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How to get to and play at Nosodake, a sightseeing spot in Ishigaki Island! Ishigaki Island resident staff will give you a thorough explanation!
Hello everyone!
Have you ever heard of Mt. Nosoko? It’s one of the mountains on Ishigaki Island and is the second-highest mountain on the island.
Although it isn't a particularly tall mountain, it has become a famous tourist spot because of the 360-degree panoramic view from the summit and a certain legend associated with it. I wonder what that legend is.
In this article, we’ll introduce Mount Nosoko, including the legend associated with it.
Table of Contents
What Is Mt. Nosoko?
As mentioned at the beginning, Mt. Nosoko is the second-highest mountain on Ishigaki Island, with an elevation of 282 meters. It is located about 30 minutes by car from the airport and about 40 minutes from the Ishigaki Port Remote Islands Terminal.
Since there’s nothing blocking the view from the summit, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view. Plus, because it’s located right by the ocean, you can see the emerald-green sea and the lush, beautiful islands of the Yaeyama Archipelago! This incredibly beautiful scenery is sure to make for some Instagram-worthy photos. The large rock towering at the summit is a symbol of Mount Nosoko and is also the origin of the “Mape” legend, which led to the mountain’s alternative name, “Nosoko Mape.”
How to Get to Mt. Nosoko
Mt. Nosoko is located about a 45-minute drive from the city center and about a 30-minute drive from Ishigaki Airport.
When visiting Mt. Nosoko, most people head to the trailhead. To get to the trailhead, it’s best to take the Nosoko Forest Road.
To get to the Nosoko Forest Road, there are signs if you’re coming from Prefectural Route 79 on the west coast, but there are no signs if you’re coming from National Route 390 on the east coast, so please be careful. Since rental car navigation systems often cannot be set to this destination, we recommend asking a fellow traveler to use a map app on their phone to check the route and guide you.
Detailed Information on Mt. Nosoko
Located in the northern part of Ishigaki Island, Mt. Nosoko—Ishigaki Island’s No. 1 scenic spot—stands at an elevation of approximately 282 meters, making it the second-highest mountain on the island.
Speaking of Mt. Nosoko...trekkingis very popular. “Trekking” refers to mountain climbing. While mountain climbing might sound very difficult, as I mentioned earlier, the mountains here aren’t that high, so you can easily give it a try.
Also, since you can drive up to the 8th station at an elevation of 200 meters, you can enjoy the remaining 80 meters as if you were on a hike. Head from the Nosoko Forest Road toward the trailhead; you’ll easily spot it when you see a green sign that reads “Nosoko Mape Trailhead.” Once you reach the 8th Station, it takes about 10 minutes to reach the summit, but the remaining path is very narrow and quite steep, so you’ll need to climb while holding onto the ropes attached to the side. There are some slippery spots, so be sure to watch your step carefully as you climb.
The view from the mountaintop at the end of the trek is truly breathtaking. You can enjoy an unobstructed 360-degree panoramic view. Also, at the summit, there is a rock that resembles Marpe—the tragic heroine of the Marpe legend—as if she were praying. It is said that touching this rock makes your wishes come true, and many visitors touch it and take commemorative photos. Be sure to take a commemorative photo when you visit.
We’ve included more information about the Marpe Legend below, so please be sure to read it.
During the Ryukyu Kingdom era, people were forcibly relocated. During one such relocation, a woman was moved from Kurojima—a remote island about 20 km from Ishigaki Island—to the area where Mount Nosoko now stands. Her name was Ma-pe. Before the resettlement, Mape had a lover named Kanimui on Kuroshima, but she was forced to leave. Mape loved Kanimui deeply and would cry almost every day, thinking of him. Unable to forget Kanimui, Mape longed to at least catch a glimpse of her hometown, where he was, and set out for Mount Nosoko. However, Mount Omoto towered between her and Kuroshima from the summit, blocking her view of her hometown. It is said that, overcome by this heartbreak, Mape wept and grieved until she turned to stone while still in a posture of prayer. Because there is a rock on the summit of Mount Nosoko that resembles Ma-pe in a praying posture, people began calling it “Nosoko Ma-pe” out of compassion for her. Although it is a legend of a heartbreaking love story, it is now a very popular spot for those seeking success in love.
How to Enjoy Mt. Nosoko
When it comes to things to do at Mt. Nosoko, hiking is a must.
When trekking Mount Nosoko, there are two options: a challenging route and an easier route. As mentioned earlier, you can drive up to the 8th station. There’s an easier route where you just climb the remaining few dozen meters, and a route that takes about an hour to reach the summit, so please choose the one that best suits your fitness level!
The entrance to this challenging hiking trail is located about a 10-minute drive from the Fukidori River. Once you enter the Nosoko area and drive along the road, look for a sign on your right that says “Nosoko Marpe Trail” and turn right to reach the entrance. Near the entrance, you can see fireflies around March and observe sagaribana flowers from mid-June through the end of July. Since this is a one-way trek that takes about an hour, if you’re not confident in your stamina, we recommend taking the easier course we’ll introduce later! On the challenging course, you can observe various plants along the way, including Hikagehego, which is designated as a Natural Monument.
・Easy Hiking!
The easy route involves driving to the 8th station and then hiking about 10 minutes from there to the summit. That's right. Actually, you can drive all the way to the 8th station, lol.
Even though this is considered an easy course, there are some steep sections, so please climb carefully. However, because the climb is relatively short due to the steepness, you can reach the summit in one go. In addition, many Nodoko Marpe trekking tours use this route, and with the support of a guide, you can feel confident joining a tour.
Most of the trail on the Nosoko Marpe Trek is unpaved, so you’ll be hiking up a mountain path that’s largely untouched by human hands. As a result, you’ll inevitably have to squeeze through narrow passages and brush against grass and trees. For this reason, it’s best to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants that you don’t mind getting dirty.
Address:Nosoko, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture
Access: 25 minutes by car from Shin-Ishigaki Airport, 35 minutes from Ishigaki Port Terminal
Free parking: Available
summary
We’ve introduced Mount Nosoko. What did you think?
Mt. Nosoko, Ishigaki Island’s No. 1 scenic spot offering a 360-degree panoramic view from the summit, is also known as a romantic destination. Here are some highlights of Mt. Nosoko:
・The setting of the Marpe Legend and a romantic spot
・There are both challenging and easy trekking routes
・Depending on the season, you can see fireflies at the trailhead.
・You can encounter a wide variety of wildlife while trekking
Keep the points mentioned above in mind and be sure to visit Mt. Nosoko.
Thank you for reading to the end.
This article was written by.
