Ishigaki Questions

Yesterday in class, Ms. Y asked me a bunch of good questions about the trip so I thought I would put them on the blog. I recommend reading the Q and A's for your study.

1. Why did you choose to go to Ishigaki Island?

It was my 4^th time to Okinawa. I went to Ishigaki for the first time on my honeymoon. But, we didn’t have a car at that time because I didn’t have a Japanese driver’s license. So, every day we took a day trip, using the ferry, to a small island like Taketomi Island, Kuroshima Island, and Iriomote. Then, the next year we went to Iriomote, and the 3^rd year we went to Miyakoshima, which are also both beautiful, but both times a typhoon hit us! So we decided to go back to Ishigaki and this time rent a car (because I got a driver’s license earlier this year), and drive around.

2. How did you make your trip’s plans?

I didn’t make any of the plans. That is my wife’s job, and to be honest, she does a great job. Of course, she asks me for my opinion a little, for example “What do you think about doing a all-day snorkeling tour on the first day?” or something like that, but basically she decides the itinerary; the hotel, airlines, sightseeing spots, etc. But, I usually choose the restaurants because I am good at that. So, she is in charge of the planning, and I am responsible for paying.

3. Did you have to pay any extra-baggage fees or penalty fees for bags over the weight limit?

Fortunately, no we didn’t. Because, the weight limit of bags on a domestic flight is 20kg. We checked in two bags. One bag was 12kg, that was my bag. I pack light! The other bag was barely under the limit, at 19.5kg. That was my wife’s bag! She packs heavy!

4. Was the flight crowded?

Yes, it was. It was a full flight.

5. Please tell me the name of your favorite beach.

That’s’ easy! It’s Yonehara beach. The beach, and the ocean, and the view from the beach are all breathtaking!! If you want to know more about it, just google “Yonehara Beach”!

6. Were there a lot of people on the beach?

No, there weren’t. The beaches were practically empty. We were lucky! I think there are two reasons for this. One reason is it was cloudy or rainy every day. The second reason is October is not peak season in Okinawa.

7. What did you eat and drink at dinner?

We ate out three nights, at two different restaurants. We went to one of those restaurants twice. We ate a lot of traditional Okinawan food, for example “Goya-Champuru,” “Umi-budo” which are called “Sea Grapes“ in English but they are not sweet. Also, we ate a lot of tropical fish which Okinawa is known for. The other night we ate steak at the hotel’s restaurant. Except that night at the hotel, I was the designated driver so I didn’t drink alcohol. My wife drank Orion beer, Awamori, and Mango juice when we ate out.

8. How was the hotel? What kind of facilities does the hotel have?

First of all, the hotel was great. We stayed at Karuizawa Club Hotel Ishigaki Jima. It had a public bath and a sauna, a nail salon and massage shop, a souvenir shop at which you could get private weaving and sanshin lessons, and a pool.

9. Were the restaurants near your hotel?

They weren’t so far, but you have to drive or take a taxi there. They were too far to walk. That was the only disadvantage of staying at that hotel. The town, where most of the restaurants are, is about a 20-minute drive from the hotel.

10. How was driving in Ishigaki?

Driving was very pleasant and easy. There are only a few major roads which are all one lane. And, everyone drives the speed limit, which on most roads is 40kph(kilometers per hour). However, in town, some of the side-roads are very narrow, and the parking spaces are very small. I DO NOT LIKE THAT!! And my wife has to get out of the car and assist me every time we park the car. She waves her hands and says in Japanese style “Alrigh, alrigh, alrigh----sutop!!”