Iheya Island

The people of Iheya island are incredibly warm and friendly. S ince the island does not see a lot of tourists at all-neither Japanese, nor foreigners-   at first,  they might be a little confused or surprised as to why you are on the island. However, they are quick to warmly welcome you and will be genuinely curious about you. Some of the children (especially in the middle of the island) will openly stop and stare, so rarely do strangers frequent Iheya. Though there is definitely not a lot of English spoken here, everyone is happy to try and communicate, often relying on Google Translate. The few locals who DO speak English are speedily pointed out to you by others, and, usually, extremely keen to practice their skills. While here, I was invited to multiple events, including an End-of-Marathon party (complete with complimentary brimming bowls of goat soup and alcohol), a BBQ, a home-cooked meal of duck soup and duck sashimi, a karaoke bar....The islanders are extremely gene...

The bridge which connects Iheya and Noho In addition to beach hopping, Iheya offers ample ways in which to explore the island; including snorkelling, diving, fishing, and exploring caves and shrines. Noho Island is connected to Iheya via a bridge on the southernmost part of the island. Noho is even smaller and quieter than Iheya and has many country lanes which climb towards the top of the island, rewarding those who make the trek with amazing views. Noho is a very pretty little island to explore, and it's easy to get around the entire island within about an hour and a half. Diving off of Iheya is also exceptional, and th e local dive shop will happily set you up for a good day out. The dive shop is called Jin, and more information can be found here . Iheya also has Kuyama Cave to explore on the northern end of the island, as well as Kubayama Mountain to climb, though views at the top of the mountain are somewhat restricted by the foliage. ...

The island is a photographer's paradise-as exemplified by these incredible photos, all taken by Iheya local, Hidefumi Fukumura.

Medical Care: In case of a medical emergency, please call 119. However, for the year of 2017/2018, the doctor on the island, Masa-San, speaks fluent English, and can be reached on 08052947779. It is best to call him first, as the emergency services (based off island), may not speak English.  The beauty of the Iheya is its quiet, but this also means that you will often be in places which are isolated and not close to other people. Please take care while traveling around the island! Be wary while walking through long grasses at night, as this is when Habu (highly venomous snakes, indigenous to the island) are most active. Keep an eye out for jellyfish and sea snakes as well, as both of these are dangerous. However, during 3 weeks here, I have yet to see either of these. Like any more exotic location, Iheya has its own things to be cautious about, but these are not a huge concern if one is careful. Village information: There is one ATM on the island, which is located...

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2015/12/19/travel/bask-warmth-iheya-island/#.WTOv7xOGOt8 https://www.oki-islandguide.com/areaguide/iheya-island http://www.japanupdate.com/2013/05/scarecrow-festival-in-iheya-island-enters-final-week/ https://www.oki-islandguide.com/things_to_do/iheya-moonlight-marathon

This blog was written by Naomi Doerge, who stayed in Yogi-San's house for 3 weeks in May/June 2017, through the website Workaway . All photos (unless stated otherwise) and words are hers and not to be used or reproduced without permission. Please email yogiiheya@gmail.com with any questions or comments!