Hoshisuna
Beach(Star-Sand
Beach)
This is a beach of star-shaped sand grains,formed from the tiny
skeletons of Forminiferida plankton. There are also tide-pools for
children to play in and good snorkeling a short distance out. There
is a restaurant and souvenir shop. souvenier shop
Tsukigahama
Beach(Moon
Beach)
At the entrance to the Urauchi River,
you can enjoy a crescent shaped beach, the Moon Beach, of very fine
sand.
Barasu Islands(Coral Island)
Between Iriomote and Hatoma Island is a
bar of coral fragments. It is a great spot for snorkeling or diving
but you need to take a boat.
Haimida
Beach(South-facing
Beach)
A long sandy beach in the south of
Iriomote from which you can see the islands of Hateruma and
Nakanokamishima. In Spring and early Summer you can see the Southern
Cross from here. Camping is not permitted but there are usually
people in tents.
Sakiyama
Beach
If you charter a boat you can visit
Iriomote's western-most beach for a bit of privacy. You can enjoy
snorkeling and diving but be careful of strong tides.
Urauchi River
Urauchi River is the biggest and longest
river on iriomote.you can hike up to the Mariudo and Kampira falls,or
carry on right across the island.It's a good idea to take the morning
boat to give yourself time.The round triptakes one hour by boat,or
three hours if hiking to the falls.
Nakama
River
The estuary of the Nakama River is the
site of Iriomote's largest mangrove. From Tenbodaione gets good views
over the meandering river.be aware that the road to Tenbodai is not
in good condition.There is a sight-seeing boat but it's schedule is
dependant on the tide.The pier is recognisable the xxxx tree with
huge buttress roots.
Hinai
River
Just to the south of Funaura,the waters
of Hinaigawa river cascade over the highest waterfall in
Okinawa.There is a sight-seeing boat but it operates only at high
tide.The boat tour is 1 1/2 hours round trip or two hours if you
climb to the top of the falls.When the tide is out you can hike to
the .falls.
Kuira
River
From Shirahama you can take a boat up
Kuira River,but there is no sight -seeing boat. You can either one or
join a snorkelling or glass boat tour.
Yutsu
River
Fifteen minutes from Funaura, a
beautiful mangrove surrounds the Yutsu River. You can enter the river
on foot but to travel up river you need to take a canoe. Iriomote
Jima Kotsu offer jungle tours wich include canoeing.
Trans-Iriomote Island Trail
The trail across Iriomote starts from
Urauchi River and emerges from Otomi. It's advisable to take an early
boat up Urauchi River. The trail takes 8 hours,if your fit, or 12
hours at a more leisurely pace. It is also possible to camp, which
allows time to explore to the impressive XXXXXFalls. For one hour
from Kampira Falls the path is easy, but thereafter gets touther,
although it is well marked. Once you leave the forest it is still a
long walk (?7km) down to Ohara. The path to Komi, which branches off
from the main trail, is easily lost so it's best not to take
thisroute.For safety, if you wish to go inform the guest house of
your plan and register with the police. Also, you should have a good
map.
Iriomote Island circumnavigation
trail
From Haimida Beach to Kanokawa Beach there is a costal route and a
hill course from Amitori.It is best to make camp at the Kamokawa
Beach. For the costal route you have to go during the Spring tides or
there is no path. On the way you can see various things, including
beautiful coastal scenery and strange rock formations. This course is
for experienced hikers.For safety, if you wish to go inform the guest
house of your plan and register with the police. Also, you should
have a good map.
The Forest
Iriomote Island has subtropical rain
forest, a relatively rare habitat in global terms,withhigh divesity
of species. Extensive mangroves, a ecosystem more typically
associated with tropical regions,are found in the main river
estuaries. Plant diversity in mangroves is low but there are many
species of crab, shrimp and fish.the large Mangrove Shrimp excavates
huge burrows, pilling up the sand in a big spoil heap, a process that
is thought to be critical in the carbon cycling of
mangroves.barringtonia swamps are another interesting habitat on
Iriomote. These are freshwater swamp, often above the mangroves,
dominated by this swamp specialist tree species, although many ferns
and epiphytes,including orchids, can be found. Barringtonia produce
distinctive, night opening and very fragrant flower in june and july.
Elsewhere, these are bat pollinated but iriomote has no small fruit
bats and moths appear to be the main flower visitors. Iriomote's rain
forest are interspersed. with a drier forest type, which is easily
recognisable for the presence of pines and other species with narrow
leaves. The two forest types are probably distributed according to
differences in soil but the drierfrests are common on the
hills.
Iriomote's frests were traditionally exploited for charcoal and one can still see some of the earthworks asoociated with this industry on many of the frest trails. Large scale extraction of coal and timber, especially during the Second World War, Led to widespreadfelling and clearance. Primaryforest, recognisable by the large trees,is still to be found in remote inland areas, such as on the trans-iriomote trail, and the natural regrowth in other areas has resulted in a very diverse and beautiful forest.
Iriomote Wildcat
The famouse Iriomote Wildcat is a
protected species and endemic to the Island. If you go out every
night for about a week, you have a reasonable chance of seeing one.
Its more common along the roadside than in the forest, so when
driving at night be careful. Like most cats, it freezes in the glare
of a car's headlamps.
