soba noodles49 views
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Old Ishigaki Airport terminal for JTA, Arrivals. No jet bridges.49 views
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At the old Ishigaki Airport, inside the JTA passenger waiting area at the boarding gate.49 views
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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.48 views
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At the old Ishigaki Airport, JTA boarding gate. One of the check-in staff wears a yukata. Also notice the old digital signage.48 views
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Walking on the tarmac to the JTA plane at Ishigaki Airport.47 views
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Inside JTA plane, flight attendants figuring out what to tell us.47 views
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Taking off at the old Ishigaki Airport.47 views
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Runway at the old Ishigaki Airport. The slanty white building visible is the ANA hotel on the beach. That's how close the old airport was to town.46 views
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Approaching the old Ishigaki Airport terminal.43 views
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JTA plane's see-sa at Ishigaki Airport.43 views
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Ground crew at the old Ishigaki Airport waving goodbye to us. I waved back.42 views
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On Runway 04 at the old Ishigaki Airport. At 1,500 meters, it was too short for jets larger than a Boeing 737. So the new airport was built on a different location.42 views
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I liked walking on the tarmac to the plane at Ishigaki Airport.41 views
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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/40 views
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No jet bridge, but it wasn't a problem when it didn't rain.40 views
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Taking off at the old Ishigaki Airport.39 views
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Aerial view of Ibaruma and Hirakubo, Ishigaki.38 views
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Descending toward Ishigaki Airport adjacent to farmland.37 views
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Taking off at the old Ishigaki Airport.37 views
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Makishi Residence is a traditional Yaeyama home. 旧牧志邸36 views
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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 is36 viewsThis 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
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Shiraho36 views
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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.35 views
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Thick, wild forest and lots of exposed tree roots. The frequent typhoons wash/blow away the soil from the tree roots.35 views
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The center of this photo shows the site where the new airport was going to be built.35 views
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Shiraho coral reefs on Ishigaki.35 views
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Ishigaki Port is on the southern coast of Ishigaki island. It's the marine gateway to other Yaeyama islands such as Taketomi, Iriomote, Kuroshima, and Aragusuku.35 viewsIshigaki Port consists of multiple port facilities. For tourists, the facility for tourist boats going to other Yaeyama islands might be called "Ishigaki Port Remote Island Terminal" or nicknamed "Euglena Ishigaki Port Remote Island Terminal" (ユーグレナ石垣港離島ターミナル) since a company named Euglena bought the naming rights for 5 years in 2018.
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While walking here, I looked down since my intuition told me I might find something...34 views
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Top of Mt. Yarabudake. This rock is known as Troll's Tongue.34 views
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Ishigaki is the gateway to Okinawa Prefecture's Yaeyama Islands. Ishigaki Airport near central Ishigaki is how most visitors get to Yaeyama.34 viewsBird's eye view of central Ishigaki from a jet plane going to land at Ishigaki Airport.
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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.33 views
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On the southern coast of Ishigaki, we stayed at Ishigakijima Beach Hotel Sunshine for one night. It's a nice hotel. About 30 min. by car from the airport. 本館 https://www.ishigakijima-sunshine.net/33 views
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JTA in-flight magazine "Coralway" had a nice Japanese article about the reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Naha.33 views
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Our JTA plane that landed at Ishigaki Airport.32 views
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Shiraho coral reefs on Ishigaki.32 views
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Shiraho coral reefs on Ishigaki.32 views
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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.31 views
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Aerial view of Nosoko, Ishigaki.31 views
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Glass bottom boat in Kabira Bay, Ishigaki.30 views
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Yaima Mura Restaurant for tour groups.30 views
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Typical mountain trail on Ishigaki. 30 views
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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30 views
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View of central Ishigaki from Banna Park.30 views
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This new Ishigaki Airport opened in March 2013. Due to the Yaeyama islands becoming a popular tourist destination, there were calls to built a bigger airport since 1979.30 views
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ANA at Ishigaki Airport.30 views
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Jet bridge30 views
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RAC (Ryukyu Air Commuter) prop plane.30 views
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Flying over Shiraho, Ishigaki.30 views
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Yaeyama fisherman's home.29 views
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Rest house in Banna Park. It's a large park with a variety of sights, playgrounds, lookout points, and nature.29 views
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Bird of Paradise flower in Banna Park.29 views
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Ishigaki Airport Arrivals gate on the frist floor. Where local friends or tour guides can meet you after you arrive.29 views
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Ishigaki Airport 29 views
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Pushback at Ishigaki Airport on JTA Boeing 737-800 for Naha. Didn't see any ground crew waving goodbye to us.29 views
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ANA Boeing 787 landing at Ishigaki Airport, probably from Haneda, Tokyo. Thanks to the new airport's longer runway, such wide-body jets can land here.29 views
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View from my room, partially obstructed by a big tree.29 views
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Walked along the oceanfront.29 views
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Glass bottom boat in Kabira Bay, Ishigaki.28 views
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Parrot fish in Kabira Bay.28 views
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The squirrel monkeys climb all over you.28 views
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Beyond the mountain in the center is Kabira Bay.28 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.28 views(Photo from Wikipedia.)
