Aragusuku Island - Quinupana
Early reservations are recommended as they fill up quickly.
◆Tuk-tuks and electric trikes are also popular!
What is Quinupana?
This is a popular spot on Kamiji Island with a population of only 10 people. Located on the west side of Kamiji Port, the observatory is reached by climbing a flight of stone-wall stairs.
From the top, you can see the magnificent Iriomote and Shimoji Islands, and the crystal clear waters of Panari Island directly below.
Quinupana means "the edge of the plateau," combining "kui," meaning high ground, and "pana," meaning edge. It is also a lookout point with the meaning of 'flower of love' in Panari Island.
How to get to Quinupana
There are no regular flights to Aragusuku Island from any of the outlying islands, so you should join a Aragusuku Island tour to visit.
The number of Aragusuku Island tours is small and the number of participants is not so large, so you need to make a reservation in advance if you wish to participate.
When visiting on a tour, you will arrive at Kamiji Port. Quinupana is located just a 2-minute walk from Kamiji Port, making it easy to visit.
How to play in Quinupana
Panari Island can only be reached by tour, as there are no regularly scheduled boats.
You can explore Quinupana on a tour, and some people even take tours to see the spectacular view from this observation deck.
Click here for related activities
More about Quinupana
Quinupana is a high point on Kamiji Island, one of the Aragusuku Islands, from which you can see the surrounding clear blue ocean and Iriomote Island beyond.
It is located on a prominent rock on the west coast of Kamiji Island and is masoned in three directions: east, north, and west.
Inside the piled stones are the ruins of a mansion, a place of worship, and a viewing platform, and it is one of the most scenic spots on Aragusuku Island, offering a view of the entire island and the beautiful sea.
Kamiji Island is generally flat, making it a perfect spot for those who wish to enjoy a panoramic view of the island.
You can go up to Quinupana first and try to decide where to go.
Kamiji Island has a population of only about 10 people, and since there are no regularly scheduled flights, there are few tourists, so you can have the beautiful scenery all to yourself!
This place is so scenic that it is sung about in folk songs, and you will see a spectacular view that you will remember for the rest of your life.
The unusual name "Kuinupana" comes from the Yaeyama language, where "kui" means high ground and "pana" means edge.
It is exactly the right name for Quinupana, which is located on the edge of the island.
It is also called "Quinupana," meaning "flower of love.
It is like only Quinupana with its beautiful scenery can offer!
The "Panari" of Aragusuku Island, also called Panari Island, means "separation" in the Yaeyama language, and is so called because Uechi Island and Shimoji Island are separated from each other.
With no regular flights and few islanders, Aragusuku Island offers more freedom and relaxation than other remote islands.
Please enjoy the slow life that is typical of the tropics.
Recommended attractions near Quinupana
garlic chive (Allium tuberosum)
Takanik is one of a group of tomi guard stations, also called sakishima islands hibanmui, which were established in 1644 at the westernmost tip of the islands by the Ryukyu royal government.
These takaniks functioned to monitor maritime traffic, such as checking the comings and goings of trading ships and enemy vessels, and to report by beacon fire.
It is one of the towers that the Satsuma Clan requested the Ryukyu Kingdom to install as hibanmui (fire watchtowers) in the Yaeyama Islands and Sakishima Islands, and is made of Ryukyu limestone piled up in a spiral shape.
Around 1644, at the request of the Satsuma Clan because Aragusuku Island is the closest to China in Yaeyama, 13 Yaeyama islands and 18 hibanzomori were registered as historic sites in 2007.
Location: 180 Shinshiro, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa, Japan
Access:-
Parking: None
Meals (nearby): None
Toilet: None
sweet potato (any of a number of different cultivars with red skin)
Koijigahama is a small, shallow beach just outside of Nupana.
Surrounded on both sides by rocks, the river is about 10 meters wide, giving the spot a sense of seclusion.
It is a tropical place with beautiful scenery of white sand and clear waters.
However, because there are few coral reefs or tropical fish, swimming and beach combing are recommended over snorkeling.
Location: 180 Shinshiro, Taketomi Town, Yaeyama County
Access: 3 minutes walk from the port
Parking: None
Meals (nearby): None
Toilet: None
northern beach
The northern beach of Aragusuku Island is known as one of the most beautiful beaches in Yaeyama.
In the clear waters, you can see eda corals, table corals, colorful tropical fish, and colorful corals.
The pristine nature of the area is such that sea turtles visit the area to lay their eggs.
Location: 180 Shinshiro, Taketomi Town, Yaeyama County
Access: 5 min. walk from the port
Parking: None
Meals (nearby): None
Toilet: None
More about Quinupana
| Location | Shinshiro, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa, JapanView in MAP) |
| Access | 2 minutes walk from Kamiji Port |
| parking lot | nashi (Pyrus pyrifolia, esp. var. culta) |
| toilet | nashi (Pyrus pyrifolia, esp. var. culta) |
| Business Hours | - |
Related columns are here↓.
To Aragusuku Island (Panari Island)! How to get there, how to play, and a list of recommendations
See all activities
Ishigaki Island Tours
To the list of ←Shinshiro Island (Panari Island) basic information and recommendations
