NICE TO MEET EVERYONE WHO WATCHES COOL JAPAN VIDEOS! This is the Izena Island Tourism Association. Izena Island is located in the north of the main island of Okinawa, and the circumference of the island is 17 kilometers, and you can go around it in about 20 minutes by car. Izena Village, Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture is an island consisting of three uninhabited islands: the main island "Izena Island", "Yanaha Island", "Gushigawa Island", and "Furujin Island". The population of Izena Island in Okinawa Prefecture is 1,322 (as of the 2020 (Reiwa 2) survey), and it is also known as the birthplace of "Shoenou", the first king of the second Sho clan of the Ryukyu Dynasty. In this first post, we will introduce Izena Island and introduce the attractions of sightseeing spots and activities. ■■Sightseeing spots on Izena Island, Okinawa Prefecture■■ ◆ Futamigaura Coast (Superb view of two rocks of Gitara) "Gitara" means a sheer rock (cliff), and the sheer rocks in the sea and land are called "sea gitara / land gitara". The Gitara Coast, which has a total length of about 1 km, is dotted with many sea and land gitaras, and it has been selected as one of the 100 best beaches in Japan because of the beauty of the arrangement of sea and land gitara, land and broad-leaved trees! In addition, "Mattera Beach" in the Gitara Coast area is a hidden gem beach with white sand and highly transparent blue waters. There is also a campsite. ◆ Gitara Observatory Located in the Gitara Coast area, the "Gitara Observatory" is a popular observation spot! In particular, it is also a valuable place where you can overlook the two opposite sea and land Gitara. Don't miss the starry sky and city illuminations at night. ◆ Izena Castle Ruins The altitude of the "Izena Castle Ruins" in the southeast of Izena Island is 70m. It is said that the castle was built in the Gusuku period (11th ~ 14th century) by King Shoen's grandfather "Lord Sameigawa". It is said that it was said to be an "impregnable castle" because it was cut into a pyramid shape and had precipitous cliffs on three sides. From the top of the ruins of Izena Castle, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the sea. In addition, the "Izena Tama Palace" at the foot of the ruins of Izena Castle has been designated as an important cultural property of Japan. ◆ Izena Beach (Izena Beach) Located on the south side of Izena Island, this beach has a cobalt blue sea! It is a popular tourist destination where you can enjoy swimming and camping, and toilets and showers are also available. * 2023 (Reiwa 5) partially unusable due to seawall maintenance work from July. ◆ Shoenwang Oniwa Park To commemorate the 580th anniversary of King Shoen's birth, it is a park that was built in 1996 (Heisei 8). There are still a steady stream of worshippers in Shoen-o Oniwa Park, and there is also the Shiohira River in the park, which is said to have been used for the birthing bath of King Shoen. It is a sightseeing spot where you can feel the history of the Ryukyu kings. ◆ Mekaruke House Designated as a nationally designated important cultural property (building), the "Meikari Family Residence" is the house where the direct family of the Mekari family lived. It escaped damage from the war and was well preserved, so it was rebuilt in Meiji 39 (1906) (1906). ◆ Samure Michi The "Samure Road" is an ancient road with a total length of 2 kilometers that was used as the only living road connecting the village of Izena and the southwestern part of Izena Island around the 12th ~ 13th century. "Samure" is a Ryukyu dialect word that means "samurai" (a samurai family related to the royal family). The quartzite (mah stone) laid on the Samure Road resembled the footprints of a samurai, so it was named the Samure Road. The Samure Road is also used as an approach road to connect the royal family's holy tomb, the