Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
though other nations do not necessarily respect Japan's mineral rights claims, Japanese sover-
eignty over the reef is not disputed and therefore Okinotori Island is really the southernmost
point of Japan.
Disregarding Okinotorishima, Hateruma still has a good claim. After all, it is the south-
ernmost place in Japan where people can live. And it's a pretty place to live. Surrounded by
the sea, peaceful and green, it's a nice little island.
11
NAKANOUGANJIMA
仲ノ御神島
On some charts, an alternative Japanese spelling for this tiny spot in the ocean is
中御神島
.
It can be pronounced the same way, but it also may be pronounced as Naka-no-kami-shi-
ma. Character by character, the Kanji literally translated means “Central Control God Is-
land.” Nakanouganjima is among the more remote and least commonly known islands that
are mentioned in this topic.
On a direct flight path from Ishigaki's airport, it is 40 miles (64 kilometers) to the south-
west. You would pass over the southwestern end of Iriomote on your way. The only spot of
Japan that is further away is the island of Yonaguni, which is 38 miles (61 kilometers) to the
northwest. We'll go there next. Measured from some other points, Nakanouganjima (
仲ノ御
神島
; Naka-no-ugan-jima) is 9 miles (14 kilometers) from Iriomote's southwestern end and a
little more than 15 miles (24 kilometers) northwest of Hateruma's western shoreline. In fact,
you can see the island from Hateruma Port and from Nishi-no hama Beach on a clear day.
Nakanougan is a long, thin islet measuring 1 mile (1.5 kilometers) in length from east to
west and anywhere from 330 to 660 feet (100 to 200 meters) wide from north to south, de-
pending on where the measurement is taken.
On shipping charts and on particularly detailed Japanese maps, Nakanouganjima is re-
cognized as a seabird breeding ground and sanctuary and is listed as such (
海鳥繁 殖地
; Umi
Tori Hanshoku-chi, lit. “seabird breeding site”). There is no commercial ferry service to nor
any services of any kind on this islet. It is uninhabited, uninhabitable and protected.
