VIRTUAL TOUR
    English 更新日:2004/06/20

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Hello everyone!! I am SIMA and glad to see you. I will take you short tour of TAKETOMI Island .

I have been working for TAKETOMI water buffalo wagon company for about 5 years. There is my friend , her name is TOMI. Please see below. She is very popular for girls and boys.

I am SIMA. Please get on the wagon. Let's go!!
 


Tomi is very popular for kids
 

I can take a shower before I leave a tour. My Boss take care of me very well. It is extremely HOT!!. So, I need to drink a lot of water too.

It takes about 45 minutes to go around TAKETOMI Island . My boss talks about history of TAKETOMI Island and sing a traditional song of "ASATOYA YUNNTA" with playing "SANSHIN" (Traditional three strings guitar). It is a very good !!

Let's go!!
 

Taketomi is located about 4 mails from ISHIGAKI Island . It takes about 10 minutes by the speed boat. There are some beautiful white sand beach and you can see the traditional OKINAWA red tile roof houses with "Seesa(a lion)" on the roof. People believe that Seesa is an amulet and keep their happiness. Taketomi's houses has been registered as the important historical and traditional houses by the Japanese government.

The population is about 270 . About 30% of people are over 70 years old and about 30 scholars there. Taketomi is one of the longevity area in Japan. I think if you were here, you would be able to know why there are many grate age people. It's like a heaven!!


Sima is a good driver

I drive the wagon by myself. It means that My boss doesn't need to remember the route of tour. However, My boss whip my hip to go fast. It is very painful.

Seesa(a Lion)is an amulet

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Seesa is an amulet

How are you Mr. Seesa? Why are you always open a big mouth ?

Because Male Seesa is always open a mouth and Female is closed. It means that there are few female in Taketomi.

 


A garbage wagon

An old well

Taketomi Post office


A rain water tank
 


T
here are many wells in Taketomi. Long time ago, the people of Taketomi use those wells for drinking water. You can see each house has a water tank to reserve drinking water. Please refer the left photo . There is a pipe to the tank.

 

Now a days, there is a city water pipe between ISHIGAKI Island and Taketomi Island.
 

Taketomi is a flower Island . There are many kind of flowers anytime of year. However, we got a big TAIHOON NO.9 this year. It was extremely big and took away any flowers and the red tiles as well.

To repair the Traditional Okinawa red tile roof

   

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The people proud their traditional Okinawa houses even though It is inconvenient to live and difficult to maintain the red tile roof . Every year, some house are tiled again to keep a site of traditional Okinawa houses in Taketomi.

 

 

These tiles have been collected from an old house. They are going to be installed again.

 


There are two goats who are my friend. They need a parasol to protect Taketomi's sun shine which is very strong. When you walk around Taketomi . Please put some sun protection lotion.

 
 

Minnsa textile

Taketomi has produced "Minnsa textile" for long time. It is very famous textile(cloth)in Japan. Minnsa textile is made from the Bashiyo leaves which looks like banana leaves. There is The Taketomi Mingeikan(The Minnsa textile museum) where you can see many kind of Minnsa textile at Taketomi.

She is weaving Minnsa textile below.


Do you recognize the roads are white. Taketomi people sprinkle some coral white sand to keep the roads white.
 

Mingeikan(Museum)

The circle road

Kihouinn(Museum)

A heart of Taketomi

Ishiganto is an amulet

Mina well


There are many banana trees in Taketomi. Bananas are very small and taste is different from Philippine one. It is more fruity taste.

Please do not pick a green banana. It is not ready to eat. It takes one or two week to be ready to eat.

There are many papaya trees. Papaya grows quickly and can get many papaya. You can see some flowers and papayas between the end of leaves .However, you can not eat them. They are not ready to eat. The color should be turned to yellow. Then you can eat them. Sorry.


Yaeyam palm tree


H
ave you ever seen the YASHIGANI (Coconut crab)? Please refer the below picture. The YASHIGANI is a family of a hermit crab. He doesn't have a shell. He is a very big and the size for this YASHIGANI is about 12 inches. His claws are very big and strong. Please be careful.

YASHIGANI is a nocturnal animal. So, you can not see YASHIGANI during a day time. Of course they normally live in jangle. If you are lucky, you can see them at mid night on the road. Please do not catch and eat him. Now a days , A number of YASHIGANI is decrease . We have to keep nature of TAKETOMI Island and hope that many YASHIGANI can grow. Thank you..

"YASHIGANI"(He is going to a Zoo)

It is fine!!

I am very tired. Because I have driven the wagon for four times today. It is very tiring. However, I am glad to have many visitors in TAKETOMI Island.

If you have a chance to visit TAKETOMI Island . Please call "Sima".

See you soon,

Thank you.


Back to TAKETOMI Island

 


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