Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
beach on Noho, on the northern end of the island, across the street from the Minshuku Noho.
There is a small cave on the islet, said to be the home of Fīfī, the Noho dialect's name for
Kijimunā ( キジ ムナー ), the mischievous Okinawan spirit.
Kijimuna are the subject of Okinawan fairy tales and, among many other characteristics,
are said to be great fishermen. They are spirits of the woods and forests and most commonly
live in banyan trees. They are supposedly about the size of three to four-year-old children but
have especially large heads and are covered in red hair. Many tales have them playing tricks
or pranks, fooling humans, but occasionally they befriend them. Unfortunately, these friend-
ships usually end badly, with the Kijimuna insulted or offended in some way, and then they
leave, to hide again in the forest.
The small but delightful Noho Salt Museum.
YAHEIWA ( ヤヘー岩 ; Yahé-iwa). This rather dramatic solitary rock, which is also known as
Yahégusuku ( ヤヘーグスク or ヤヘー城 ; lit. “Fortress Yahe” or “Yahe Castle”), is located about
165 feet (50 meters) of the northwest shore of Iheya. It's roughly 165 feet (50 meters) in dia-
meter and almost equally tall. It's a “pure” rock, devoid of vegetation. It is uninhabited and
uninhabitable. There are ruins on its top. Although it seems much too small to have been a
gusuku ruin, it's possible that it could have been a watch post or signal station of some kind.
Only a little stonework remains to be seen, but you can walk across from the beach to the
rock at low tide and have a look.
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