Nanjarou
Guest
Hi all, this is my first post on this board. I saw all the great information and local knowledge on this board which I couldn't find elsewhere. よろしくお願いいたします.
I'm coming from Kobe and making my first trip to Okinawa this Golden Week (Apr 25-May 2, and believe me I would have picked a better time to come if I weren't bound to my schedule).
I'm a spearfisher first and a diver second but recently for the past year I've been crazy about scuba diving. Living in Kansai and working full time makes it difficult to get out there but this year my new years resolution was to make a Scuba Diving trip once a month and spearfishing trips twice a month. So far it's been off to a good start. As an example of what I do on my weekends: This weekend I'll be spending my first day in Kushimoto, Wakayama for scuba and then next day in Awaji for spearfishing (and I definitely make a clear separation between the two!).
My regular diving location is Kushimoto, 19 km from the now infamous Taiji area. It's dry suits for sure as it's bitter cold up here. I have been dreaming about being able to swim in a thin wet suit for the last half a year!
Back on topic: I want to spend most of my trip in Ishigaki and the last couple days in Nago. I'm a 23 year old teacher and my budget is quite tight. I've been eating canned fish and white rice for lunch everyday to save money for this trip. I'd like to get some tips for my travel plans for those more experienced!
1) Which dive masters/instructors have good rapport and rates (it seems I've been reading some good things about 'japan-diver') but just to keep an open mind I'd like to get some good recommendations! I can go with English or Japanese speaking dive masters.
2) What is the best place to stay? Do dive centers have some cheap bunk beds I can crash in or is it better to stay at some hostels like Yanbuzeeena, Yashima Youth Hostel or Penshon?
3) Is spearfishing allowed in Ishigaki? How do the fishermen see it? Would you recommend bringing a travel pole spear to Ishigaki or are cheap ones available at tsuri stores?
4) What's there to do in Ishigaki at night?
5) How easy is it to get around Ishigaki? Are there bikes available for rent?
6) At the end of April, will a 1.5mm full body wet suit suffice? I'm bringing only a backpack so I need to travel as light as possible.
If you've read all the way down here thank you so much for your time! I appreciate any piece of information as I'm purchasing my tickets within the next few days!
Doumo Arigatougozaima****a!
I'm coming from Kobe and making my first trip to Okinawa this Golden Week (Apr 25-May 2, and believe me I would have picked a better time to come if I weren't bound to my schedule).
I'm a spearfisher first and a diver second but recently for the past year I've been crazy about scuba diving. Living in Kansai and working full time makes it difficult to get out there but this year my new years resolution was to make a Scuba Diving trip once a month and spearfishing trips twice a month. So far it's been off to a good start. As an example of what I do on my weekends: This weekend I'll be spending my first day in Kushimoto, Wakayama for scuba and then next day in Awaji for spearfishing (and I definitely make a clear separation between the two!).
My regular diving location is Kushimoto, 19 km from the now infamous Taiji area. It's dry suits for sure as it's bitter cold up here. I have been dreaming about being able to swim in a thin wet suit for the last half a year!
Back on topic: I want to spend most of my trip in Ishigaki and the last couple days in Nago. I'm a 23 year old teacher and my budget is quite tight. I've been eating canned fish and white rice for lunch everyday to save money for this trip. I'd like to get some tips for my travel plans for those more experienced!
1) Which dive masters/instructors have good rapport and rates (it seems I've been reading some good things about 'japan-diver') but just to keep an open mind I'd like to get some good recommendations! I can go with English or Japanese speaking dive masters.
2) What is the best place to stay? Do dive centers have some cheap bunk beds I can crash in or is it better to stay at some hostels like Yanbuzeeena, Yashima Youth Hostel or Penshon?
3) Is spearfishing allowed in Ishigaki? How do the fishermen see it? Would you recommend bringing a travel pole spear to Ishigaki or are cheap ones available at tsuri stores?
4) What's there to do in Ishigaki at night?
5) How easy is it to get around Ishigaki? Are there bikes available for rent?
6) At the end of April, will a 1.5mm full body wet suit suffice? I'm bringing only a backpack so I need to travel as light as possible.
If you've read all the way down here thank you so much for your time! I appreciate any piece of information as I'm purchasing my tickets within the next few days!
Doumo Arigatougozaima****a!
. Deceiving the name may be, the noodles are made with wheat flour, not buckwheat flour like the regular soba. General description of Okinawan "soba" is; wheat flour based noodles, glutenized with lye water, are cooked in bonito broth and typically topped with cooked pork. Regional difference in preparation gives each region their own "soba" style. ie. Miyako-soba for Miyakojima area, Kumejima-soba for Kumejima area, Ya'e-yama-soba for Yaeyama area (includes Ishigaki, Taketomi and Iriomote). You'll probably run into the word "sohki"(ソーキ
