Cruise & Ferry Itinerary Planning 2020

ancient attractions to discover. Lying in the north-west of the island is Mifuga Rock, a rock with a hole in the middle that is of religious significance and has been worshipped as the sacred dwelling place of a female deity for centuries. Visitors can also learn more about the island’s centuries-old silk craft – Kumejima Tsumugi. Recognised as an Intangible Cultural Property of Japan, the process sees craftsmen use plants and mud as natural dyes, and hand weave the threads to create elegant, textured silks. There is also something for food lovers, with the island known for its farming of Japanese tiger prawns and sea grapes. Cruise guests wanting to further explore nature can head to Iriomote, the second largest of Okinawa Prefecture’s islands. A national park, the island is mostly jungle and invites many tourists each year to experience the rich biodiversity it has to offer through a range of activities such as trekking, canoeing and kayaking. Among the local animals is the Iriomote cat which lives exclusively on the island. A subspecies of the leopard cat, these islanders have been critically endangered since 2008 and visitors can enjoy the unique opportunity to glimpse one of the few remaining in the world. Also native to the island is the crested serpent eagle which can be spotted throughout Asia. This bird of prey is so called for its diet of reptiles and is renowned among ornithologists for its distinctive markings which can be seen during flight. At the westernmost point of the Ryukyu Archipelago is Yonaguni – an island where a unique culture and nature have taken root. Located just 108 kilometres from Taiwan, Yonaguni has been heavily influenced by the island and, as such, offers experiences different to those of the other Okinawa isles. For example, Yonaguni is famous for its coriander (“Kushithi” in the local language), and it is said that this specific variety of the herb originated from Taiwan. Also unique to the island is the Yonaguni pony, an indigenous breed of which most are semi-wild. Having formerly played an essential role in the island’s industry and agriculture, these ponies are now a key part of Yonaguni’s tourism. The Yonaguni Pony Society – founded in 1982 – promotes the conservation of the breed and their place in the island’s community. As such, visitors can experience horse- back riding on the beach or observe the horses from afar. The island is also well known for its underwater ruins on the southern coast, which are popular among divers. The area is a topic of debate among many geologists, scientists and historians as it is still not known if the ruins are the remains of man-made structures or natural rock formations. Visitors can observe the ruins from above the water on a glass-bottomed boat tour. CFIP Hatenohama Beach lies seven kilometres from Kume and gives visitors the opportunity to experience 360-degree sea views 6 3