Taketomi-jima Island

Taketomi-jima Island is located almost 2,000 km southwest of Tokyo while located about 300 km east of Taiwan. Taketomi-jima is one of the islands which have a tropical rainforest climate while most areas of Japan, including Okinawa main island, have temperate or subtropical climates.

Though Taketomi-jima is a small island where live about 300 people, there are traditional Okinawan villages in the island, which is designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings. Also there are a few beaches which are popular among tourists.

Taketomi-jima ( above ) is a small island created by the uplift of coral atoll. Its circumference is only 9.2 km. There is no mountain and its highest point is only 21 meters above sea level. The whole island is a part of Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park.

Though Taketomi-jima Island has no airport, ferries ( above ) connect Taketomi-jima and Ishigaki-jima Island which has an airport. It takes 10-15 minutes for ferries from Ishigaki-jima to Taketomi-jima. Ferries depart the islands so frequently.

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Upon arrival on Taketomi-jima Island, tourists would see some minibuses ( above ), which are run by the water buffalo tour operators and bicycle rental companies, who offer free shuttle service between the port and their offices, with or without reservations.

In Taketomi-jima, a small island, rental bicycles and water buffalo tours are so popular among tourists. Though the village is 15 minutes walk from the pier, rental bicycles would help tourists explore the island, especially visit beaches.

There are three villages ( above ) in the center of the island. In the island, where more than 2,600 people lived in A.D.1947, about 300 people live now. They strive to preserve their villages.

Most of the houses in the villages are one-storied and built in traditional Okinawan style with red tiled roofs. So Taketomi-jima is designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings and tourists could enjoy the atmosphere of traditional Okinawan villages.

Most of the houses in the villages are surrounded by natural stone walls ( above ) adorned with colourful floweres and streets are covered with white coral sands. Though here is no humburger shop nor convenience store, many tourists enjoy walking in the villages.

Tourists could find shisa ( guardian statues - above ) on red tiled roofs. They are warding off evils to protect houses. Not only in Taketomi-jima Island but also anywhere in Okinawa Prefecture, various kinds of small shisa are sold in souvenir shops. they are popular souvenirs from Okinawa.

While many tourists enjoy walking around, water buffalo cart tour ( above ) is also popular. Each cart tour shows about a dozen of passengers around the villages while a guide sings Okinawan songs on sanshin ( Okinawan musical instrument ). It takes about 30 minutes for a cart tour to travel around.

Among beaches in Taketomi-jima Island, Kondoi Beach ( above ) is the most popular. Kondoi has a white beach, clear blue seawater, shallow sea with a sandy floor and gentle waves. Tourists could enjoy not snorkeling but swimming and having a relaxed time. During April - October, beachside shops sell drinks and light meals and rent swimming rings, beach umbrellas and beach chairs.

Kaiji Beach ( above ) is also popular among tourists, though it is not allowed to swim there because tidal currents are too strong. Kaiji Beach is famous for Hoshi-zuna ( star-like shaped sands ), which are actually not sands but foraminifer's shells. Beach shops sell star sands in small bottles as souvenirs.

In the evening, many tourists visit Nishi-sambashi Bridge ( above ) to see the sunset, which is famous and one of the best sunsets in Japan. From the bridge, tourists could have a distant view of Iriomote-jima Island and Obama-jima Island. Until decades ago islanders living in Taketomi-jima Island, where rice farming was difficult, used to go from the bridge to Iriomote-jima to plow the rice fields there.

Above photo shows the gate to Saji On. In the island, there are dozens of "On" ( "Utaki" in most of Okinawa Prefecture ), which are sacred places of worship. On ( Utaki ) are generally off-limits to visitors. Offenders could be expelled.

Saji On enshrines Arashibana Kasanari, who introduced iron to Taketomi-jima Island and who is worshipped as a god of wheat and barley. Also it is said that he founded Nakasuji Village in the island.

Taketomi-jima Island is famous for traditional Minsa weaving. Taketomi Mingeikan ( local craft museum ) exhibits various items related to local traditional weaving including Minsa Belts ( above ). Tourists could experience Minsa weaving by themselves in the museum, where sold are Minsa Belts and some more as souvenirs.

There is a temple called Kihoin which has a museum "Shushukan", which exhibit items related to local traditional living utensils, which are designated Registered Tangible Folk Cultural Properties of Japan, such as masks of Miruku ( above ).

Miruku is one of gods worshiped in Okinawa including Taketomi-jima and is the god of rich harvest and happiness. In traditional festivals, someone acts Miruku with the mask in a yellow robe.

Yaeyama Soba ( above ) is one of the specialties of Yaeyama Islands including Taketomi-jima, Ishigaki-jima and so on. Though "Soba" is buckwheat noodles generally in Japan, "Yaeyama Soba" is thin noodles made of wheat flour. Yaeyama Soba is served in a clear broth topped with stewed pork. Soki Soba, served in a clear broth topped with pork ribs, is popular among tourists as well as Yaeyama Soba is.

In Taketomi-jima, there are dozens of restaurants and cafes, the most of which are closed in the evening because most of the tourists visit the island on a daytrip. There are some small restaurants which serve Yaeyama Soba and Soki Soba.