Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
After the tree grove and after Komi village, it's less than three-quarters of a mile (1 kilo-
meter) north on Route 215 to a left-hand turn. Take it. The turn leads about 2,300 feet (700
meters) to the Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center (
西表 野生生物保護 センター
; Irio-
moté yasei seibutsu hogo sentā). There is a sign. It's a small museum featuring the wildlife of
the island, with special attention to the Iriomote wild cat (
イリ オモテ ヤマネコ
; Iriomoté
yama-neko).
A rare and endangered animal, it is estimated that there may be around 100 on the island.
There is a breeding cage where cats that have been hit by cars or otherwise injured and cap-
tured are rehabilitated before they are released back into the wild. You may get a chance to see
one of these felines here. Otherwise, you probably never will as they generally sleep during
the day. Wandering around at night, stumbling through the jungle trying to find one, which
is the time when Habu snakes are on patrol, is probably not a very wise idea. The center is
open every day except Mondays and holidays from 10
AM
to 4
PM
. Admission is free.
Water buffalo carts are popular for commuting between Yubijima and Iriomote at low tide.
Returning to the coastal road, Route 215, we'll continue north just a bit under 1.75 miles
(3 kilometers) to a right-hand turn. This small turn-off takes us less than 985 feet (300
meters) to a large sandy parking lot full of tour buses. This is the staging area for the water
buffalo cart wagons to Yubu Island. Yubu is the first of several small islands that are scattered
around the coast of Iriomote.
YUBUJIMA
(
由布島
; Yubu-jima). Here is our first little satellite isle, this one unique among
the surrounding islets of Iriomote in that it is inhabited, albeit by only 23 people as reported
in a recent census.
Yubu, which is also pronounced Yufu, is located about 1,070 feet (325 meters) offshore
from Iriomote overlooking Manta Way, the 1.5-mile (2.5-kilometer)-wide strait between Iri-
omote and Kohama. The water depth between Yubu and Iriomote, at low tide, is shallow, not
much deeper than one's ankles. Over the past 20 years, it's become a popular place to visit by
