Iriomote-jima

While Iriomote-jima is the second largest island in Okinawa, the population is under 2000. The main road only encompasses the eastern perimter of the island, and the barely navigable mountainous interior is covered with forking rivers and dense tropical rainforest. Iriomote is renowned throughout Japan for the famous yamaneko (Iriomote lynx), though only about 100 are currently estimated to exist.

View of the sunset from my minshuku:

Hoshizuna Beach:





A blue-lipped sea krait, an ocean dwelling, highly poisonous water snake related to coral snakes and cobras. Note the paddle-like tail:

Urauchi River:

Kanpire Falls:

Kayaking on the Urauchi-gawa:

Sakishima suonoki trees:



Hiking through calf-deep mud in a mangrove swamp:

Mangroves:


Okinawan music festival:



Dinner at a sushi restaurant run by a local fisherman:



Umibudo (green caviar):

Papaya kimchi:

Mountain vegetable tempura: