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How to get to and play at Nagura Ampal, a tourist attraction on Ishigaki Island!
Hello everyone!
When we talk about ways to enjoy the sea of Ishigaki Island, we tend to think of snorkeling and diving to observe colorful corals and colorful tropical fishes, but there are also mud flats where you can play for free and enjoy with small children. In Nagura Bay, the largest bay in Ishigaki Island, there is a vast mud flat called "Nagura Ampal". It is home to an abundance of rare creatures and unusual plants that are unique to Yaeyama. This article introduces Nagura Ampal, which boasts of such a diverse biota.
When we think of ways to enjoy the ocean in Ishigaki Island, snorkeling and diving come to mind, but it is difficult with small children and your wallet is also a concern. But there are places where you can enjoy the ocean with your children in peace and at no cost! There are places where you can play in the ocean with your children safely and for free!
It is "Nagura Ampal" consisting of a vast tidal flat and mangrove forest. It has been a favorite place of Ishigaki locals for a long time, and is a treasure house of rare creatures unique to Yaeyama. Adults and children alike will lose track of time and become fascinated by the rare creatures that you will encounter one after another as you stroll around the Nagura Anparu. Even if it is not summer, it is a good place for the whole family to enjoy the nature of Yaeyama in a relaxed and leisurely manner.
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What is Meizo Anpal?
Nagura Ampal is a tidal flat near the mouth of Nagura Bay, the largest bay on the island located in the western part of Ishigaki Island. Mangroves designated as a national natural treasure are spreading around the area, and coral reefs and fish are swimming in the bay. The tidal flat, located in brackish water where fresh water and sea water mix, is home to a variety of creatures, making it ideal for observing them. From there, visitors can enter the subtropical forest, which was designated a protected area by the Ramsar Convention in 2005 because of its rare creatures, such as the Semaru Tortoise, the Benishio Maneki (Phyllostachys nigra), and the Okinawa Spiny Dogfish. Although it is not allowed to take them home or damage them, you can observe them and look for various creatures.
Directions to Meizo Ampal
Nagura Ampal is located in the western part of Ishigaki Island and can be reached in about 15 minutes by car from the city center where the terminal is located. There is a free parking lot when you go north on Prefectural Road 79 and cross the Nagura Ohashi Bridge. At the parking lot, there are stairs leading down to the Meizo Ampal. There is a large signboard near the parking lot, so you cannot miss it. You can access it by going down the stairs here.
More about Meizo Anpal
It is a tidal flat spreading near the mouth of the river flowing into Nagura Bay from Nagura River, which flows into Omotodake, the highest peak in Okinawa Prefecture, located in the western part of Ishigaki Island. It is a place where a wide range of flora and fauna of subtropical climate are distributed. The tidal flats appear at low tide, and shellfish and crabs can be seen inhabiting the flats. The area is visited by locals throughout the year as a place to gather food. It is also used as a flyway and habitat for wild birds. The area is protected under the Ramsar Convention as a stopover, wintering ground, and habitat for migratory birds. Because of its academic value, it is often used as a place for local residents to relax and for students to learn about the environment.
You can see Yaeyama's endemic Yaeyamashiomanechi waving their arms as if inviting the tide, southern rice crabs walking in groups, and flying gobies jumping up and down. You can also find gazami crabs and southern red-spotted crabs, which can cost as much as 5,000 yen each! The gazami's scissors can easily snap off a tree branch, and once they get caught, they are so powerful that they are hard to remove, so be careful not to get caught when you find one.
How to play Meizo Ampal
As mentioned above, Nagura Ampal is home to a wide variety of creatures. For this reason, most visitors come here to observe the creatures. Mangrove forests unique to the subtropical zone and crabs that filter organic matter from mud in mud flats to make dumplings. There are many things to see.
In addition, Nagura Bay, where Nagura Ampal is located, is famous for its beautiful sunset view, and it is said that the sunset here is the best in Ishigaki Island.
SUPand ... andcanoeThere are also tours that offer sunset views on a "boat", so you might want to give it a try. The sunset is an exquisite experience, as the waves sway slowly in the serenity of the ocean. When the sunset is over, the sky is completely dark and the stars are all around you. The reflection of the stars on the surface of the sea is so beautiful that the sensation of being surrounded by stars is sure to move you. Depending on the season, migratory birds and crested serpent eagles, which are designated as natural treasures, can be seen here, so you may want to look for them. There are no restrooms, running water, or vending machines in the vicinity of Nagura Ampal. It is recommended that you use the restroom and buy something to drink and fill your stomach beforehand.
Address: Nagura, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture
Access: 25 minutes by car from Shin-Ishigaki Airport
Phone number: 0980-82-2809 (Ishigaki City Tourism Exchange Association)
Fee: None
Parking: Available
Vending machine: None
Restaurant: None
Toilet: None
summary
We introduced Meizo Anpal. How was it? You can see mangroves, the Yaeyama Sea Lion, and other creatures that can only be found here, so you may enjoy observing the creatures in a tropical country.
The following is a list of such recommendations for Meizo Anpal.
Clear and transparent sea
Beautiful sunset
Mangrove community surrounding
The sky is full of stars.
Please check the above and visit Meizo Ampal.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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