Taketomi Island—Sumashā (Nakagane Village)—

Ishigaki Island Tourist Information

◆Ishigaki Island for sightseeingRental car required.Oh my god!!!
Early reservations are recommended as they fill up quickly.

Ishigaki Island Car Rental Ishigaki Island Tours offers easy comparison and reservation of rental car plans for Ishigaki Island! It takes about 3 hours to go around Ishigaki Island by car. If you want to visit all the sightseeing spots efficiently, you need to rent a car! There are plans that include free pick-up from Shin-Ishigaki Airport, car navigation system, no need to return a full tank of gas, and even child seats. We also introduce other means of transportation other than rental cars! (29 total) アクティビティの詳細を見る

◆Tuk-tuks and electric trikes are also popular!

Ishigaki Island Rides (Bike Rental & Bicycle Rental) Activities There are many other ways to get around in Ishigaki Island☆ Ishigaki Island Vehicle Activity Feature Ishigaki Island is dotted with attractive spots such as beautiful ocean, mountains, and observatories where you can overlook the magnificent nature. With such favorable conditions, how can you not go driving touring in Ishigaki Island [...]. (20 in total) アクティビティの詳細を見る

What is Summasha (Nakagane Hamlet)?

The Nakasuji settlement is the central settlement on Taketomi Island. It is called “Summasha” in the Taketomi Island dialect, but “Chinma-se” in the Ishigaki Island dialect. If you head from the Nakasuji settlement toward the West Pier, you’ll find West Summasha.

How to Get to Summasha (Nakagane Hamlet)

Summasha (Nakagane Village) is located about a 22-minute walk or a 5-minute drive from Taketomi Port. You’ll arrive there by heading straight toward the village from Taketomi Port.

How to Play in Sunmasha (Nakagane Hamlet)

There are many tourist attractions in Summasha (Nakagane Village), including historic sites and sacred hills, so just strolling around the island is a lot of fun. Water buffalo carts and rental bikes are available, so be sure to explore not only the village itself but also the surrounding areas.

Details on Sunmasha (Nakagane Hamlet)

Summasha (Nakagane Settlement) is a village located in the center of Taketomi Island. At the entrance to the village stands a giant tree surrounded by a stone wall. This design is known as a village layout based on feng shui principles, and it is said to have been constructed to block illness and misfortune from entering the village.
Summasha also includes safety guidelines and instructions written in English. We’ll introduce them below.

Rules to Follow as Listed on the "Summasha" Sign

1. Please take your own trash home with you.
1. Please do not walk around the village in a swimsuit or similar attire.
1. Overnight stays outside of designated lodging facilities are prohibited.
1. Ontake is a sacred place. Please do not enter the area.

The English text on the Summasha sign

Summasha
The Summasha is a gigantic structure surrounded by a stone wall that is usually located at the entrance to a village.
In accordance with the principles of feng shui, it is intended to ward off illness and evil, and it also marks the beginning of the village.
Please keep the following rules in mind
Please do not litter; dispose of your trash properly.
Please refrain from walking around the village in swimwear or other revealing clothing.
Spending the night in places other than designated lodging facilities (e.g., camping on the beach, etc.) is strictly prohibited.
The On is a sacred space and is off-limits.
(Ministry of the Environment, Heisei 19)

Recommended Sightseeing Spots Near Summasha (Nakagane Hamlet)

west pier

Nishi Pier is a pier located west of Sunmasha (Nakaguchi Settlement) and was once used for unloading cargo from ships arriving from Iriomote Island. With a total length of 105 meters, as you walk across it, you’ll find yourself surrounded by crystal-clear waters.
Since Taketomi Island was unsuitable for farming, this pier was built to accommodate boats carrying farmers to Iriomote Island to work the fields. In 2005, this pier, along with the Iko Pier on Kurojima, was designated a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.
From the pier, you can observe colorful corals and tropical fish through the crystal-clear water. It’s also famous as Taketomi Island’s best spot to watch the sunset. After sunset, the area becomes pitch black, and you can gaze up at a star-filled sky.

Kondoi Beach

Kondo Beach is located between the West Pier and Star Sand Beach. It is one of the top beaches in the Yaeyama Islands, having been ranked 6th in 2017 on TripAdvisor’s list of Japan’s Best Beaches, as chosen by travelers.
Because it’s a shallow beach with almost no waves, it’s a great spot for those who aren’t strong swimmers or for families with young children. Since Kondoi Beach is a sandy beach, there aren’t many corals or tropical fish, making it ideal for swimming. If you’d like to go snorkeling, we recommend visiting Star Sand Beach.

Star Sand Beach (Kaiji Beach)

Star Sand Beach is a beach where the sand is littered with star-shaped foraminifera shells. People often pick them up as souvenirs, which is why it’s called Star Sand Beach. However, you’re not allowed to take the sand from Star Sand Beach home with you, so please just collect the star-shaped shells to take home as souvenirs.

Details on Sunmasha (Nakagane Hamlet)