Sightseeing at Yonaguni

Taking an evening flight back to Naha so no diving today. Just as well since the weather turned really windy and cold. Had a hearty breakfast prepared by Manami-san before I set off on my sightseeing.

Yonaguni is a really tiny island. There're only 2 taxis, 3 bus stops and 1 set of traffic lights on it. Fancy that!! Its call to fame is being the western-most point of Japan, a fact proudly embellished on all manhole covers on the island.

One of the 3 bus stops on the island. A guy who stayed at the same minshuku as me waiting for the bus. His dive shop cancelled the dive cos the sea was too rough.

The bus that goes round the island 7 times a day

The only set of traffic lights on the island (but I don't think it's necessary since there were no cars or pedestrians everytime I passed it)

Rented a mountain bike to cycle round the island (24 km)

First stop, Dr Koto's clinic. A popular drama was filmed on Yonaguni a few years back and the film set is a popular tourist destination. Everyone kept telling me to go to Dr Koto's clinic and I initially responded that I was not sick. We had a good laugh about that after they explained it to me.

Beautiful coastal views as I cycled round the island

The Yonaguni horse is the smallest among Japan's 8 native breed of horses. They roam freely around the southern part of the island.

Me at 西崎 Irizaki, the western-most point of Japan.

View of 久部良 Kubura port town. One of the 2 ports on the island.

Had lunch at a pretty restaurant called Yuko-san at Kubura town.

Recommendation was curry rice, which looked and tasted more like our kind of curry than Japanese curry.

The jetty off Kubura that dive boats use

久部良バリ Kubura-bari, the place where you can see the last sunset in Japan.

Manami-san told me that in the past, pregnant women used to jump off the cliffs here when they have no money to bring the baby up. The sea is very rough here...guaranteed instant death, I think.

The local brand of awamori - Donan (the local pronunciation of Yonaguni). The people in Yonaguni speak a different dialect from Okinawan.

Wow...the busiest place in town is...the supermarket!

Manami-san and I just before leaving for the airport

Yonaguni airport

Biki-san (my roommate and dive buddy) actually rented a scooter to rush to the airport after her dives for the day to see me off!

Saito-san (who also stayed at Manami-san's minshuku) showing off his certificate that he's been to the western-most point of Japan which he purchased at the airport.

The tiny Ryukyu Air Commuter (RAC) propeller plane that took me back to Naha. The plane only had 10 rows and 2 seats on each side. The shisa (Okinawan guardian lion) is the corporate logo...so cute!

Sad to leave Yonaguni...I really enjoyed myself very much on the island, both on land and in the water.