By Alex
Yakushima in Kagoshima Prefecture is renowned for its towering ancient trees and pristine forests, having been designated as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 1993. On the 26th, UNESCO further announced that Amami-Oshima and Tokunoshima in Kagoshima Prefecture, along with the northern part of Okinawa Island and Iriomote Island, would also be listed as World Natural Heritage sites, marking Japan’s fifth such designation.
▲(Photo by hksh @Twitter)
Geographically, a series of islands stretching from Amami-Oshima southwestward to the Yaeyama Islands (main islands include Ishigaki, Iriomote, and Yonaguni) are collectively known as the Ryukyu Islands. The region centers around Naha City on Okinawa Island, the largest city, with a population of over 300,000. For travel enthusiasts, the Ryukyu Islands are a paradise of crystal-clear beaches, rivaling the likes of the Maldives.
Thought it was the sea of New Caledonia, didn’t you?
— Yuya Sasaki / THIRD Ishigaki (@hksh) July 7, 2021
This... is actually from Kagoshima Prefecture... pic.twitter.com/wBnfZtIokI
▲"Thought it was the sea of New Caledonia? This is Kagoshima Prefecture..."
The Ryukyu Islands consist of over 60 islands of varying sizes, and inevitably, some lesser-known ones are overlooked—such as Yoron Island, located northeast of Okinawa Island. A set of photos recently posted by Twitter user @hksh has garnered over 80,000 likes and 11,000 retweets, reflecting the breathtaking beauty of the scenery captured and its allure. Ironically, his tweet only mentioned that the photos were taken in Kagoshima Prefecture without specifying the exact location, prompting many netizens to comment and ask for the name of the island.
▲(Photo by hksh @Twitter)
▲(Photo by hksh @Twitter)
Of course, sharp-eyed netizens were able to identify the location as Yoron Island. The southernmost island of Kagoshima Prefecture, Yoron is very close to Okinawa. @hksh later revealed that the photos were mainly taken at a sandbank in the sea called "Yurinohama" (Lily Beach) on the eastern coast of Yoron Island. This is part of the Ooginke Coast, which emerges during low tide in spring and summer, forming a white sandy beach. Since its appearance is not fixed, it often comes as a delightful surprise.
▲(Photo by hksh @Twitter)
Another tweet detailed seven great things about Yoron Island: the world-class beauty of the sea, water transparency surpassing that of Okinawa, the dreamlike island that appears at low tide (editor’s note: believed to refer to "Yurinohama"), stunning starry skies, beautiful sunsets, a relaxed pace of life on the island, and the affordability of reaching it from Okinawa for just 1,000 yen (approximately HK$71). However, the "1,000 yen" transportation cost is likely a special promotion; the usual ferry fare starts from 4,000 yen (approximately HK$284), with a journey of about five hours from Naha City, Okinawa.
▲(Photo by PriciaYoron @Twitter)
▲(Photo by PriciaYoron @Twitter)
▲(Photo by PriciaYoron @Twitter)
▲(Photo by PriciaYoron @Twitter)
Sources: @hksh, @PriciaYoron, JapanWalker