Retired Nomads Part 4: Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan – Panoramic Ishigaki and Yonekoyaki Pottery Park

February 25

Ishigaki Island is the commercial hub of the Yaeyama Islands, in Japan’s southwestern Okinawa Prefecture. It's known for beaches and sites for snorkeling, diving and surfing.

Finally, we had a lovely sunny day. It was glorious! (not beach weather as it is still winter)

sunrise from the balcony

Today we were joined by Bobby & Shera, Fred & Nancy and Bill & Linda. Delightful foursome traveling together that met on a former cruise and now travel frequently together. Our guide today was Masumi, and she was great!

Today turned into a “fuster-cluck”. We had to go through immigration and HAL was strict that people could only go in at the time on the sheet left in our stateroom. One couple had an earlier time, 2 of us had the same time and one couple had an 11:00 time slot. It was a 3:30 all aboard so a short day. (our tour was to start at 9:00)

We agreed to meet at our usual place and then go to immigration together in hopes that we could all go with the first couple’s time since they were told that if we could prove we had a private tour together we could. One couple didn’t show up on time. We waited about 10 minutes but the first couples time had already been called so we left with them. We were checked by at least 3 different people and told we had to wait. The one couple went in, and we said we’d all meet at our usual place as soon as we got through. The other couple nicely but forcefully explained we needed to all go together. She told us to go past the line and sit and wait and we could go in next. Unfortunately, Greg left to find the couple that wasn’t there at the meeting place, and he didn’t hear that. In fact, he thought I was right behind him. So, the other couple goes in and I’m sitting there waiting. I had the lady page the atrium/future cruise area where Greg and the other couple were supposed to be twice with no luck. Greg found out that the couple that didn’t show up had barged the line and already gotten clearance (and never bothered to tell anyone of their plans) So, now he’s in line by himself and I can’t get back to tell him to come on in and we can go. When I finally saw him, the lady got him and brought him in, and we went with the next group. So, now we are last to clear immigration. The guy that wasn’t at the meeting time made a comment like finally we made it and didn’t understand why we were mad. We all would have been done about an hour or more earlier if he just would have let us know what he had done. I was too angry to speak but she kept saying to me I don’t understand what we did wrong. I tried to say just let it go but she kept asking what they did wrong in the van and Greg and I both had to say exactly what they did wrong. Weren’t on time and didn’t communicate to us their deviation from the plan they agreed to. The lady is now in tears as she really didn’t understand what they did that was so wrong. Outside at our first stop I talked to her and tried to explain and hugged her and said just let it go it was a misunderstanding and it’s just water under the bridge… (later I apologized to everyone else in the vehicle)

Our first stop was Torinji Temple which is a Prayer Hall founded by Shingon Buddhist monks in 1614 & noted for its bright vermillion roof. It is the oldest wooden building in Okinawa. It’s a small but meaningful temple.

ad for a festival there

a guy who is going to perform at the festival and graciously posed for photos for the group

From there we drove to Banna Mountain where we went to several observation points with breathtaking views over the island and the surrounding ocean.

workcation hotel

Noordam in port from the viewpoint

We then drove to Kabira Bay which is renowned for its white sand beaches, turquoise waters and dense vegetation, the bay forms part of the Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park. We bought out tickets for the glass bottom boat and then went to a lookout to wait until it was time to go. Since we got a late start, we weren’t sure if we had time for a lunch break and collectively, we agreed we could skip it and just get some snacks. There were food trucks there if anyone wanted to eat a quick meal. We all tried the local fried doughnuts with sea salt.

food truck

Donut truck

lookout

glass bottom boats

It was then time for the glass bottom boat tour. It had "good" visibility, and I saw a small nurse shark and a couple of large turtles and everyone saw some colorful fish and some areas of decent coral. (most of the corals were dead) Photos were impossible due to the thickness of the glass.

clam (dead)

corals

turtle

inside the boat

back on the beach

After that we went for ice cream. Our guide told us that they learned to make ice cream from the Americans. It was very good. Shera got the purple yam, and I got the Okinawan Sea Salt Cookie and both were good. Their chocolate was quite good as well.

Some of the people had never seen how black pearls were cultured so we stopped at a shop that demonstrated that. They also had a lovely deep blue bead earrings that caught my eye. (pricey, though) The guide explained that it was Blue Hotaru Glass Beads aka Blue Firefly Ball bead.

Hotaru beads are a kind of Lamp work glass beads. The technique of winding molten glass around a metal rod to make beads is said to have been introduced to Japan during the Nara period (AD710-794). The bead pattern, which was popular in the Edo period, looked like the eyes of a dragonfly, so it came to be called "Tonbo Dama (dragonfly ball bead)".

Then, we went across the street to sample some saki and other liquors. The plum brandy was very tasty.

walking to the distillery

now for the tasting!

We stopped for another lookout for the views.

The most fun stop was the Yonekoyaki Pottery Studio & Park. Here we saw lots of massive Shisa statues. (Okinawan lion-dogs) Many whimsical statues in the lovely park. We also visited the studio, and I got a pair of the Shisa. From large stone statues to small souvenirs, shisa are creatures from Okinawan mythology that stand watch and protect people from evil spirits. A cross between a dog and a lion, these fanged beasts are actually considered friendly and comforting. They are almost always sold in pairs.

Traditionally, the female Shisa is close-mouthed, for keeping the good spirits in, whereas the male Shisa is open-mouthed to scare away evil spirits. Once you become aware of them when traveling around Okinawa, you will see them almost everywhere. Almost every Okinawan home will have a pair of Shisa at their entrance, and you will also find them in office buildings, stores, and schools.

We still had some time left so she took us to a shopping pavilion. The port had a lot of nice shops in it as well and I got my token magnet and a balloon.

Back on board we went topside to get some photos as we sailed away.

There was an Origami crane ceremony on the ship. The crafting class on board was teaching as many people as possible to fold them. The tradition of folding 1000 origami cranes or Senbazuru, symbolizes hope, healing, and good fortune. They were presented to authorities since it was the Noordam's first visit of the year.

Tonight's entertainment was Paul Adams, a comedian

We will return here on the next segment and visit some other areas and will have the same guide.