 Most viewed - OKINAWA 沖縄県 |
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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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About Iriomote's wildlife.25 views
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Times for sunrise, sunset, moon rise/set, and high/low tide on Iriomote in Oct.25 views
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Stuffed toy Iriomote wildcat.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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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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Another lookout deck, round, open-air structure.25 views
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Oceanside from Ishigaki Airport.25 views
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Our JTA Boeing 737-800 plane at Ishigaki Airport.25 views
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Jet bridge25 views
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Here it comes for a smooth landing.25 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.25 views
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My nice room at Ishigakijima Beach Hotel Sunshine's Ocean Garden annex.25 views
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Refrigerator.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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Outside my room at Takemori Ryokan on Iriomote.25 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。25 views
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Kyukeimon Gate, service gate mainly for women. 久慶門（きゅうけいもん）25 views
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About Shureimon Gate.25 views
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Kankaimon Gate is the first gate you enter when you enter the castle's inner grounds. "Kankai" means to "greet with joy." Rebuilt in 1974. 歓会門25 views
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Nyokan Kyoshitsu's right corner scorched from the burning Seiden.25 views
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Red tile roofs of the Yohokoriden and Nyokan Kyoshitsu.25 views
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Map of buildings behind the Seiden.25 views
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Inside Suimuikan, a mosaic bulletin board with encouraging messges to rebuild Shurijo.25 views
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Okinawan instrument called the "sanba" (三板). It's three small pieces of wood strung together to make clacking sounds. 25 views
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Uehara Nagisa (上原渚) is the oldest and current Nenes leader. Member since 2004.25 views
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Uehara Nagisa (上原渚) plays another common Okinawan musical instrument: the finger whistle (yubi-bue 指笛).25 views
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Pink whale shark Japan Transocean Air (JTA) Boeing 737-800 at Naha Airport. Very eye-catching.25 views
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The cruise is scenic with tropical ocean and small islands.24 views
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Glass bottom boat tour vendor.24 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.24 views
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Peace Prayer Memorial Hall in the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Park.24 views
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Map of where people's names are inscribed. Okinawans are inscribed according to their hometowns. Nearby are also war memorials for each prefecture.24 views
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"Life is a Treasure..."24 views
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Original Himeyuri Cenotaph monument built here in 1946.24 views
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Himeyuri Cenotaph (white). The white monument is more recent, also inscribed with an updated list of names of the deceased student nurses and stores their remains in the back.24 views
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Sekishin Cenotaph 赤心之塔24 views
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Near the Himeyuri Cenotaph is the Himeyuri Peace Museum. The building was modeled after one of the Himeyuri schools. ひめゆり平和祈念資料館24 viewshttp://www.himeyuri.or.jp/EN/info.html
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Himeyuri Peace Museum layout. Photography not allowed inside the museum.24 views
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Origami at Himeyuri Cenotaph site.24 views
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Himeyuri Cenotaph site is very rocky.24 views
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Inside Makishi Residence. 旧牧志邸24 views
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Ryukyu matsu pine trees24 views
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Fisherman's home.24 views
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Our waitress in Okinawan dress explaining our lunch at Yaima Mura.24 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.24 views
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Taketomi island in the distance. Flat, coral outcrop. Quaint, charming island, a short boat ride from Ishigaki Port.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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View of the mountains north of 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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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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View of Ishigaki Airport terminal from the jet bridge. The circular structure above the roof toward the control tower is a lookout deck.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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Painting of Okinawan yotsudake dancer in the hotel corridor.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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View of coral reef from Nosokodake Lookout Point in northern Ishigaki. 24 views
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Almost full moon above Iriomote.24 views
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Leaving the old Ishigaki Port.24 views
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My buffet breakfast at at the hotel restaurant in the main building. Most dishes are covered with Saran wrap.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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Seesaa at Kankaimon Gate.24 views
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冊封七碑（さっぽうしちひ）24 views
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The two stone dragon pillars that survived the fire were stlll standing. However, they had cracks, so they are being repaired here. (dairyuchu 大龍柱)24 views
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Layout map of Shicha-nu Una lower courtyard. It was a waiting area for people participating in rituals and events held at the main Una courtyard. 下之御庭24 views
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About Keizuza and Yomotsuza.24 views
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This prefab building on the Seiden site shows the Seiden's stone foundation from the 15th century. 正殿遺構を保護する覆屋24 views