Crested Serpent Eagle
The Crested Serpent Eagle is another
protected specieson Iriomote. A large bird of prey, it can often be
seen perched on electrcity wires.
Semaru-hako-game (Round box tortoise)
On Iriomote Island and Ishigaki Island
the Semaru- hako-game is a protected species. However, it is not
proteceted in Taiwan so imported individuals can be bought. It is the
only species that can withdraw its head, tail and feet, and
completely close its shell(hence the name). It's often seen after
rain and is quite common.
Ryukyu
Wildpig
Smaller than the variety from mainland Japan, and believed to be a
more primitive form, this wildpig is not supposed to have any
internal parasites so can be eaten as sashimi.
Akashobin (Redwinged
Kingfisher)
This kingfisher has an entirely red and russet boddy. From March to
September you can see this birdthroughout Iriomote and hear its
beautiful call.
Mud Crab
Found in burrows in the mangroves, this crab has large claws and is
very tasty.
Minamikometsukigani
(Southern ……Crab
Found in the inter-tidal zone this tiny crab, shaped like onigiri and
runnning forwards, swarms over the sand.
Yashigani (Giant Hermit
Crab)
This large hermit crab is blue and does not carry a shell. It emerges
on to the beaches at night. It is tast but some have
poison.
Sakishimahabu (Southern Okinawa Habu
(Viper))
The poison of the southern Habu is weaker than that of one from the
Okinawa main island. This snake comes out along roadsiders after rain
or along stream sides to eat frogs.
Haarii (Dragon Boat Race)
Haarii is a boat race that takes place
during the fifthlunar month. A custom that originated in China, the
Hitman festival on the Okinawa main island is famous, but a smaller
version is held in Shirahama, Iriomote.
Harvest
Festival
In the sixth lunar month a festival is held to thank the spirits for
a good rice harvest. Starting in Sonai and Hoshidate each village
holds it's own version. A tug- of-war is held to decide whether next
years harvest will be good or really good. During the festival a good
luck spirit is welcomed into each house in the village.
Autumn
Equinox Festival
The Autumn wquinox festivals at Sonai and Hoshidate are particularly
famous.
Restaurants, Coffee
Shops
Funaura/Tontonmie (Lunch, Coffee)
Pocket House (Lunch, Bar)
Uehara/Lunch House Tamago(Lunch, Supper)
Robinson's Inn (Tea Shop, Souvenir)
Shinpachi-shokudo (Local Restaurant)
Densa-shokudo (Local Restaurant)
Hatoba-shokudo(Local Restaurant)
Kaketa（Italian + International food : Open for dinner
time)
Nakano/Hatsue (Sushi, Japanese food : Open for Dinner)
Pirates Club (Lunch, Supper, Karaoke)
Urauchi/Tohenboku (Lunch, Coffee and Cakes)
Sumiyoshi/ Hoshinosuna Rest House (Lunch, Ice Cream)
Hoshizunatei (Local Restaurant)
Restaurant Kaitei (Lunch, Dinner, Pub)
Urauchi Riverside/Restaurant Urauchi (Lunch)
Court Chalet Plaza (Coffe Shop, Lunch)
Sonai/Katagiri (Noudles)
Shirahama/Restaurant Shirahama
IKEI（Japanese style bar）
Gazebo (Dinner)
Takana/Restaurant Takana
Iriomotejima-onsen (Hot spring) Restaurant
Otomi/Yasumiya (Eel)
Ohara/Shokudo-Manpachi (Local Restayrant)
Jasmine
Souvenir
Shops
Uehara/Shotokuan (Shell carving)
Robinson's Inn
Nakano/Pura (Iriomote and Asian goods)
Sumiyoshi/Hoshinosuna Rest House
Marine Box Roco
Urauchi Riverside/Court chalet plaza
Miki
Local Shops
Funaura/Nishino Shoten
Uehara/Super Kawamitsu
Nakano/Super Oyakawa
Sumiyoshi/Sumiyoshi Baiten
Pine-kan
Sonai/Super Hoshisuna
Shirahama/Yara Shoten
Otomi/Otomi-baiten
Ohara/Tamamori Super
Ohara Super
Cash
Services
Sonai/Iriomotejima Post Office (ATM)
Ohara/Iriomotejima-Ohara Post Office（ATM）
Iriomote
Wildlife Centre
A little the Taken side of Komi, this
centre has an exhibition of Iriomote's wildlife and is a
rehabilitation centre for injured animals. If you are lucky (but no
so lucky for the cat) you can see an Iriomote Wildcat in the
rehabilitation cage.
The
Longitude Monument
The 123 degrees 45 minutes and 6.789
seconds line is drawn from Sonai to Shirahama. From 19:00 to 22:00
for 30 minutes after the hour a laser marks the line.
Yubu
Island
A small island between Iriomote and Kohama, Yubu Island has a
botanical garden and is reached by crossing the shallow sea on a
buffalo cart.
Iriomote
Hot Spring
The most southerly hot spring in Japan, the Iriomote Hot Spring has
large, mixed outside pools for bathing in swimming costumes. It also
has enclosed, single sex open air pools for naked bathing. At mid-day
you can watch the forest, or at night you can star gaze, while
bathing. Entrance 1200 yen.