Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
other next to Kume Island further west. The Keramas' Ōjima is really more a collection of
rocks than a single island. None are very big.
UBUIWA
(
ウブ岩
; Ubu-iwa). The largest islet of the Ōjima group is individually referred to as
Ubu-iwa. Ubu Rock is a partially vegetation-covered stone oval about 740 feet (225 meters)
long and 985 feet (300 meters) wide. It's comprised of one fairly large rock about 410 by 740
feet (125 by 225 meters), which is connected by a nice sandy isthmus (twin north and south
beaches!) to another rock (really a bunch of rocks) about 330 by 500 feet (100 by 150 meters).
Because they're connected, even if vaguely, they are collectively considered one island. With-
in an area that extends over 330 feet (100 meters) due south, there are at least a half dozen
more mini-islets, some as large as 65 by 130 feet (20 by 40 meters) across, that are considered
part of Ubu. It's a tricky area in which to sail.
The Ōjima Rocks to the west of the Mukarakujima Rocks, likewise their neighbor comprise a collection of
rocks though some are partially vegetated.
KUBAIWA
(
クバ岩
; Kuba-iwa). Some 410 feet (125 meters) due north of Ubu, there's an isol-
ated rock called Kuba. It's also an oval in shape and measures about 590 feet (180 meters)
long by almost 330 feet (100 meters) wide. It is also partially covered in thick green scrub ve-
getation. Kuba's mass is all rock. For this reason, there are no beaches here.
NAKAIWA
(
ナカ岩
; Naka-iwa). About 2,130 feet (650 meters) southwest of Ōjima (Ubu and
Kuba Islets) and their immediate adjoining rock neighbors, is another little group of four
of five rocks which are collectively known as Nakaiwa. The span between the most north-
erly Naka rock and the most southern is about 1,640 feet (500 meters), with most individual
stones about 65-100 feet (20-30 meters) in diameter. The southernmost islet of the group is
the largest. It measures about 330 feet (100 meters) across in any given direction. Depending
on the height of the tide, a number of the adjacent unnamed rocks lie just above or below the