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Approaching the jet bridge.28 views
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View of Ishigaki Airport from the jet bridge.28 views
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Leaving Ishigaki Airport.28 views
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Aerial view of Ibaruma Coast, Ishigaki.28 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 1981.28 views
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They also had a telescope to see Saturn and the moon.28 views
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Glass bottom boat in Kabira Bay, Ishigaki.27 views
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View of coral reefs from Nosokodake Lookout Point in northern Ishigaki. 27 views
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Our tour guide on Troll's Tongue playing his sanshin.27 views
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Drive further around Sakieda Peninsula and see Ishigaki Cape Ogansaki Lighthouse. Built in March 1983. 石垣御神埼灯台27 views
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View of central Ishigaki from Banna Park. Taketomi Island can be seen on upper right.27 views
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Butterfly in Banna Park.27 views
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View of Ishigaki Airport terminal from the jet bridge.27 views
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First floor of Ishigaki Airport terminal has a restaurant and gift shops. Second floor is the departure gates.27 views
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Ishigaki Airport 27 views
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Up, up and away...27 views
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Looking at the Nosoko area of Ishigaki. Mt. Nosokodake can be seen. Bye-bye Ishigaki...27 views
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Ishigakijima Beach Hotel Sunshine has the main building on the left. We stayed in the newer annex seen in the distance. Both buildings face the ocean.27 viewsIncluding breakfast, it costs ¥8,000/person for two people in a room in the main building.
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The hotel's oceanfront does have great Ishigaki sunset views.27 views
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There are many glass bottom boats that operate here.26 views
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Fisherman's home.26 views
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A few steep parts, but ropes help you up.26 views
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View of Sakieda Peninsula from Banna Park.26 views
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View of the mountains north of Banna Park.26 views
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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.26 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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Ishigaki Airport terminal lookout deck on the top floor.26 views
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Lookout deck, round, open-air structure.26 views
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RAC commuter plane.26 views
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Boeing 737 winglet waving goodbye to the control tower at Ishigaki Airport.26 views
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Lots of farmland next to the airport.26 views
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Very modern room.26 views
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Ishigaki sunset.26 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26 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.26 views
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Top of Yarabudake, Ishigaki. Waiting for the sunrise.26 views
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Glass bottom boat in Kabira Bay, Ishigaki.25 views
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Back to the beach.25 views
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Stargazing at Nosokodake Lookout Point. Photo by National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.25 views
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Sanshin in Makishi Residence. 旧牧志邸25 views
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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.25 viewsThere's a spiral slope going around the tower to reach the top.
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Sakieda Peninsula in the distance as seen from Amparu Lookout.25 views
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About Amparu Lookout in Japanese. アンパル塔25 views
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Fisherman's home, side view.25 views
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Squirrel Monkey Garden リスザルの森25 views
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Too cloudy for a nice sunrise, but the views were marvelous on Mt. Yarabudake.25 views
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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.25 views
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View of central Ishigaki from Banna Park.25 views
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Landed on Ishigaki Airport's runway.25 views
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Ishigaki Airport's runway.25 views
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First floor of Ishigaki Airport terminal also has a restaurant and gift shops.25 views
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JTA plane25 views
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JTA Boeing 737-800 plane at Ishigaki Airport.25 views
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Passenger waiting area in front of the boarding gate. Very modern.25 views
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Jet bridge25 views
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Taking off from the runway at Ishigaki Airport.25 views
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My nice room at Ishigakijima Beach Hotel Sunshine's Ocean Garden annex.25 views
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Room rate is about ¥15,000/person in this new annex. Pricing also depends on the season.25 views
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Refrigerator.25 views
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Roomy balcony of my hotel room.25 views
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Although the hotel's name has the word "Beach," there's no beach and it's not for swimming. 25 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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Hotel lobby sofas.25 views
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Our tour guide took a picture of us on Yarabudake.25 views
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Kabira Bay beach.24 views
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Boarding a glass bottom boat. Your feet don't get wet.24 views
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Fisherman's home.24 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.24 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24 views
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View of central Ishigaki from Banna Park.24 views
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View of Sakieda Peninsula from Banna Park.24 views
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Baggage claim at Ishigaki Airport.24 views
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At Ishigaki Airport, a large welcome and warning sign after getting out of baggage claim in fall 2020. 24 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's nickname is "Painushima Ishigaki Airport" (南ぬ島 石垣空港) which means "Southern Island Ishigaki Airport." When it first opened, it was also commonly called "New Ishigaki Airport" to distinguis24 views
