 Most viewed - OKINAWA 沖縄県 |
There are many glass bottom boats that operate here.32 views
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Water buffalo footprints.32 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32 views
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Northern Iriomote coast.32 views
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Aerial view of Nosoko, Ishigaki.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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On the water buffalo cart to Yubu Island from Iriomote. The guide also played the sanshin. (Photo by tour guide motti.)32 views
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Low tide puddles.32 views
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Ishigaki cattle/beef.32 views
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Iriomote cattle/beef.32 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/32 viewsMap: https://goo.gl/maps/pG9zEMWQ1Zozys1x5
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Boat ticket for Ishigaki Port.32 views
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There's a restaurant on Yubu.31 views
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Inside the restaurant on Yubu31 views
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Manta Beach on Yubu. マンタの浜31 views
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Old elementary and jr. high school on Yubu.31 views
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About the Himeyuri-no-Tou monuments.31 views
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A few clouds, but the sunrise was getting to be nice.31 views
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After the sunrise, we paddled along the mangroves on the river's edge.31 views
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On the tour bus on Iriomote going north. Lots of sugar cane. 31 views
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River cruise back to the dock.31 views
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View of central Ishigaki from Banna Park.31 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 1979.31 views
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ANA at Ishigaki Airport.31 views
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Jet bridge31 views
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Bird feeder for research purposes.31 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)31 views
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These mangroves are a National Natural Monument.31 views
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Ohara Port dock.31 views
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Departure times for boats going to Ishigaki.31 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31 views
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I was there on Nov. 3 and saw the King and Queen posing. They posed behind the Seiden site. In this photo, the rear of the Seiden would be in the background.31 views
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Nakazato Haruhi (仲里はるひ) plays many instruments, centering on the sanshin and taiko drums.31 views
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Kabira Bay beach.30 views
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Boarding a glass bottom boat. Your feet don't get wet.30 views
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Glass bottom boat in Kabira Bay, Ishigaki.30 views
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Parrot fish in Kabira Bay.30 views
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Entrance to Himeyuri Monument and Cenotaph (ひめゆり慰霊碑) in southern Okinawa in the city of Itoman. Building on the left is a flower vendor (closed).30 views
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Himeyuri Chronology, inscribed with what happened here.30 views
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Monument for the land donation.30 views
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Sunrise kayaking on Iriomote, Yaeyama, Okinawa.30 views
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Yaima Mura Restaurant for tour groups.30 views
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Iriomote's birds.30 views
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Typical mountain trail on Ishigaki. 30 views
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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.30 viewsYou can book a tour from Ishigaki.
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At Gunkan-iwa dock, there's a hiking trail called Urauchigawa Shizen Kenkyu-ro. A nature trail that goes to two waterfalls.30 viewsNote that cell phones won't work on the hiking trail. 浦内川自然研究路
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Sometimes there are views from the hiking trail.30 views
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Ferns and a nameless mini waterfall.30 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.30 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.30 views(Photo from Wikipedia.)
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Ishigaki Airport Arrivals gate on the frist floor. Where local friends or tour guides can meet you after you arrive.30 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.30 views
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RAC (Ryukyu Air Commuter) prop plane.30 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.30 views
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Flying over Shiraho, Ishigaki.30 views
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Ferns30 views
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Otomi Lookout Deck 大富展望台30 views
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Otomi Lookout Deck 大富展望台30 views
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Stargazing amid sugar cane in Mare district, Iriomote. (マーレ地区)30 views
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Welcome sign.30 views
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On board Anei Kanko's high-speed boat "Paijima" for Ishigaki Port. ぱいじま30 views
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Inside Nyokan Kyoshitsu, now a gift shop. 女官居室（にょかんきょしつ）30 views
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Instead of the grand procession on Kokusai-dori, the Ryukyu King and Queen and a few attendants held a smaller procession within the castle and also appeared a few times to pose for photos at Shuri Castle on Oct. 31 and Nov. 3, 2020.30 views
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We ride these water buffalo carts to the island across shallow water. 29 views
