The only "well" where you can swim in Japan's Ishigaki Island Traditional Village

Reported and photographed by Reporter You t-r / From Japan

On a scorching summer day, where can you find the most "refreshing" escape? On Taketomi Island, just an hour away from Taiwan by flight and ferry, there is an enormous "well" located right in the heart of a quaint traditional village. This well is not only the most iconic landmark of the village but also serves as a refreshing swimming spot in the summer. As you splash around, look up to see the Milky Way streaking across the sky above.


▲ The "well" situated in the center of the resort.

Taketomi Island, just a ten-minute boat ride from Ishigaki Island, is a designated Japanese National Traditional Architecture Conservation Area. Buildings on the island cannot exceed two stories in height. “HOSHINOYA Okinawa” is located here. Viewed from higher ground on the island, this resort, built in coexistence with the local residents, exudes a sense of being a world apart. One of the most unique features of staying here is the central well in the village.

The resort is built in a radial layout, with this "well" as its centerpiece. In fact, the well is an oval-shaped swimming pool representing the water wells that once sustained the lives of the village’s residents. The pool is recessed on all four sides. Resort staff explain that since this pool is the only “man-made structure” within the resort, it is designed to be sunken so that visitors see only the natural, traditional, and harmonious architecture of the village. Thanks to its recessed design, guests swimming in the pool at night can enjoy an unobstructed view of the full starry sky.


▲ % grade serene surroundings, immersed in nature and the local landscape.




For more information about “HOSHINOYA Okinawa,” please contact Tang Guizhen International Travel Agency →http://www.rolisa-tour.com.tw/