Ishigaki island : Japan on its tropical side!

No this photo was not taken in the Carribean, or in the Maldives or some other tropical paradise, it was taken near Ishigaki island, one of the southernmost island in the japanese archipelago, 300 km only from Taiwan. It has a warm weather for the most part of the year while winter is mild and still enjoyable.
I've been there on november 2016 for my 8th trip to Japan, and i'm glad i went: it's still Japan but with a tropical, laid-back twist.

I was looking for a tropical, beach oriented escape away from Tokyo, and while considering the close Philippines for a moment, i chose to discover this part of Japan, almost 2000 km south of Tokyo., which along with Okinawa in the north forms the Ryukyu islands. Ryukyu was a former and independant kingdom from the 15th to the 19th century.

You can of course enjoy a lot of marine activities like snorkelling and scuba diving, which are great with all the abundant life and various corals that live underwater, Ishigaki is by the way famous for its Manta rays (i was lucky enough to spot one while scuba diving!). Those islands are also culturally rich, not only for their well known battles during WW2, but for their unique folklore and food traditions.

Those little statues are called shiisas, they represent half-dog half-lion creatures made to protect people and their homes when they put it on their roof. These photos were taken in Taketomi island, just a 20 min ride away in ferry from Ishigaki island. This island has a unique and calm feel, people still live a slow-paced life and in their small wooden houses.

When the day is ending, it's time to go out and taste the Ishigaki food!

I tasted the Ishigaki beef who's one of the finest beef on the planet, simply grilled like in the picture. Cows are raised and fed on some of the surrounding islands, that gives their meat a smooth and delicate flavor. There is also of course a large variety of sushi, sashimis, and local sobas.

In Ishigaki also grows a unique pepper, called pipachi pepper. This man on the picture called "Tony" owns a coffee shop and he very wanted me to take a photo of him while looking at his pipachi plantation that he harvest just on the backyard. Funny and outspoken man, which is so different from mainland Japan!

I had a great time in Ishigaki and fell in love with those islands, i was fortunate to go. All those pictures were shot with a film camera, with Fuji Velvia 50 or Kodak Ektar for the record.

ありがとう!!