Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
in an emergency. Likewise, there is a helipad in Izena Village that can be used for medical
evacuations or other emergencies.
Izena's best sights are in the southeast, below Izena village. They include the Mountain
Forest Park (
伊是名山森林公園
; Izéna-yama-shinrin-kōen), which has several very beauti-
fully sited observatories, a few nice short hiking trails and a couple of very sacred and inter-
esting
utaki
sites. The best-known observatory is Gitara (
ギタラ展望台
; Gitara tenbō-dai) at
Izena's very southernmost tip. It's a very scenic spot overlooking Izena's most dramatic dis-
play of huge rocks.
Ajacent to Gitara, at the southeasternmost section of Izena, you'll find the Futamigaura
Seashore (
二見ケ浦海岸
; Futami-gaura kaigan), a beautiful wild and rugged section of coast-
line. It has a good view over to the islet of Yanaha.
Less than a mile (2 kilometers) to the west, on Izena's southwestern end, you'll find the
island's best beach (
伊是名ビーチ
; Izénabīchi). If you really like the beach and would prefer
to stay here, you're in luck as there is a very nice
minshuku
right on it. It's called Takara-no
Shima (
宝の島
; lit. “Treasure Island”) and it's very popular with Japanese visitors.
In this aerial photo from the west, Gushikawa is on the left, Izena at center and Yanaha on the right.
Umigitara Islet, seen at low tide from Gitara Observatory, with Yanaha in the background.