Izena Tama Palace, when the Meikari family, who are relatives of the Sho family, hold the "Koji Seimei Festival", which is an event to visit the graves of their ancestors. ◆ Shirasagi Observatory Facing the sea, it is an observatory with a good view overlooking the Gitara Coast (Futamigaura) and the sea! It is a popular view spot where you can also see the ruins of Izena Castle and Yanaha Island. ■■Activity information on Izena Island, Okinawa Prefecture■■ ◆ Bicycle rental Izena Island has few gradients, so it is also recommended to rent a bicycle to visit the famous spots! While galloping through the idyllic scenery, please enjoy Izena Island. ◆ Diving, snorkeling The highly transparent sea of Izena Island is ideal for marine activities! There are plenty of highlights such as coral reefs and caves of light. There is no doubt that it will be enjoyed by both beginners and advanced players! ◆ Sea fishing On Izena Island, there are many points for chinu (black bream) fishing. The official website of the Izena Island Tourism Association also has a "Fishing Map of Izena Island", so please make use of it! ■■Gourmet information on Izena Island, Okinawa Prefecture■■ ◆ Awamori Awamori, which is made in the Ryukyu Islands, also has a sake brewery on Izena Island. Please enjoy the mellow taste of awamori! ◆Okinawa Soba in Izena You can enjoy the unique flavors of Izena Island, such as Okinawa Soba using plenty of Okinawa's specialty "Mozuku" and Okinawa Soba using rice from Izena Island for the noodles. ■■ Festivals and event information on Izena Island, Okinawa Prefecture ■■ ◆ Izena 88 Triathlon Tournament Approximately 600 athletes participate every year, making it the largest event on Izena Island. Healthy men and women over the age of 18 are welcome to participate regardless of nationality. The 7-hour heated competition is a must-see! ◆ Unner "Unna" is a traditional festival on Izena Island that prays for a good harvest of rice. Powerful events such as tug-of-war, snai wrestling on a plank, and the Okinawa sumo wrestling tournament will be held. ■■Accommodation information for Izena Island, Okinawa Prefecture■■ There are a variety of accommodation facilities in Izena Island, including hotels, vacation rentals, and guest houses. You can enjoy a wide range of accommodations, from facilities with a view of the beach to accommodations with a cozy atmosphere ■■Tradition of Izena Island, Okinawa Prefecture■■ One of the charms of Izena Island is the tradition of "Ihyajute". Ihyajute is a word that means "the people of Izena are compassionate." The tradition of hospitality, in which visitors from outside the island were given harvests such as fishing without discrimination, has been rooted for a long time. On the island, you can experience Ihyajute, which is still carried over to this day. You can enter the garden where tea is placed on the veranda of the house, listen to the story of the island while drinking tea, and spend a relaxing time, which is a tradition unique to Izena Island. ■■Access information to Izena Island, Okinawa Prefecture■■ ◆ In the case of a private car From Naha Airport, take the expressway and drive north for about 2 hours, and from Unten Port (Nakijin Village), take a car ferry for about 1 hour. ◆ In the case of a taxi From Naha Airport, use the expressway and drive north for about 2 hours (fare: about 16,000 yen) About 25 minutes from Nago City to Unten Port (Fare: about 2,400 yen ~) You can also use buses and highway buses from Naha Airport. For details, please check the official website of the Izunashima Tourism Association. There are also rental car shops for cars, bicycles, mopeds, etc. on Izena Island. Please make use of it when sightseeing. COOL JAPAN VIDEOS WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON IZENA ISLAND, OKINAWA PREFECTURE, SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO DO SO!