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Bales of grass for cattle feed.24 views
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Another lookout deck, round, open-air structure.24 views
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Oceanside from Ishigaki Airport.24 views
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Our JTA Boeing 737-800 plane at Ishigaki Airport.24 views
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Boarding gate at Ishigaki Airport for our flight to Naha. We just scan the QR code on our smartphone screen.24 views
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Here it comes for a smooth landing.24 views
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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.24 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.24 views
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Hotel pool if you want to swim. Because you cannot swim in the ocean...24 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). 24 viewsInfo in Japanese: https://www.utakuna-ishigakijima.com/hoshizoratour
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Moon was nice too.24 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。24 views
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Leaving the old Ishigaki Port.24 views
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Chopstick rest made of a shell at Hirugi Restaurant in Hotel Miyahira, Ishigaki.24 views
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Inside Makishi Residence. 旧牧志邸23 views
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Ryukyu matsu pine trees23 views
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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23 views
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Our waitress in Okinawan dress explaining our lunch at Yaima Mura.23 views
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Taketomi island in the distance. Flat, coral outcrop. Quaint, charming island, a short boat ride from Ishigaki Port.23 views
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View of the mountains north of Banna Park.23 views
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Some tropical plants at Ishigaki Airport.23 views
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Ishigaki Airport's control tower.23 views
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Another lookout deck at Ishigaki Airport.23 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.23 views
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Coral reef along Ishigaki.23 views
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Ishigakijima Beach Hotel Sunshine's newer Ocean Garden annex. 新館23 views
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Ishigaki sunset.23 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23 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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Painting of Okinawan yotsudake dancer in the hotel corridor.23 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.23 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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View of coral reef from Nosokodake Lookout Point in northern Ishigaki. 23 views
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My buffet breakfast at at the hotel restaurant in the main building. Most dishes are covered with Saran wrap.23 views
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Typical glass bottom boat in Kabira Bay, Ishigaki.22 views
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The cruise is scenic with tropical ocean and small islands.22 views
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Photo cutouts22 views
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View from Nosokodake Lookout Point in northern Ishigaki. 22 views
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Can-type sanshin in Makishi Residence. 旧牧志邸22 views
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Top of Amparu Lookout gives nice views of the lush greenery in the park.22 views
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Ryukyu matsu pine trees 琉球松22 views
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Ryukyu matsu pine trees22 views
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Uechi Residence (Farmer;s house)22 views
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Yaima Mura Restaurant. This is also where you can rent Okinawan clothing.22 views
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Looking toward Sakieda Bay and Kabira.22 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22 viewsMonument was built in Dec. 1976.
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First floor of Ishigaki Airport terminal has a restaurant and gift shops.22 views
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First floor of Ishigaki Airport terminal has a restaurant and gift shops.22 views
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Car rentals across the road.22 views
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The drive between the airport and central Ishigaki is largely rural with farmland and cattle.22 views
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Ishigaki Airport can be seen.22 views
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Ishigaki Airport control tower.22 views
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Ishigaki Airport control tower.22 views
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About Gushiken Yoko. Born 1955.22 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22 views
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Departing Ishigaki Port.22 views
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View from my room.22 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22 views
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Starry night from Ishigakijima Beach Hotel Sunshine's roof.22 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.22 viewsTaketomi island can be seen in the distance. Photo from Wikipedia.
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Old Ishigaki Port for tourist boats. 旧石垣港。22 views
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Glass bottom boat tour vendor.21 views
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Entering Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park. Nosokodake is part of the national park.21 views
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Lots of sugar cane in Yaeyama.21 views
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Stargazing at Nosokodake Lookout Point. Photo by National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.21 views
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Stargazing near Nosokodake. Photo by National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.21 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.21 views
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Outside Ishigaki Airport terminal for ground transportation.21 views
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Jet way21 views
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Floor plan of Ishigaki Port terminal building which opened in Jan. 2007 after moving from the old port 200 meters from here.21 views
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At the docks.21 views
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Tropical plant.21 views
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An adjacent hotel had chairs on the waterfront for the sunset.21 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.21 views
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