Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Yubu Island essentially functions as a relaxing vision of times gone by, a chance to see and
feel a different sort of life before the fast-paced version we all know from our daily experi-
ence. Although Yubu can be criticized as an idealized version of “old” Okinawa—and criti-
cized as an overpriced, romanticized tourist attraction—the fact remains that it is a view into
another Okinawa. Merely because times have changed does not mean that there are not those
who long for—and reminisce about—such days of old. Yuba offers a little glimpse into a time
and place that is mostly gone, but not entirely forgotten.
Returning to the Iriomote mainland, we'll get back onto Route 215 and continue north
just about 1.75 miles (3 kilometers)—the road hugs the coast all the way—to the northeast-
ernmost tip of the island, Cape Nobaru (
野原崎
; Nobaru-zaki) and here, just offshore, we'll
find our next little islet neighbor, Solitary U Island.
UBANAREJIMA
(
ウ離島
; U-banaré-jima). At its closest point, this little oval-shaped islet is
about 660 feet (200 meters) of the northeastern corner of Iriomote's coast. It's a green place,
completely covered in thick vegetation. “Isolated,” “Solitary,” or “Separated” Ujima, for that's
the meaning of its name in English, is long and narrow, 1,310 feet (400 meters) from end to
end, north to south, and ranging between 260 and 425 feet (80 and 130 meters) in width from
east to west. Its surface area is 0.04 square kilometers. It marks the northern end of Iriomote's
section of Manta Way. After the manta rays leave this protected span of waters between Ko-
hama and Iriomote, they cross open water until coming to Ishigaki. Why this sea channel of
water is so special, attracting the rays here every year, is not fully understood. Local people
may also refer to this islet as Uhanaré or Uritō.
The Iriomotoe Onsen, the southernmost hot spring resort in Japan, has a beautiful jungle setting.
We're now driving due west, then a little north, altogether about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers),
a little past the village of Takana (
高那
) to our next stop, a very deluxe hotel, the Nature Hotel
Painu Maya Resort (
ネイチャ ーホテル パイヌマヤリゾート
; Neichāhoteru Painu-maya-
rizōto). It's situated immediately adjacent to the southernmost hot spring resort in Japan,
