Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tajima catle (
但馬牛
Tajima-ushi or Tajima-gyū), one of several types of black Wagyū (
和牛
) catle
raised in Japan. (
Wa
means “Japanese” and
gyū
means “cow”). By law, Kobé beef catle must be
raised in Hyōgo Prefecture. But Wagyū catle breeds may be raised anywhere, and they are. There
are several high-quality named types, including Mishima, Ōmi, Sanda and Ishigaki. The catle are con-
sidered to produce the finest beef and best steaks in the world, highly regarded for its flavor and
tenderness. The catle are valuable because they are geneically predisposed to yield an intensely
marbled beef that contains a higher percentage of omega faty acids and a high percentage of un-
saturated fat. There are several Ishigaki beef restaurants in Ishigaki City. Most employ wood charcoal
braziers on the tables where patrons prepare assorted slices of beef to their own liking.
A protected grove of rare Yaeyama palms, found only on the islands of Ishigaki and Iriomote, at the
Yaeyama Palm Tree Forest in Yonehare.
About 4 miles (6 kilometers) before reaching the end of the island, you'll pass by another
popular beach and this one also has free showers. It's Ishigakijima Sunset Beach (
石垣島サン
セットビーチ
; Ishigaki-jima Sansetto-bīchi) and, as its name implies, its orientation makes it
a good choice for the afternoon sun.
Upon reaching Ishigaki's northern end you'll come to Cape Hirakubo, a “land's end.” The
cliffs and the sea here are especially romantic. It's a sort of wind-blown, lonely place and, for
Ishigaki, an “end-of-the-world” kind of place. But it's not really all that empty. All around
