Kuroshima - Kuroshima Elementary and Junior High School -
Early reservations are recommended as they fill up quickly.
◆Tuk-tuks and electric trikes are also popular!
About Kuroshima Elementary and Junior High School
Kuroshima Elementary and Junior High School, located in the central part of Kuroshima, is the island’s only combined elementary and junior high school. It is equidistant from the hamlets of Nakamoto, Miyazato, Hori, Higashisuji, and Iko, and has an enrollment of around 20 students. Next to the school is a spiral-shaped observation deck, from which visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire island.
Kuroshima Elementary School was founded in June of Meiji 26 and celebrated its 100th anniversary in Heisei 4. The junior high school was established in April of Showa 24 as a junior high school under the new system.
Directions to Kuroshima Elementary and Junior High School
Kuroshima Elementary and Junior High School is located about a 21-minute walk or a 4-minute drive from Kuroshima Port. Leave Kuroshima Port and head toward the village along Prefectural Route 213. Continue along the road for a short while, and you’ll find the school on your right.
How to Play at Kuroshima Elementary and Junior High School
Since elementary and junior high schools are public facilities, please refrain from entering them or playing there. There’s a spiral-shaped observation deck nearby, so you might want to stop by there to enjoy the island’s scenery. On clear days, you can even see the surrounding islands across the sea.
Details about Kuroshima Elementary and Junior High School
Kuroshima Elementary and Junior High School is located in the center of Kuroshima. Roads radiate out from the school, and there is an observation deck nearby. The school buildings and grounds are very beautiful, and with pastures stretching out all around, the atmosphere is incredibly open and airy.
Kuroshima Elementary and Junior High School has established the following three educational goals:
① Children who think for themselves and take the initiative in their learning (Knowledge) (Children who think deeply)
② Children with a rich inner life and compassion (Virtue) (Children with a rich inner life)
③ A strong and resilient child (physically) (a strong child, a resilient child)
That reflects the educational philosophy of fostering a sense of freedom, which is unique to Kuroshima with its abundant natural surroundings.
Although they are now combined as Kuroshima Elementary and Junior High School, these are historic schools—the elementary school is celebrating its 124th anniversary, and the junior high school its 68th. In addition to academic studies, the schools respect traditional culture, passing down performing arts, dance, and the customs of each local community, which greatly contributes to the students’ spiritual development.
Recommended Sightseeing Spots Near Kuroshima Elementary and Junior High School
Kuroshima Observatory
The Kuroshima Observation Deck is located roughly in the center of Kuroshima, next to the Kuroshima Elementary and Junior High School. It’s very easy to spot because it really stands out.
The Kuroshima Observation Deck has a swirling shape, allowing visitors to take in the surrounding views as they climb. Although it is not particularly tall—standing at 10 meters—the flat terrain of Kuroshima allows for a panoramic view of the entire island. On clear days, you can also see Iriomote Island, Taketomi Island, and Ishigaki Island across the sea.
Address: Kuroshima, Taketomi Town, Yaeyama County, Okinawa Prefecture
Directions: About a 1-minute walk from Kuroshima Port
Parking: None
Meals (nearby): None
Toilet: None
Kuroshima Post Office
The Kuroshima Post Office, located in the Higashisuji settlement just past the Kuroshima Port Prefectural Road, is characterized by its red-tiled roof—a hallmark of the Yaeyama Islands—and is the only post office on the island. Like post offices on the mainland, it is open on weekdays and has an ATM.
Also, since you can get a postmark unique to Kuroshima, it’s a great idea to send a postcard or letter as a souvenir.
Location: 1032-1 Kuroshima, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa
Access: 23 minutes on foot from Kuroshima Port
Parking: Available
Meals (nearby): Available
Toilet: Yes
Puzumari (Hibanomori, Sakishima Islands)
Puzumari (a signal fire mound in the Sakishima Islands) is a historic site located near Funaura Utaki, close to the Miyazato Coast settlement. It is one of the signal fire mounds built to monitor trade ships and foreign vessels; in the past, when there were no telephones, smoke signals were raised to alert others upon the sighting of a foreign ship. The surrounding islands would relay the smoke signals to the Ryukyu Prefectural Office on Ishigaki Island. There are several such watchtowers in the Yaeyama and Miyako Islands, and collectively, they are known as the Sakishima Islands Watchtowers.
Location: Kuroshima, Taketomi Town, Yaeyama County, Okinawa Prefecture
Access: 5 minutes by bicycle from Kuroshima Port
Parking: None
Meals (nearby): None
Toilet: None
Details about Kuroshima Elementary and Junior High School
| Location | Kuroshima, Taketomi Town, Yaeyama County, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Access | About a 21-minute walk or a 4-minute drive from Kuroshima Port |
| parking lot | ant |
| toilet | ant |
| Business Hours | - |
