JAPAN TRAVELER: IRIOMOTE
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have been around the world in search of waves and wind, but the nature and beauty of Iriomote always fascinates me. When I return to Japan from my home in Maui, I usually visit the pristine island. In early spring, when snow is still falling on Honshu and Hokkaido, itâs the start of the beach season in the Yaeyama Islands, Japanâs southernmost inhabited islands. Check a map, and youâll see just how close they are to Taiwan. The peak season for tourists here is July and August, yet it stays warm through November, and even in winter the temperature is pleasant. Iriomote is the largest of the Yaeyama islands, yet it has the fewest roads. Itâs also the rainiest, so the semi-tropical vegetation is dense and largely untouched, making it one of Japanâs last true frontiers. In fact, nearly 90 percent of the island is wild jungle, home to many unusual plants and animals, including endemic species such as the Iriomote wildcat. The mangrove forests are the largest in Japan and it has the largest coral reef in Japan, stretching 20 km. long and 15 km. wide. When the tide goes down, groups of older women forage in the ocean. If you call out to them, these friendly oba-san will show you what they are gathering and share how it is used, such as the medicinal value of some plants, even those that look like simple weeds. Iriomoteâs wild interior and beautiful sea are a playground for outdoor lovers. Diving, fishing, sea kayaking, snorkeling, trekking, waterfall climbingâŠitâs all here. The diving and snorkeling in the spectacular reefs surrounding the island are particularly special. If you swim just 30 meters from the port, you enter the rich underwater world of Ryugu-jo, the legendary Palace of the Dragon King.
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Get Up, Stand Up!
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Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP), has become increasingly popular. If youâve never tried it, you stand on what looks like a large surfboard using a long paddle to maneuver. I first tried SUP back home in Maui. A bunch of my friends started doing it after watching big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton, who really brought it to the sporting world. The boards still needed a lot of improvement in their designs; they were heavy and hard to move, but they allowed you to escape crowded surf breaks and sneak out and play in more distant waves even in a light wind when the surf was down. A paddleboard gives you access to inlets you otherwise couldnât get to. You can even paddle up a river like a salmon returning to its home. The beauty of SUP is that itâs a sport anyone can enjoy, especially if you find a board that fits you. Hardcore surfers might go out after big waves, while children can enjoy cruising little ones with their parents, maybe even with the family dog on board. Hollywood celebrities are apparently turning to SUP for exercise, while others have used them on serious adventures from island-to-island paddles, even crossing the Atlantic. Visitors to Iriomote who try SUP quickly realize itâs a paddleboard paradise. If you have an adventurous spirit, there are many otherwise inaccessible beaches and rivers to explore. You can even go fishing or snorkeling from your SUP.
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