Kuroshima - Puzumari -
Early reservations are recommended as they fill up quickly.
◆Tuk-tuks and electric trikes are also popular!
What is Puzumari?
One of the watchtowers originally built to monitor foreign ships and other activities.
In the past, since there were no telephones, when a foreign ship was spotted, smoke signals were used to notify the Ryukyu Prefectural Government office on Ishigaki Island.
There are several hibamori in the Yaeyama and Miyako Islands, and these are collectively referred to as the Sakishima Islands Hibamori.
How to Get to Puzmari
Puzumari is located about a 23-minute walk or a 5-minute drive from Kuroshima Port.
Head straight south from Kuroshima Port.
Follow the road, and you'll find Puzumari straight ahead at the end of the road.
Click here to book a ferry to Kuroshima
How to Play Puzumari
It is currently out of service and cannot be climbed.
Since Kuroshima is an island formed from raised coral, its terrain is relatively flat, so you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view from this hilltop.
Details on Puzumari
Puzumari is a lookout tower located near the western coast of Kuroshima that was used to monitor maritime traffic during the Ryukyu Kingdom era; it is also known as the highest point on Kuroshima.
As a result, you can see not only the island itself but also the surrounding islands, such as Iriomote Island, Taketomi Island, and Kohama Island.
It is located on a small hill that looks as if the top of a cone made of stacked Ryukyu limestone had been cut off.
Until about 10 years ago, it was possible to climb it, but it is now off-limits due to the risk of collapse.
Of course, this practice isn't used anymore, but in the past, when a ship was spotted, people would signal by lighting a fire or sending up smoke.
When smoke was spotted on one of the remote islands, a fire would be lit on the next island to relay the signal, ultimately alerting the brewery in Ishigaki.
So, since there are ruins of Puzumari not only on Kuroshima but also on other islands, be sure to check them out.
Nearby is a square close to the performance venue, where wild peacocks live.
Although peacocks aren’t very popular with the islanders because they damage crops and the like, it’s quite rare to come across a wild peacock, so be sure to keep an eye out for one.
It has long been known to eat venomous snakes and the like, and in the past, it was enshrined and welcomed as the Peacock Wisdom King.
Puzumari on Kuroshima is an observation deck built from stacked coral; while there are similar structures on other remote islands such as Hateruma and Taketomi, the one on Kuroshima is the largest of them all.
The vegetation grows taller than the observation deck, making for a truly impressive sight.
There is actually something that looks like a Puzumari on the grounds of Kuroshima Elementary and Junior High School as well.
・Puzumari at Kuroshima Elementary and Junior High School
Actually, there’s an observation deck that looks like Puzumari on the grounds of Kuroshima Elementary and Junior High School.
The stone-built observation deck has a really nice atmosphere.
That said, since it isn't very high, you can't see the horizon.
Although it is unclear exactly how it came to be, its construction suggests it may have served a role similar to that of a puzmar.
Recommended Tourist Attractions Near Puzmari
Ox-Head Rock
Gozu-iwa is a rock shaped like a cow's head that comes into view as you head from Puzumari toward Miyazato Beach.
There’s a small sign along the road from Puzmari to the coast, so you won’t have any trouble finding your way there.
This is a tourist attraction unique to Kuroshima, where there are more cows than people.
There’s also a rock formation called “The Turning Cow” at Hokei Beach, so be sure to check that out while you’re there.
Directions: About a 5-minute drive or a 20-minute walk from the port
Site of a Former Checkpoint
The site of the village guard post is a historic site located near Puzumari, close to the entrance to Miyazato Beach; it is the site of the guard post established to govern Kuroshima.
In the past, officials dispatched from the Shuri Royal Court were stationed here permanently to collect the poll tax and oversee ships entering and leaving the island.
Since the site is no longer in use, it has been designated as a historic site marked by a sign with an explanatory text.
Address: 1 Kuroshima, Taketomi Town, Yaeyama District, Okinawa Prefecture
Directions: About a 23-minute walk or a 4-minute drive from Kuroshima Port
Parking: None
Meals (nearby): None
Toilet: None
Kuroshima Research Institute
To get to the Kuroshima Research Institute from Puzumari, leave Puzumari and turn left onto the road right in front of you.
Turn right at the Y-intersection, then turn left immediately, and you'll see the Kuroshima Research Institute right in front of you.
The Kuroshima Research Institute is a research facility dedicated to marine life in the waters around Kuroshima, with a focus on sea turtles. The facility houses specimens of coral and seashells, as well as informational display panels.
The facility houses a variety of marine creatures, including the three species of sea turtles found in Japan: the green sea turtle, the loggerhead sea turtle, and the hawksbill sea turtle.
In addition to sea turtles, the center also houses and displays other marine creatures from Kuroshima.
Location: 136 Kuroshima, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa, Japan
Access: 10 minutes by bicycle from Kuroshima Port
Parking: Available
Meals (nearby): None
Toilet: Yes
Details on Puzumari
| Location | Kuroshima, Taketomi Town, Yaeyama District, Okinawa Prefecture (View in MAP) |
| Access | A 5-minute bike ride from Kuroshima Port |
| parking lot | nashi (Pyrus pyrifolia, esp. var. culta) |
| toilet | nashi (Pyrus pyrifolia, esp. var. culta) |
| Business Hours | - |
See all activities
Ishigaki Island Tours
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