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The cart is driven by a guide who usually plays the sanshin for passengers as the water buffalo sloshes to the island.29 views
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Water buffalo hoof prints.29 views
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Map of Yubu sights and attractions.29 views
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Water buffalo pond on Yubu.29 views
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About the common tiger butterfly or Danaus genutia. スジグロカバマダラ Butterfly hothouse in Yubu (蝶々園).29 views
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A nice cafe at Manta Beach on Yubu. マンタの浜29 views
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Monument for the medical staff who died in the Battle of Okinawa. 29 views
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About the Himeyuri Peace Museum. It opened in June 1989.29 views
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Yaeyama fisherman's home.29 views
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In the past, they did have a live Iriomote cat here, found injured on the road and treated here. 29 views
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Urauchi River boat dock as seen from Urauchi Bridge near the mouth of the river.29 views
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Bird of Paradise flower in Banna Park.29 views
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Approaching the jet bridge.29 views
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Ishigaki Airport 29 views
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Aerial view of Ibaruma Coast, Ishigaki.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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They also had a telescope to see Saturn and the moon.29 views
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Our water buffalo's name was Musashi. (Photo by tour guide motti.)29 views
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Different plant growing on a branch of this looking-glass mangrove.29 views
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Mangrove seedling.29 views
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My Japanese-style room at Takemori Inn on Iriomote. Nice two-room suite.29 views
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My Japanese-style room at Takemori Inn on Iriomote.29 views
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Stargazing amid sugar cane in Mare district, Iriomote. (マーレ地区)29 views
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Stargazing amid sugar cane in Mare district, Iriomote. (マーレ地区)29 views
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Ohara Port dock.29 views
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Beautiful ocean between Iriomote and Ishigaki, part of the national park.29 views
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Site of the old Ohara Port near the new one. The old port operated here until 2002.29 views
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Okinawan welcome sign at Takemori Inn/Ryokan (竹盛旅館).29 views
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Yohokoriden is now a rest house for visitors with vending machines for soft drinks. There's a large video screen showing scenes of Shurijo Castle.29 views
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The Ryukyu King and Queen posed for the crowd in three successive places. I quietly scrambled to follow them. In the background is the reconstructed Queen's Quarters.29 views
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Kouri Ohashi Bridge to Kouri Island goes right over the ocean. Built in 2005, the bridge is 1,960 meters long, the longest bridge near Okinawa island. 古宇利大橋29 views
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Typical glass bottom boat in Kabira Bay, Ishigaki.28 views
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Glass bottom boat in Kabira Bay, Ishigaki.28 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.28 views
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Yubu is a very lush, green island.28 views
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Himeyuri Monument and Cenotaph is one of Okinawa's most famous war sites and memorials.28 views
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Monument for the Army Field Hospital's Third Surgical Staff. 28 views
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The two monuments were also placed here in 1946 inscribed with the names of the deceased student nurses.28 viewsHimeyuri student nurses were Okinawan high school conscripts trained by the Japanese Army to serve at the Army Field Hospital which was a muddy and filthy underground bunker in a place called Haebaru from late March 1945. The hospital was slightly north of this area. As US forces advanced south, the hospital and nurses evacuated south to this area. Patients who couldn't walk overnight to evacuate were left behind.
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Sunrise kayaking on Iriomote, Yaeyama, Okinawa.28 views
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View of coral reefs from Nosokodake Lookout Point in northern Ishigaki. 28 views
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The squirrel monkeys climb all over you.28 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.28 viewsIf you see an injured or dead Iriomote wildcat, call 0980-85-5581.
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Life cycle of Iriomote wildcat.28 views
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Turtle on Iriomote.28 views
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Beyond the mountain in the center is Kabira Bay.28 views
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Another Urauchi River cruise boat. 西表島・浦内川 遊覧ボート28 views
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View of central Ishigaki from Banna Park. Taketomi Island can be seen on upper right.28 views
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Butterfly in Banna Park.28 views
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View of Ishigaki Airport terminal from 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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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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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.28 viewsIncluding breakfast, it costs ¥8,000/person for two people in a room in the main building.
