Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The arrival of a ferry at Hateruma Port.
Astronomers have divided the celestial sphere into 88 official constellations, 37 in the northern hemisphere
and 51 in the southern. Due to its unique location, 84 out of the 88 constellations can be seen from the
Hateruma Astronomical Observatory.
Although there are a few residences and small farmsteads scattered here and there around
the island, most of Hateruma's roughly 550 residents live in the one centrally located village,
which is a little more than three-quarters of a mile (1 kilometer) southeast of the harbor. A
junior high school, a post office and a gas station are located there. There are car, scooter and
bike rental places as well. Because there is good ferry service, it's possible to visit the island
on a day trip out of Ishigaki, but if you would like to stay longer there are a half a dozen
minshuku
in town and one on the best beach of the island. There are several restaurants in
the village as well. Hateruma is a pleasant and relaxing island on which to stay.
Hateruma's largest and most popular beach is adjacent to the port, to its immediate
west, and appropriately named West Beach (
西の浜
; Nishi-no-hama) It's also spelled
ニシ浜
(Nishi-hama). It is 1 mile (1.5 kilometers) northwest from the village. Although perhaps not
a great snorkeling site, this beach has really fine clean, white sand, unlike the too often found
sand-rock-coral stone mix. Overlooking the beach, maybe 325 feet (100 meters) above it, is
one the island's nicest
minshuku
, the aptly named Penshon Sainantan (
ペンション最南端
; lit.