Nice to meet you all! Kumejima Visitor's Bureau. Kumejima, Kume Island a remote island in Okinawa with a population of about 7,300, is home to beautiful nature and rich culture. The Kume Island is located 100 km west of the main island of Okinawa, and access to the Kumejima is about 30 minutes by plane from Naha Airport on the main island of Okinawa to Kumejima Airport (7 flights a day). Kumejima Airport from Haneda Airport takes about 3 hours and 35 minutes. In addition, the ferry can be taken from the main island of Okinawa "Naha Tomari Port", Via Tonaki Island, it takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes to Kume Island Kanegusuku Port or about 3 hours by direct Kume Island flight. There are 1~2 ferries per day, so please be careful when using them. There are four ways to get around the island: town buses, rental cars, taxis, and bicycle rentals. You can rent a car from the airport if you make a reservation, and please check the reception desk of each company in the airport arrival lobby. There are town buses that go around the island (clockwise and counter-clockwise), the Airport Line, the Shimajiri Line, and the Kagiyama Line, and the Airport Line mainly operates according to the flight time, so you can easily use it. The Kume Island is about 23km and can be circled in about 3~4 hours by bicycle. The Kumejima has a number of fascinating sights. In this post, we will introduce some of them. The ruins of the Gusuku period scattered throughout Okinawa are called "Gusuku (castle)". Chinese ceramics are sometimes unearthed from Gusuku, and it is a spot where you can feel the remnants of the era when trade with overseas was thriving. Located at the top of Mt. Uejodake, "Uegusuku Castle Ruins" is the ruins of a castle built at the highest point in Gusuku. From the summit, you can see the entire Kume Island and it is also a superb viewing spot. "Gushikawa Castle Ruins" is a gusuku located on a limestone hill along the coast. It is also a nationally designated historic site, and Gusuku is characterized by a castle wall that mixes limestone and andesite. Next, we will introduce the beaches where you can enjoy the beautiful sea of Okinawa. "Ara Beach" is a hidden gem spot like a private beach surrounded by mountains. There is no doubt that you will be impressed by the beauty of the mysterious sunset as well as in the daytime! Shinri Beach, a beach with gentle waves, has an atoll right off the coast, and you can see the atoll up close at low tide. Since it is close to the airport, it is possible to watch airplanes take off and land. In addition, if you apply to the town environmental conservation division, you can use it as a campsite for free. "Mifuga Rock" on the shore of Yamatodomari is a tourist destination that means "female rock" in dialect. There are strangely shaped rocks created by the wind and tide, and it is a popular spot that is said to be a blessing for children. At Kumejima Tsumugi no Sato Yuimaru-kan, you can observe the dyeing techniques and works of traditional Kume Island pongee, and you can also enjoy weaving and dyeing Kume Island pongee. The Kume Island Museum is a museum where you can experience the history and culture of Kume Island, and holds permanent exhibitions of "Kume Island Nature and Culture" as well as special exhibitions. Next, we will introduce information on activities that you can enjoy in the Kume Island full of nature. The "Maine Beach", "Nakano Beach", and "Hatinu Beach" floating in the northeast of the Kume Island are collectively called "Hatenohama", and you can enjoy various marine activities! There are plenty of diving spots in the Kume Island for beginners to intermediate divers and above. Recommended for beginners, "Manta Station" is a popular manta ray encounter spot. You can enjoy Black Manta watching up close. In addition, the diving spot "Tombara", which is representative of the Kume Island with a huge rock height of about 50 m, has a maximum depth of 30 m, which is suitable for intermediate skiers and above, and the tide is strong, but it is also an attractive spot because there is a possibility of encountering schools of migratory fish, hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, etc. You can also explore the beautiful ocean world on a snorkeling tour. You can also enjoy the charm of Kumejima by strolling along the coastline in a "sea kayak" where you can enjoy the surrounding scenery while paddling on the sea. There is also a two-seater kayak, so you can enjoy it even with children. At the "Kume Island Horse Farm" where you can enjoy interacting with the horses, you can enjoy horse play that can only be experienced here! You can also use the "Umi Uma Asobi" to enter the sea while riding a horse, as well as your favorite horse play and a back menu on request. Yajiyagama Cave, the longest limestone cave in the Kume Island, which is about 800 meters long, offers year-round exploration programs. Depending on the program, you can explore the mysterious limestone cave in about 1 and a half ~ 2 hours. Don't miss the gourmet food of Kumejima! Kumejima is also famous as a shrimp farming pond. The quality is highly evaluated by the industry, and it is also certified as a "base production area" by Okinawa Prefecture. The season is December ~ May. In addition, sea grapes and awamori are also delicious specialties. It is also a perfect souvenir for Kume Island. Kumejima is a place where you can spend a rich time through contact with nature and cultural experiences. We will give you the best information to make your trip to Kumejima enjoyable. Thank you for your continued support!