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Nyokan Kyoshitsu was where the female attendants lived (女官居室). It's now a gift shop. It escaped the fire, but one corner is scorched (see next photo). 24 views
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After exiting Shicha-nu Una courtyard.24 views
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Scale model of Shurijo area.24 views
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On Sundays, Kokusai-dori is closed to traffic.24 views
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Don Quijote on Kokusai-dori in Naha, Okinawa.24 views
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Kencho-mae Station on the Yui Rail, the closest station to Kokusai-dori. 県庁前駅24 views
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Cornerstone of Peace (平和の礎) in Mabuni, a large oceanfront memorial park full of these stone slabs inscribed with over 240,000 names of people who died in the battle. 23 views
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Himeyuri Cenotaph (white) and older monuments. Seen on the left is the Himeyuri Peace Museum. 第三外科壕23 views
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The white Himeyuri Cenotaph was renovated in 2009.23 views
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Iwa-makura Monument has a tanka poem by Nakasone Seizen who was one of the teachers of the Himeyuri students. いわまくら碑23 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. 23 views
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Mouth of Maira River at low tide when we passed by the day before.23 views
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Maira River, Iriomote.23 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23 views
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View from Nosokodake Lookout Point in northern Ishigaki. 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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Yaima Mura Restaurant. This is also where you can rent Okinawan clothing.23 views
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Iriomote with the main town of Ohara on the lower right.23 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.23 views
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Some tropical plants at Ishigaki Airport.23 views
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The drive between the airport and central Ishigaki is largely rural with farmland and cattle.23 views
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Ishigaki Airport can be seen.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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Ishigaki Airport control tower.23 views
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Coral reef along Ishigaki.23 views
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Departing Ishigaki Port.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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Starry night from Ishigakijima Beach Hotel Sunshine's roof.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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Approaching Ohara Port. Although its official name is "Nakama Port" (仲間港), nobody calls it that.23 views
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Way to Shuri Castle's main entrance.23 views
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Pleasant walk along the castle wall.23 views
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Kyukeimon Gate, service gate mainly for women. 久慶門（きゅうけいもん）23 views
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About Shuri Castle.23 views
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About Kankaimon Gate.23 views
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Steps to Zuisenmon Gate lined with monuments on both sides. 瑞泉門23 views
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About the sundial. 日影台（にちえいだい）23 views
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Inside Keizuza and Yomotsuza. Now a free rest place for visitors. This area can also be used as a stage for performances.23 views
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Inside Keizuza and Yomotsuza. Now a free rest place for visitors. 系図座・用物座23 views
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About Hoshinmon Gate. 奉神門（ほうしんもん）23 views
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On the right was where the Nanden Hall was. It was burned beyond repair so it was torn down. The prefab building shows the ancient stone foundation underground.23 views
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Left end of the Seiden site.23 views
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At Shuri Castle, only this foundation and two other original structures are part of the World Heritage Site "Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu".23 views (琉球王国のグスク及び関連遺産群). 正殿基壇の遺構
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About the Seiden's old stone foundation.23 views
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About the Yohokoriden.23 views
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Shuri Castle holds the annual Shurijo Castle Festival on days centering on Nov. 3, a national holiday for Culture Day. The royal court made a few appearances at the castle on Nov. 3, 2020. 23 views
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They first appeared in front of the Yohokoriden and posed for photos. Led by the King and Queen's attendants.23 views
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The Ryukyu King and Queen are selected every year from applicants. This year's King and Queen were played by Takara Tomoaki (高良朝壮) and Kamiyama Seika (神山聖加) respectively. (琉球国王・王妃出御)23 views
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Queen Kamiyama Seika is 25 and works as an occupational therapist in Nago. King Takara Tomoaki is 43 and works at a company in Naha. They were selected in Sept. 2019 from among 37 applicants.23 views
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Shuri Castle papercraft sold at the gift shop.23 views
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Kunebu/Kunibo/Kunenbo citrus plants. 九年母23 views
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Well connected to an underground water reservoir. Not in use.23 views
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Way to Agari-no Azana lookout point.23 views
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View from Agari-no Azana lookout point.23 views
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Agari-no Azana lookout point. 東のアザナ23 views
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Castle wall and buildings as seen from Benzaiten-do Hall.23 views
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A projection mapping show was held at Kankaimon Gate (歓会門) in late Oct. 2020.23 views
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View from cart path to Kouri Ocean Tower.23 views
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The Nenes have been around since the 1990s, made famous when Sakamoto Ryuichi featured them in his Okinawan CDs and took them on a concert tour.23 views
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From left to right, the current Nenes/Nenez are Kohama Rin (小濱凜), Yonaha Ruon (与那覇琉音), Uehara Nagisa (上原渚), and Nakazato Haruhi (仲里はるひ). ネーネーズ23 viewsMost are in their 20s, and two of them have grandmothers who were the original Nenes from the early 1990s. Amazing! (As of Nov. 2020.)
