Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If we leave Yabuchi Island, cross the bridge back to Okinawa, and again make a left, that
is, head south, in 1 mile (1.5 kilometers) we'll arrive at a larger and somewhat more pros-
perous harbor, Heshikiya Port (
平敷屋港
; Heshikiya-kō). In addition to fishing craft, it is the
location of the marine terminal for the ferry to Tsuken Island. But before boarding the ferry,
there's one more spot of an island nearby, although it's going to be inaccessible to many per-
sons for it's at the very end of the Katsuren Peninsula, which is a military base.
12
AGINAMIIWA
アギナミ岩
Aginamiiwa (
アギナミ岩
; Aginami-iwa) is immediately south of and adjacent to Heshikiya
Town and its port is the very end, the last tip, of the Katsuren Peninsula. The tip is about
a third of a square mile (a square kilometer) and completely occupied by the US Navy. It's
White Beach Naval Facility, a staging area for Marines and their equipment. It's a port of call
for nuclear-powered warships and submarines, which frequently dock here. White Beach is
also a popular recreational facility for US Service members and their guests. In addition to
its beach, there are both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, water sports equipment (sea-
doos, kayaks, etc.) for rent, a variety of cabins and cottages and a restaurant and bar. About
1,050 feet (325 meters) offshore from the beach, at the very end of the tip, begins a set of
rocks extending another 985 feet (300 meters) further south. There are six or seven of them,
depending on the height of the tide.
Aginamiiwa, a small set of islets of the final tip of the Katsuren Peninsula at White Beach Naval Facility.
There's really not much, just a bunch of rocks, usually called
iwa
instead of
jima
, for they
really are just rocks with some vegetation. They're so small that they barely qualify as “is-
lets.” At low tide you can walk out to them. The first two are each about 100-130 feet (30-40
meters) across in any one direction. The next three range from 30-65 feet (10-20 meters) in
size and the last, largest islet is about 325 by 440 feet (100 by 135 metrs) in area. It's probably
safe to say that it's a good fishing spot as there are always Japanese fishermen out here, either
perched on the rocks or anchored in their boats.
