For the final two nights of our holiday, we had booked accommodation near Ishigaki Port. Ishigaki is a huge island, and a hire car is a must if you want to explore it. We didn't fancy spending the remainder of our journey stuck in a car, trying to program a Japanese sat-nav, and so we explored the town on the first day, and took a 25 minute ferry journey to nearby Kuroshima (black island) on our second and final day.

This could almost have been my home in Norfolk. — This could *almost* have been my home in Norfolk.

Kuroshima is mostly a farmland. The island has the approximate shape of a heart symbol 「♡」when viewed from the air, and is marketed as "Heart Island". We rented bicycles, and I was surprised by how much it felt like Norfolk, except with the Sun turned up to 11.

There are apparently more cows than people on Kuroshima — There are apparently more cows than people on *Kuroshima*

Cattle raising is a major economic activity and a yearly "cow festival" is held. Sometimes the island is marketed as "Island of Cows" as well, as there are more cows than local inhabitants. We visited the sea-turtle research centre, which was rather small, but allowed us to escape the heat and intense sun for some respite.

Lighthouse at the southern tip of Kuroshima — Lighthouse at the southern tip of *Kuroshima*

Standing on the small cliffs at the southern tip of the island, the next land mass across the ocean is the Philippines.

Farms and clouds - UK or Tropical Japan?

We ended the day with a dip in the richest green-blue water I've ever seen. It was so cool and refreshing after cycling all day. I can hear the waves lapping at the shore right now...

Possibly the best beach I've been to... so far — Possibly the best beach I've been to... *so far*

This concludes the "photo-journal" style posts from our holiday. I hope you enjoyed the series!

Ishigaki Port & Kuroshima

Kuroshima - 黒島

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