More south- Golden Week (5)

According to the advice we got yesterday, we set our alarms to 5:30... Half conscious, half sleepy we go to buy the tickets to Hateruma. Due to our great look at dawn, I will not publish the pictures of the 3 zombies :) We were the first at the ticket counter! Got the tickets and... went back to sleep for another 2 hours :) When we arrived to the pier, we realised that the boat is actually much bigger than for 12 people. It's kind of speedy, the sea is not calm and we feel like taking a roller coaster. Hateruma is about 50 km south-west from Ishigaki, it takes about an hour to get there. Now imagine jumping over the sea waves 60kmph... you can easily suffer from seasickness... Good that we didn't have time for breakfast ;)

This island is much bigger than Taketomi and we decide to rent the bikes. We go from the north-west to south-east along on the west side of the island. It's very hot, and thus very pleasant to go along the coast and stop wherever we want!

(Pic by Luc)

There are some energy generators, sweet water collecting tanks and watering systems. Even a gas station! But naturally, not too many cars pass by :) The island has around 600 inhabitants. All the needed products came with us by boat: fresh newspaper, post, some other goods. After about half an hour of cycling we reach... southernmost point of Japan! It's marked with a huge stone. We re not the only one here and we almost need to queue to take a picture.

How did they all come if the boat takes only 12 people?!
The only way is either the boat from Ishigaki or a flight... (yes, there's an airport!)
(Pic by Luk)

From the top of a huge rock we spot some interesting stone construction.

(Pics by Luc)

Later we got to know that it was made of the stones from all over Japan! It seems that all the attractions are here. Hateruma observatory is only a few meters away. It's exceptional, as thanks to its southern location, most of the star constellations (84 out of 88) can be observed. The observatory became the symbol of the island and is used... on the manholes (I should prepare a post about manholes only, I have already a nice collection). Pay attention to the marked cross . It represents the smallest constellation, mostly known as Southern Cross and can also be seen from here.


What a pity, we cannot stay here for the night!

The coast is simply amazing: very high, kind of volcanic rock cliff with the waves that hit it constantly with an enormous power. We spend here some time, watching that amazing spectacle of nature and enjoying the breathtaking view...



On the way back, in the village we stop by a local shop. It has everything, from food to garden utilities. We find even some local sun protection.

(Pics by Luk)

Unfortunately, all of us have already symptoms of a sunburn :( It will be a painful night but we cannot leave the island without checking its beaches! Hateruma also has a meaningful name. In the Okinawan dialect uruma means coral and it's everywhere!

We need to rest a bit, get some energy as a real challenge is waiting for us :) On the way back we are so tired by the sun that we fall asleep without paying too much attention to the boat jumping over the waves...