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The sanshin is Okinawa's main musical instrument. What the sanshin is to Okinawa is what the ʻukulele is to Hawaii. Famous for the snakeskin (python) covered body, but cheaper sanshin might have fake snakeskin which is easier to care for.23 views
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Don Quijote does have an impressive selection of Okinawan products.23 views
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Intersection in front of Kokusai-dori, looking toward Pallet Kumoji mall.23 views
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Souvenir shops22 views
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Hibiscus22 views
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Slabs for 14,000+ Americans who died in Okinawa.22 views
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Below the Himeyuri monument, this cave is one of numerous natural caves in this area where the student nurses and local people took shelter. 22 views
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Himeyuri Peace Museum courtyard.22 views
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We were on time for the sunrise.22 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.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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Uechi Residence (Farmer;s house)22 views
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Skeleton of Iriomote wildcat.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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Jet way22 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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View from my room.22 views
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An adjacent hotel had chairs on the waterfront for the sunset.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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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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Orion constellation above Iriomote.22 views
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Old Ishigaki Port for tourist boats. 旧石垣港。22 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.22 views
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After walking from Shuri Station, this is the where you start walking up the hill toward Shuri Castle. Gradual slope, no problem for most people.22 views
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Tree that miraculously survived World War II. Since the Japanese Army HQ was under Shuri Castle, the castle was heavily attacked and most buildings destroyed in the process.22 views
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Other side of Kankaimon Gate.22 views
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Zenikura 銭蔵22 views
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Part of Hoshinmon Gate being repaired after the fire.22 views
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About the Una courtyard.22 views
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About the Seiden's old stone foundation.22 views
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Pillar foundation stones at the rear of Seiden Hall.22 views
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The rear of Seiden foundation, pillar foundations and rear steps.22 views
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A bit of good news is that some of the key members of the team involved in the 1992 reconstruction 30+ years ago are still alive and again taking on the job to rebuild the castle.22 views
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This is directly behind the Seiden, an area called the Ouchibara (御内原) which was the living quarters of the royal family and female attendants. 22 viewsSleeping quarters, dining room, bath house for female attendants were here. Men, except for the royal family, were forbidden from this guarded area.
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Ouchibara (御内原) as seen from Yohokoriden. Straight ahead is the Seiden Hall site.22 views
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About Nyokan Kyoshitsu. 女官居室（にょかんきょしつ）22 views
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The main event is the Ryukyu Royal Procession (琉球王朝絵巻行列) with the Ryukyu King and Queen and their attendants parading on Kokusai-dori (Naha's main drag). However, the procession was canceled in 2020.22 views
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It was a happy kingdom until the Satsuma Clan in Kagoshima invaded and conquered the Ryukyus and made it a vassal state in 1609. 22 viewsThe Sho kings were allowed to keep their position, but had to rule as directed by the Satsuma. Heavy taxes were imposed on Ryukyuans.
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Red roof tiles22 views
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Kunebu/Kunibo/Kunenbo citrus plants. 九年母22 views
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About the kunebu citrus plants.22 views
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Mamo-no-uchi Utaki sacred site in the Ouchibara.22 views
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In Okinawa, tree roots are always exposed because of frequent typhoons eroding the soil with winds and rains.22 views
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Benzaiten-do at Shuri Castle. 弁財天堂22 views
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Benzaiten-do Hall roof tile corner.22 views
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Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts.22 views
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Post office in Shuri. Roof tile ends have the post office symbol.22 views
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Okinawan court dance called Kajadefu performed on auspicious occasions. Performers were students majoring in Ryukyuan arts at the Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts. 琉球古典舞踊「かじゃで風」22 views
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Kashikaki weaving dance showing a wife weaving clothing to express her love for her husband. It was nice that we saw a few classic Okinawan dances. 琉球古典舞踊「綛掛」22 views
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Kouri Island's best beach is Kouri Beach next to Kouri Bridge. There's a parking lot and snack bar and gift shop. Also shower faciilties. This was autumn, so too cold to swim. Beach is 300m long. 古宇利ビーチ22 views
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Kouri Bridge 古宇利大橋22 views
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We drove around Kouri island, taking only 10 min. Island's circumference is about 8 kilometers22 views
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Arrival cart station at Kouri Ocean Tower.22 views
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Kouri Ocean Tower includes a shell museum.22 views
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Lower floors have exhibition panels explaining about Kouri Island.22 views
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A few historical spots on the island.22 views
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Kariyushi shirts, Okinawan-style Aloha shirts.22 views
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The show is from 7 pm to 10 pm when they play three sets (two intermissions) for a cover charge of only ¥2,300 (as of Nov. 2020). Food and drink are extra.22 viewshttp://livehousesimauta.com/
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Taiko drums is also big in Okinawan music. 22 views
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Noren-gai restaurant complex on Kokusai-dori. のれん街22 views
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Noren-gai restaurant complex.22 views
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Raunchy artwork and graffitti on Kokusai-dori.22 views
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View from Manzamo.21 views
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