We had some snorkelling fun!
Read Moreishigaki
Around Gongendo Shrine on Ishigaki island
In Ishigaki, a small island in Okinawa, Japan, Shinto and Buddhism coexist in a unique blend that reflects both local culture and broader Japanese traditions. Shinto focuses on nature worship and community festivals, with shrines dedicated to kami that protect the land and sea. Buddhism, on the other hand, emphasizes ancestral worship, funerary practices, and rituals held in local temples. The two religions harmoniously divide spiritual duties—Shinto for life events and nature, Buddhism for death and the afterlife—creating a distinct spiritual landscape influenced by both Japanese and Okinawan traditions.
Read MoreOkinawa - Ishigaki to Taketomi
Finally back in Okinawa after 10 years…
Read MoreLand of the Hibiscus
More ramblings from my old stomping grounds; the Land of the Hibiscus
Read MoreIshigaki Port & Kuroshima
We killed some time in Ishigaki city whilst waiting for a ferry to nearby Kuroshima.
Read MoreIshigaki Island – 石垣島
Though I've been fortunate enough to visit Okinawa numerous times, I've spent most of that time on the main island; Okinawa Honto. To see what else the prefecture has to offer, we decided to stay on nearby Ishigaki-jima.
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