Southwind Travel Service Ishigaki Island (Yaeyama Islands, Okinawa, Japan)   ~ ~ cq dx de js6shs ~ ~ Educational Tourism (Photo by "ishigakijimaumibe") and Vacationing in the Yaeyama Islands (southern Okinawa) and eastern Taiwan     What we can do for you... We are located on Ishigaki Island, the population center of the Yaeyama Islands (the southernmost island group in Okinawa) and offer travel planning assistance, general on-location support, and culture interpretation in Japanese, Chinese (Taiwanese Hokkien or Mandarin), English, and German. We can work with your travel agency to provide you with any of the booking information you need (feel free to show this site to your travel agent). * E‑mail link * A very, very brief history of the Yaeyama Islands Archaeological evidence suggests that the Yaeyama Islands have been settled on and off for several ten thousand years, and that its people arrived here via Taiwan and the Philippines. Most of what we know about the past comes from archaeological research, since historical records in Okinawa reach back for less than 900 years, and, as far as the Yaeyama Islands is concerned, even those are rather scarce until the 15th century. However, it is certain that the Yaeyama Islands had already been culturally influenced by Okinawa and Japan for several centuries before they came firmly under the control of the Ryukyu Kingdom at the beginning of the 16th century. In 1609 Ryukyu was attacked by the Satsuma fiefdom in southern Kyushu and not only lost its northern territories (the Amami Islands) but was also forced to pay taxes to Satsuma (which, in turn led to a heavy taxation regime in the Miyako and Yaeyama Islands). In 1879, when Meiji-Japan took over the Ryukyu Kingdom and established Okinawa Prefecture, the Yaeyama Islands became a part of Japan. For 27 years from the end of WWII, Okinawa Prefecture was administered by the USA who established several military bases there. In 1972 Okinawa was returned to Japan (the issue of large parts of Okinawa Islands still being occupied by US military bases, under an agreement the US have with Japan, is, however, still unresolved at this time). Since 1972, Yaeyama, like the other areas in Okinawa, has seen rapid modern development, and it has become a major tourist destination and established its fame as diving area. Our Service Menu Educational Tourism: Explore Yaeyama's history and its present situation while enjoying a subtropical island holiday. Whether it is nature or culture you are most interested in, we have plenty of both for you to experience and appreciate. Coral reefs, mangrove forests, and mountain jungles with their rich variety in life forms provide an endless source of information and wonder. Today you can still experience the traditional religion of the Yaeyama people, and you can try your hand at traditional weaving, and enjoy traditional songs and dances. Equally important, coming here for yourself you can also gain an understanding of the social, cultural, and economic reality of this region today.   Vacationing: Windsurfing, paragliding, swimming, scuba diving and snorkeling coral reefs, fishing, kayaking, cycling, island hopping, taking a sunset cruise on a sailboat, just hanging out at the beach - many islands, many opportunities. Our climate is always moderated by the ocean: in the summer it is not too hot (32C/90F), and in the winter it is still warm enough to wear shorts and t-shirt most of the time and to swim in the ocean! (Day temperatures below 18C/65F are extremely rare, and the minimum water temperature is 21C/70F.)   DXpedition to AS-024? JS6SHS offers special planning support for ham radio operators intending to visit and operate from any of the Yaeyama Islands.   Ask us also about health, rehabilitation, and sports related vacations!   New since November 2009:  Since November 2009 TransAsia Air connects Ishigaki with Hualien and Taipei with three flights a week. From Ishigaki to Hualien City (at the east coast of Taiwan), it is 270km, and to the capital Taipei 300km (in comparison, our own prefectural capital, Naha, is 400km from Ishigaki). Hualien County and Taitung County are Taiwan's largest and third-largest county, rexpectively, but their populations are small. With less than 400,000 inhabitants (of whom about 90,000 belong to various native tribes with languages not related to Chinese but to the languages of the Philippines), Hualien County only has 1.7% of Taiwan's population. And with only 230,000 inhabitants (about 80,000 of whom belong to native tribes), Taitung has less than 1% of Taiwan's population. Sitatued between the Pacific Ocean and Taiwan's central mountain range, the low lying areas of Hualien and Taitung enjoy the same subtropical climate we have in Ishigaki. Most of Hualien's and Taitung's agriculture and infrastructure (including a railway connection between Hualien and Taipei) were developed during the 50 years Taiwan was under Japanese rule (1895 and 1945), and recent years have seen the extension of the railway from Hualien to Taitung and the development of bicycle routes for tourists. As a visitor, you can pick from a diverse menu of activities that includes visits to historic sites, organic farms, ranches, and orchards, sightseeing and hiking in the famous Taroko Gorge, exploring urban night markets, relaxing in outdoor hotsprings, attending native people's festivals, building up your stamina while whitewater rafting or cycling, or taking photos in stunning natural settings - whether you come to enjoy the culture or just to take a break, Hualien nicely complements what the Yaeyama Islands have to offer. Taiwan, Ishigaki and Okinawa in context   Your contact person for tour planning and guiding Yuuri on Ishigaki Island (background information and e-mail link) More photos of Ishigaki Island... Page last updated: April 2010 Shiroha Language Services atamagawata