Before we explore the jungles of Yonaha-dake, I want to tell you about my travels to Ie-jima.
Ferries leave several times a day to travel from Motobu harbor to Ie-jima an island northwest of the Motobu peninsula just off of Okinawa’s main island.
The ferry speeds across the ocean for about 30 minutes. Along the way, we pass SesokO-jima, the main island and a wide variety of watercraft. Japanese high school students are riding along with us and get excited when they see our destination in the distance.
Ie-Jima also known as Ie-island, because jima means island in Japanese, is easily recognized by the huge rock formation known as Gusuku-yama that stands tall in the center of the island.
I’m traveling with my mother-in-law, Satoko, and my wife’s uncle, Haru-San and our plan is to climb to the top of Gusuku-Yama.
We pull into the harbor and upon arrival; the ferry unloads visitors, residents and supplies for the 5000 plus people living on the island.
We travel to the base of Gusuku-yama and begin our ascent.
A long steep staircase takes you to the top of the island. When you get high, enough you can glance out and see the Houses and farms from the path. Farmers grow sugarcane, tobacco, pineapple and peanuts. Ie-Jima is known as Peanut Island not just because they grow peanuts, but also because of the unique shape of the island.
“Okinawa Prefecture is a series of islands with Okinawa Honto being the main island. Currently I’m on top of Ie-Jima. It’s a very beautiful island with very scenic views. The hike up is a little tiring but not too bad.”
From the top of Gusuku-yama there is a 360 view of Ie-Jima and the endless ocean.
Other activities on the island, include biking, camping, diving in colorful coral reefs and other water sports.
There is also a monument to war correspondent Ernie Pyle, who died on the island in the battle of Okinawa.
I head back down with my mother-n-law in front of me. She constantly reminds me that I should stay on the trail to avoid Okinawa’s most notorious resident the poisonous Habu snake. Okinawans are so afraid of this snake that they have a Habu museum and you frequently see signs warning that Habu might be living in tall grass.
I see a freshly cut trail and ignore her warnings I travel about 500 yards down the trail and hear something fall out of the tree behind me. I turn around to see a five-foot snake land on the ground and strike a cobra-like pose. Could this be a Habu? I was so startled that I nearly jumped back to Tokyo. By the time I got my camera out, the snake was crawling back into the woods.
Well, that was enough for me. I ran back down the trail. It turns out it probably wasn’t a Habu snake, but it was still on nerve remember less.
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