Taketomi Island

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

WHAT YOU VISIT
Taketomi Island
Thanks to preservation efforts, the small village consists almost entirely of traditional style, one-storied houses, which are surrounded by stone walls, and covered with red tiled roofs and ample lion-like "shisa" lion statues believed to ward off evil spirits. Measuring just over a mile in diameter, this petite islet is a charming, living museum and true representation of Ryukyu culture. Discover its history at Taketomi Yugafukan Museum, a traditional wooden building that shows videos with stories and music from the region.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Have your zoom lens ready when you stop at Hoshizuna-no-Hama Beach, which translates to Star Sand Beach. Look closely and you'll see that it's not really sand but exoskeletons of star shaped organisms that live in the sea grass at the bottom of the sea. According to legend, these tiny star creatures are the offspring of the North Star and Southern Cross who were born in the sea of Okinawa, and eaten by a serpent leaving only their skeletons behind. You can sift through the grains of sand to find the tiny, individual star shapes or buy some at the souvenir shop.

WHAT YOU SEE ALONG THE WAY
Many roads are unpaved lanes of white sand, and traveling in a cart pulled by a water buffalo is the preferred way of sightseeing – and if you're lucky, your guide will also tell you folk stories and play the "sanshin," a traditional Okinawan stringed instrument.

Special Notes:

**The cancellation deadline of this tour is 7 days prior to the embarkation day and after this deadline a full cancellation fee is applied. Please also note that after this cut-off date, new bookings might not be accepted.

Please bring local currency. Some shops don't accept credit cards.
Visiting order may vary.
This tour is not recommended for those guests with walking difficulty