Hateruma

Template: Infobox Island / Maintenance / image missing

Hateruma (Japanese波 照 间 岛, Hateruma -jima ) is less than 540 residents in 261 households (as of 31 March 2011) the southernmost inhabited island of Japan. Its area is 12.77 km ², and the highest elevation is 59.5 m.

Tourism and the cultivation of sugar cane and pineapple are the economic foundation of the island. In addition, there is Awanami, a brandy that is produced only on Hateruma fired. The water Haterumas whose color is referred to in Japan as Hateruma Blue is extremely clear and the beaches have white- sand.

Attractions

Hateruma is of relatively many tourists - mostly day-trippers from the neighboring larger island of Ishigaki - attended, as the south coast of the island is the southernmost point of Japan, except for the remote and uninhabited atoll Okino Torishima -. Additional attractions for Japanese tourists are the most southern school and the southernmost police station in Japan. Additional points of interest:

In the only place Haterums be found in many places even the traditional architecture of the Ryukyu and Yaeyama Islands. Characteristic are houses with a hipped roof of red tiles on which stands a figure of the mythical creature King Shisar. This figure is intended to protect against evil spirits. Typically also a massive wall of sharp-edged coral rock that surrounds the house and grounds.

In the center is not far from the village square parklike also a monument to the freedom fighters Oyake Akahachi, said to have been born around 1500 on Hateruma, noteworthy

One of the most interesting buildings on Hateruma is the Kodomori called watchtower, built in the 17th century from dark coral rock. He served the monitoring of vessel traffic to and from Ishigaki. The top of the tower was one of the highest points on the island otherwise rather flat, so he also served as the News About averaging to Ishigaki with the help of beacons and smoke signals. The tower can be climbed and offers a beautiful view. On the small neighboring island Kuroshima a similar tower is worth seeing, which is known under the name Puzumari.

On the south coast there is a monument worth seeing, which designates the southernmost point of all of Japan. The south coast Haterumas is a cliff of sharp-edged rock with rough surf.

The North Coast Haterumas is a popular tourist destination because of its fine-grained sand and gently sloping beach. The water Haterumas whose color is referred to in Japan as Hateruma Blue is very clear here.

Infrastructure

The airfield Hateruma Airport is served by Ishigaki out. Hateruma is also easy to reach by several times daily trains running from Ishigaki ferries. For day tourists are standing at the harbor buses for tours ready, and you can also rent bicycles, but are all worth visiting points of the island is also easily reached on foot. The island has a few small hotels, restaurants and guesthouses are available. Some small shops for daily needs are available in the village.

Hateruma

View from the southernmost point of Japan

Airfield Hateruma

Tower Kodomori

South Coast

Monument to Oyake Akahachi

Center

Traditional Architecture

Southernmost school Japan

Southernmost police station in Japan

North Coast

Port

Source

Yamakei: Nansei Shoto Ryukyu, pp. 120-121. Tokyo 2003. ISBN 4-635-01718-4