Mar 3 – Ishigaki Jima, Japan, and Mar 4 – Day at Sea

This morning we are docked in Ishigaki Jima, Japan.  This island, while a Japanese island, is situated directly east of Taiwan and southwest of Okinawa.  It is so far from the main islands of Japan that one would think it was part of Taiwan.  In fact, it is over 1,200 miles from Ishigaki to Tokyo. 

Driving through Ishigaki.

Our first stop was to visit the Torinji Temple complex.  

There was a tower housing a large bell.

Right next door was the Gongendo Shrine.

Both were made of wood with red-tile roofs.

Then it was on to the Yaima village.  This is an open-air architectural museum featuring traditional Okinawan/Japanese buildings that have been moved to the site for preservation. 

Most of the buildings dated from the early 1900’s.  Most are made of wood and have traditional red-tiled roofs.  

With Chinese Lion Dogs for protection.

The mayor’s house with a stone wall surrounding it

.The Makishi Residence.

The Morita Residence.

A savani boat, typical of those used in the past.  

In one of the buildings a local lady did a song and dance while balancing a liquid-filled glass bottle on her head. 

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Video of Song and Dance
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The highlight of the visit was a stop in the squirrely monkey garden.  These cute, furry creatures were everywhere and were looking for food.  

You could pay to get your photo taken with the monkeys.  You would be given an empty bowl.  The monkey’s knew that the bowl was used for food so would gather around…as in climbing all over you…and wait for food.  As soon as the food was placed in the bowl they all dove for the food.  Quite a swarm.  We watched a couple of groups getting their photos taken with the monkeys.

Waiting to be fed.

Swarming the food.

Views from the top of a viewpoint in the village.

We were back to the ship by lunch time. 

March 4^th was a sea day and we didn’t take any photos.  We did attend a lecture on Manilla and a second entitled “The Musical Gets Naughty” presented by Steve Friedman.  He is an expert on musicals and gives lectures about various topics related to them.  This is the second lecture we’ve attended.  Part of what makes them special is that he has a beautiful tenor voice and he occasionally sings some of the music rather than using videos.