Page 290 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

Tatami-ishi, a rock mosaic
resembling a tortoise shell,
on an island near Kume

9 The village of Nakadomari, sacred Yajiya-gama Caves
in the southwest, boasts
were used for burials 2,000
Kume Island one of the oldest houses years ago.
久米島 in Okinawa, Uezu-ke which To the north, the 650-ft-
was built in the 1700s in the (200-m-) high Hiyajo Banta
! D2 ⌂ 56 miles (90 km) W
of Okinawa Island k From Okinawan samurai style. An cliff affords good views toward
extraor dinary tree, the Goe-
the Aguni and Tonaki islands
Naha g From Naha Tomari da Pine, whose five separate and the barrier reef below.
port n (098) 985-5288
trunks span upwards, is just Nakazato village, in the
Volcanic Kume is famous for a short walk from the house. east of the island, is one of its
its sugarcane and pineapple Rice-planting rituals and most traditional settlements,
plantations, and Kumejima- prayers for rain are still con- with several well-preserved
tsumugi, an exqui site silk ducted at Chinbei-donchi, the buildings. You can see women
pongee. Buses serve many island’s foremost shrine, north weaving and dyeing Kume jima-
of the island’s sights. of Nakadomari. Nearby, the tsumugi here. Nearby Eef
Beach is Kume’s largest resort.
Tiny Ou Island is well worth
OKINAWAN ARTS AND CRAFT the 20-minute walk across
Okinawan artists and craftsmen are honored as masters a bridge from Nakazato’s
or, in a few rare cases, Living National Treasures. The Tomari port. In the southwest
island’s textiles are among the finest in Japan, especially is a mosaic of over 1,000
the linen-dyed bingata and ryusen fabrics, bashofu, and pentagonal stones, called the
kasuri, a high-quality cloth made from the finest natural Tatami-ishi, which resemble
fibers. Equally, the glossy, black Okinawan lacquerware flattened tortoise shells.
has been made for over 500 years, using the wood of the
indigenous deigo tree as a base. New
crafts have appeared since the 0
war, most notably
glassware, its Kijoka Village
vibrant colors 喜如嘉村
reflecting Okinawa’s ! G6 ⌂ 16 miles (25 km) NE
sparkling coral seas.
of Nago @ 67 from Nago to
Daiichi Kijoka
Delicately decorated The main reason for a visit to
lacquered box Kijoka Village, in Ogimi, is to
watch the making of bashofu,
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