I’m planning a trip to Ishigaki this summer; can you give me a bit of information about the island?
— Manny Ramirez
Some people prefer to be in the middle of a metropolis and enjoy non-stop action 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Interestingly enough, a great majority of people living in the fast lane invariably vacation in places where the pace is slower and more relaxed. The Yaeyama Archipelago—which Ishigaki is a part of—definitely fits in this category. The islands south of Okinawa are famous nationwide for their unspoiled natural beauty, blazing sunsets of red and gold, water the color of priceless emeralds, and some of the most laid-back people on Earth. These islands (many of which are only accessible by boat) offer countless sights that must be seen to be believed, multitudes of people with the purest of hearts, and a whole new perspective of Okinawa.
The Yaeyama Islands, located approximately 420 kilometers southwest of Okinawa, consist of lshigaki, Iriomote, Taketomi, Hateruma, Yonaguni, Kohama, and many smaller islands. These islands are actually geographically closer to Taiwan than Okinawa—especially Yonaguni, which can be seen from Taiwan on a sunny day. Although Iriomote is the largest of the chain (second only to Okinawa in landmass), it is largely deserted, and mostly preserved as a wildlife refuge. The hub of the Yaeyama chain is lshigaki—the second largest of Yaeyama’s islands. Although Ishigaki is accessible by ferry (a 16—20 hour trip from Naha Port), many may choose to fly to Ishigaki and take a ferry to one of its sister islands from there.
One of Ishigaki’s more popular neighbors, Taketomi Island is known for its star-shaped sand and its “time capsule” atmosphere. Iriomote Island holds the reputation as the “Galapagos of Japan” and has a thriving ecotourism industry. Yonaguni Island is the western most piece of Japanese territory. It is world famous among divers— especially for its mysterious “undersea ruins." Hateruma is Japan’s southern most point, and is well known among astronomers for its beautiful views of the Southern Cross from Starry Skies Observation Tower on the Takana coast.
Like Okinawa, Ishigaki’s location on the South China Sea accounts for the influences of China, Japan, and Southeast Asia apparent in the island’s culture. Unlike Okinawa, where mass tourism and the presence of U.S. military bases have led to Westernization, the southwest islands have been somewhat impervious to outside influence. Furthermore, the people of Yaeyama were left comparatively unscathed by Japanese colonial policies in the last century, the pitched battles of World War II, and the effects of the subsequent American occupation that continued until 1972.
While Japanese is widely spoken, it’s not uncommon to hear the people lapsing into dialect. Ishigaki has an exotic island feel that is intensified by the roadside presence of colorful dugout canoes, more suggestive of Melanesia than Japan. And it is said that it is still possible to find shards of ancient ceramic wares carried by Chinese trading vessels 400 to 500 years ago.
Whether visitors find one of these ancient artifacts may be questionable, however, virtually every visitor will return to their hustle and bustle with a warm shard of Yaeyama relaxation lodged firmly in their hearts.
For more information about the Yaeyama Archipelago and making travel arrangements, contact the Okinawa Convention and Visitors Bureau at (99) 098-861-6331.
The Yaeyama Islands, located approximately 420 kilometers southwest of Okinawa, consist of lshigaki, Iriomote, Taketomi, Hateruma, Yonaguni, Kohama, and many smaller islands. These islands are actually geographically closer to Taiwan than Okinawa—especially Yonaguni, which can be seen from Taiwan on a sunny day. Although Iriomote is the largest of the chain (second only to Okinawa in landmass), it is largely deserted, and mostly preserved as a wildlife refuge. The hub of the Yaeyama chain is lshigaki—the second largest of Yaeyama’s islands. Although Ishigaki is accessible by ferry (a 16—20 hour trip from Naha Port), many may choose to fly to Ishigaki and take a ferry to one of its sister islands from there.
One of Ishigaki’s more popular neighbors, Taketomi Island is known for its star-shaped sand and its “time capsule” atmosphere. Iriomote Island holds the reputation as the “Galapagos of Japan” and has a thriving ecotourism industry. Yonaguni Island is the western most piece of Japanese territory. It is world famous among divers— especially for its mysterious “undersea ruins." Hateruma is Japan’s southern most point, and is well known among astronomers for its beautiful views of the Southern Cross from Starry Skies Observation Tower on the Takana coast.
Like Okinawa, Ishigaki’s location on the South China Sea accounts for the influences of China, Japan, and Southeast Asia apparent in the island’s culture. Unlike Okinawa, where mass tourism and the presence of U.S. military bases have led to Westernization, the southwest islands have been somewhat impervious to outside influence. Furthermore, the people of Yaeyama were left comparatively unscathed by Japanese colonial policies in the last century, the pitched battles of World War II, and the effects of the subsequent American occupation that continued until 1972.
While Japanese is widely spoken, it’s not uncommon to hear the people lapsing into dialect. Ishigaki has an exotic island feel that is intensified by the roadside presence of colorful dugout canoes, more suggestive of Melanesia than Japan. And it is said that it is still possible to find shards of ancient ceramic wares carried by Chinese trading vessels 400 to 500 years ago.
Whether visitors find one of these ancient artifacts may be questionable, however, virtually every visitor will return to their hustle and bustle with a warm shard of Yaeyama relaxation lodged firmly in their hearts.
For more information about the Yaeyama Archipelago and making travel arrangements, contact the Okinawa Convention and Visitors Bureau at (99) 098-861-6331.
—Mike Daley
Got questions for Mike? E-mail editor©okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.
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