Page 293 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

Glass-bottomed Miyara Dunchi
boats at Kabira " ⌂ 178 Okawa, Ishigaki
Bay and scuba § (0980) 82-2767
diving (inset) # 9am–5pm Wed–Mon
in the waters off
Ishigaki, one of the Taketomi Island
Yaeyama Islands g From Ishigaki n (0980)
85-2488
Beach has star-shaped sand Iriomote Island
– the fossilized skeletons of g From Ishigaki n (0980)
tiny sea animals. The aqua- 85-5304
marine waters here support
can be seen at the Yaeyama bountiful tropical sea life, and Yonaguni Island
Museum, near the harbor, brilliantly colored butterflies g From Ishigaki ~ From
which contains Yaeyama-jofu swarm around the beach. Naha and Ishigaki n (0980)
textiles, and Polynesian-style As much as 90 percent of 87-2402
canoes. Not far away is Miyara Irio mote Island is forest and
Dunchi, a 19th-century noble- jungle. Visitors can take cruises
man’s home. Shiraho Reef, off along its two main rivers, the
the south eastern tip of the Nakama and Urauchi, where
island, is the world’s largest black oyster beds, mangroves, EAT
expanse of blue coral. Kabira and tropical trees can be seen.
Bay on the north shore, is full The island is the last habitat
of small islets and supports a of the Iriomote wild cat. Goya
cultured black pearl industry. Yonaguni offers swordfish This eatery’s namesake
Meaning “prosperous and bonito fishing Japan’s is a green bitter gourd.
bamboo,” Taketomi Island is strongest sake – hanazake. Here, goya is deep-fried,
a quiet, unspoiled island. Its pickled, and even made
neatness stems from an old Ishigaki Island into ice cream.
custom by which it was, and k From Tokyo, Osaka, ! D2 ⌂ 570-2 Hirara
still is, the responsibility of all Nagoya, Naha, and Miyako Nishizato, Miyakojima-
householders to sweep the n (0980) 87-0971 shi, Okinawa 906-0012
street in front of their own § (0980) 74-2358
property. The island can easily Yaeyama Museum 
be explored on foot or by bike. " ⌂ 4-1 Tonoshiro, Ishigaki
To the west, Kondoi is the § (0980) 82-4712 # 9am–
island’s finest beach; Kaiji 5pm Tue–Sun
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