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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28 views
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Guided tours are recommended. Local guides know the flora and fauna and the difficult or slightly hazardous sections of hiking trails. Local tour guide: https://www.motti-iriomotejima.com/28 views
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Nakama River is beyond this area.28 views
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Sakishima suounoki mangroves, Iriomote. サキシマスオウノキ (古見)28 views
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Ohara Port, Iriomote. One floating dock.28 views
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Inside Ohara Port's passenger terminal nicknamed "Nakamarin." It has a gift shop. This building got flooded by typhoons twice in 2005 and once in 2009.28 views
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Pretty smooth ride.28 views
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Shuri Castle has a free area which is like a castle park where you can enter for free. There is also a paid area where a small admission is charged to see the main buildings..28 views
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Other side of Kofukumon Gate is the Shicha-nu Una lower courtyard. This is still the free area requiring no admission fee. Kofukumon Gate is also a castle ticket office to enter the paid area. 広福門 下之御庭28 views
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About the Seiden main hall.28 views
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Yohokoriden roof. Totally unscathed from the Seiden fire.28 views
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Back to the beach.27 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.27 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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Yubu arrival station. (Admission charged, included in the water buffalo cart ride.) https://yubujima.com/27 views
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Way to butterfly hothouse (蝶々園).27 views
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Kinds of butterflies in the butterfly garden (蝶々園). It's a greehouse full of flowers and plants, so it's quite warm.27 views
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Our Okinawan lunch (Makunouchi Bento Akabana). Very good.27 views
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A nice cafe at Manta Beach on Yubu. Sit on old water buffalo carts.27 views
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Iriomote mangroves.27 views
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Flame of Peace at the center of the Peace Plaza on the oceanfront. 平和の火27 views
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Origami display27 views
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The cave goes down deep by 14 meters. They used a ladder for access.27 views
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Near the Himeyuri site, Seesa lions with masks.27 views
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Maira River, Iriomote. There's a waterfall upstream, but we didn't have time.27 views
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About the Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center.27 views
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Map of Iriomote.27 views
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The center's main exhibit is the stuffed Iriomote wildcats.27 views
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Characteristics of the Iriomote wildcat.27 views
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A few steep parts, but ropes help you up.27 views
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Our tour guide on Troll's Tongue playing his sanshin.27 views
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Cape Manzamo, one of Okinawa Island's main tourist attractions. Rock formation with a hole or elephant's trunk. It faces the East China Sea. 万座毛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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Bus stop (Urauchihashi) for the Urauchi River boat dock. In the background is our tour bus.27 views
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View of Sakieda Peninsula from Banna Park.27 views
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View of the mountains north of Banna Park.27 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.27 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 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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Lots of farmland next to the airport.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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Very modern room.27 views
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Ishigaki sunset.27 views
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The hotel's oceanfront does have great Ishigaki sunset views.27 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27 views
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Water buffalo walks through shallow water to Yubu Island from Iriomote. (Photo by tour guide motti.)27 views
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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. 27 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)27 views
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Modern bathroom at Takemori Ryokan on Iriomote.27 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.27 views
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Ohara Port dock built in 2002 after moving from the old location.27 views
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Tourist signs at Ohara Port.27 views
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Ohara Port's passenger terminal is nicknamed "Nakamarin." Built in 2002 after moving from the old location. This is the main entrance from the street.27 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27 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27 views
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Keizuza and Yomotsuza soon after it was rebuilt some years ago. 系図座・用物座27 views
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Seiden stone railing pieces.27 views
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Shuri Castle papercraft sold at the gift shop.27 views
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Dangerous sea creatures to look out for.27 views
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Lots of water buffalo monuments and sculptures on Yubu.26 views
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Map of Himeyuri Monument site.26 views
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Off we go. The water was shallow, but we still wore lifejackets.26 views
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Stargazing at Nosokodake Lookout Point. Photo by National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.26 views
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Sanshin in Makishi Residence. 旧牧志邸26 views
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Fisherman's home.26 views
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Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center is a great place to learn about the island's wildlife. There are some English captions too.26 views
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Inside Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center. One floor full of panel exhibits and stuffed specimens.26 views
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About habu snakes (venomous).26 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.26 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26 views
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View of central Ishigaki from Banna Park.26 views
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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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JTA Boeing 737-800 plane at Ishigaki Airport.26 views
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Passenger waiting area in front of the boarding gate. Very modern.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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Taking off from the runway at Ishigaki Airport.26 views
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Room rate is about ¥15,000/person in this new annex. Pricing also depends on the season.26 views
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Roomy balcony of my hotel room.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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Outside my room at Takemori Inn on Iriomote. View of the bridge to Ohara across Nakama River.26 views
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Ticket counter inside Ohara Port's passenger terminal.26 views
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Southern Cross No. 5 boat at the old Ohara Port.26 views
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Kankaimon Gate, main entrance to the castle for tourists. 歓会門26 views
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They are scouring forests in Kunigami (northern Okinawa island) for this oak and native conifer. They will likely use different varieties of wood and use local materials as much as possible. 26 views
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On the Seiden site, they show the Seiden's stone foundation from the 15th century. They cleaned off the charred surface from the fire. 正殿基壇の遺構26 views
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Reconstructed Queen's Quarters (世誇殿) called Yohokoriden.26 views
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Okinawan shishi-mai lion dance.26 views
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Photo cutouts25 views
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Water buffalo carts coming back from Yubu.25 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.25 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).25 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).25 views
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About the Himeyuri Cenotaph in English.25 views
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Statue of a Himeyuri high school student nurse.25 views
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Poetry by Ii Fumiko (1917–2004 井伊文子) who was a great granddaughter of the last Ryukyu King, Sho Tai. She was married to the mayor of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture who was a descendant of the Ii Clan.25 views井伊文子の歌碑
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Maira River lined with mangroves.25 views
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Entering Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park. Nosokodake is part of the national park.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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