Taketomijima Island, Okinawa

“Taketomi Island” (Taketomijima) is an island belonging to the Yaeyama Islands, and it is a remote island that is easily accessible by a 10-minute high-speed boat from Ishigaki Island. The island, where Okinawa’s traditional cityscape is preserved, has a beauty unlike any other.
Taketomi Island is adjacent to Ishigaki Island, which is the center of the Yaeyama Islands. Only 10 minutes by high-speed boat from Ishigaki Port located south of Ishigaki Island. It is an island with 9 km of small islands with little difference in elevation. On the island, houses with red tiled roofs are lined with unpaved roads and white coral sands.
The rustic and beautiful old-fashioned landscape is also selected as a national important traditional monumental reserve. If you ride the water buffalo car and see the island slowly, you will feel as if it were a time-slip to the old Okinawa.
Among the islanders, the intention to preserve the traditional cityscape and culture was strong, and in 1986 the Taketomi Island Charter was enacted. There are 4 principles to protect the island: “do not sell,” “do not get dirty,” “do not disturb,” and “do not break.” Furthermore, they make use of “traditional culture and natural and cultural landscapes as a tourist resource” and make it a basic five principles. The spirit of cherishing the island’s traditional culture, and the attitude when dealing with people who come to Taketomi Island, etc. are covered.
When you build a new house, there are various provisions, such as having to be a red tiled flat house and not leaving a signboard etc. outside the building. There are a lot of inconveniences when it comes to living. However, keeping this charter protects the beautiful scenery and makes it an island where many people seem to want to go.
When visiting Taketomi Island, be sure to honor and appreciate those islanders. By doing so, you may feel more about the island.

Taketomijima Island is famous for keeping the ancient traditions

Yaeyama Islands boast of one of the best coral reefs in Japan. The seven islands are full of charm that makes you feel Okinawa’s richness on your skin. Among them, at Taketomijima Island, you can feel a slow time away from reality. Taketomijima Island is famous not only in the sea but also as an island keeping the ancient traditions. Once you step in, you should be able to meet the scenery and excitement that you have never encountered before.

It is also the sea where divers worldwide adore

In Kondoi beach, white sand, blue sea and cloud cover shine intensely. This is also the beach representative of Yaeyama, and because it is shallow so you can swim with peace of mind with children. This is also a great diving spot with Japan’s largest coral reefs, and it is also the sea where divers worldwide adore.

All other buildings are one story

“Nagomi no Tou” is a sightseeing spot that can overlook the settlements of Taketomijima Island, and there is also a place where tourists visiting the island surely stop by. In Taketomijima Island, which strictly keeps the tradition, there are strict regulations on the height of the building, and only the school is allowed to have two stories. Nagomi no Tou” is the only high place on the island. All other buildings are one story. Perhaps that old-fashioned atmosphere is loved by tourists as well.
Note : Because of aging it is forbidden to enter “Nagomi no Tou” from 2016.

The journey is exactly what you can taste experienced only here

When traveling Taketomijima Island where the Okinawa style strongly remains also in Yaeyama Islands, a buffalo cars are the most impressive. As a buffalo car driver, so-called “Ojii” speaks about the history and plants of the island, and the journey around listening to his playing Sanshin (Okinawan traditional three-stringed instrument) is exactly what you can taste experienced only here.

It is a finest resort that lives with general colony

The concept of resort hotel “Hoshinoya Taketomijima” is “to stay like living.” It is a finest resort that lives with general colony. “Hoshinoya Taketomijima” is a resort that made use of strict island rules very well without breaking the taste of Taketomijima which keeps tradition and history.

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