How to get to and play in Yaeyama palm colony in Yonehara, a sightseeing spot in Ishigaki Island! Ishigaki Island resident staff will give you a thorough explanation!

Hello everyone!
The palm tree is a symbol of the tropics.
There is a palm tree that grows naturally only in the Yaeyama Islands, especially in Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands. Its name is "Yaeyama palm".
A large colony of such yaeyama palms is located in an area called Yonehara on Ishigaki Island.
This article introduces a symbol of the tropics, "Yaeyama Palm Colony in Yonehara.

 

 

 

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What is Yaeyama palm colony in Yonehara?

 

 

The Yaeyama palm of Yonehara, designated as a national natural monument, is a palm tree 15 to 20 meters tall that grows naturally only on Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands in the Yaeyama Archipelago.
For a long time, it was thought to be the same as the nokyashi palm native to the Ogasawara Islands, but in 1964, Mr. Sumihiko Hatsushima described it as a different species in the same genus as the nokyashi palm. Later, H.E. Moore placed it in the genus Yaeyama palm, and the genus name was given in honor of Toshihiko Satake, an authority on palm research at the time.
Yonehara is home to the largest such colony of Yaeyama palms, and in addition to the Yaeyama palms, other subtropical plants such as the Hamainu loquat, the Ryukyu oyster, the red cattail, and the wasuzu potato grow wild in the area.

 

 

Directions to Yaeyama palm colony in Yonehara

 

 

Yonehara is about 15 minutes from Ishigaki Airport by car, about 20 minutes from the airport by regular sightseeing bus, and about 50 minutes from the bus terminal. It is also 35 minutes from the city center.
If you are driving, follow Route 79 and you will see a sign. Follow the signs and you will arrive at the destination. The parking lot is free of charge and can hold about 15 cars, so you should be able to park there without any problem if it is not a busy season.
In Yaeyama palm colonytrekkingLet's enjoy the

 

 

 

 

More information about Yaeyama palm colony in Yonehara

 

 

Yaeyama palm is an endemic palm that grows naturally only on Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands, which belong to the Yaeyama Islands. It is a large palm tree reaching 25 m in height and belongs to the genus Yaeyama Palm with wavy compound leaves.
The stems are unbranched and the petioles are short and glossy, and some palms have more than 90 pairs of lobes.
Yaeyama palm is known as an endemic species of Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands, but until it was newly described as an endemic species, it was misidentified as "no-yashi" because it resembled the no-yashi of the Ogasawara Islands.

 

 

In 1963, Japanese botanist Sumihiko Hatsushima, an authority on the palm family, described it in a scientific journal as a new species. Six years later, Harold Emery Moore, an American botanist, created the genus Yaeyama palm and designated this species as the genus Yaeyama. Doransfield, who was collaborating with Harold Emery Moore, remarked, "It is truly amazing that such a large species has been overlooked until now," and since then the importance of plants and animals inhabiting and growing in the Yaeyama Islands has been highlighted.

 

 

Today, the Yaeyama palm has come to be called the most beautiful palm in the world! However, such yaeyama palms grow only in the Yonehara area, and are designated as a national natural monument, red data by the Ministry of the Environment, and a semi-endangered species in Okinawa Prefecture.

 

It is protected as an extremely valuable species, and although it is OK to view it, never step on it or damage it in any way. In addition, the site is almost untouched by humans, so the footholds may be unstable. Children and the elderly should be especially careful.

 

How to play in Yaeyama palm colony in Yonehara

 

 

The best way to enjoy the Yaeyama palm colony in Yonehara is to take a walk. It takes about 20 minutes by car to go around the whole area, so it is a good idea to go for a drive. Nearby, there is a store where you can get sugar cane juice and a palm memorial museum. It is a good place to stop by for a moment after walking around the palm trees.
The Yashi Memorial Museum is also a place where visitors can learn more about the Yaeyama palm, as it houses information and exhibits on the research of Mr. Satake, who discovered and named the palm, as well as information about Mr. Satake himself.Blue Caveis very close, so you can go there while you are there.

 

 

Sugarcane juice is served at a parlor called Papaya. Sugarcane juice is made from brown sugar, so people tend to think of it as a very sweet drink, but while it is very filling, it has a very refreshing aftertaste that is almost addictive. The freshly squeezed juice is thirst-quenching, and the blend of fresh fruits from the island will quench your thirst after a stroll. This is one of the must-visit stores when you visit the Yaeyama palm colony in Yonehara.

 

 

The admission fee is 300 yen, making the museum easy to visit.
There are explanations not only about the Yaeyama palm, but also about 105 types of palms from all over the world, and you can learn about what kind of palm trees are found in what countries.
There is also a rooftop observation deck from which you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Yonehara Coast and the Yaeyama palm colony, so be sure to visit!

Information about the memorial and Papa's, where you can drink sugar cane juice, is below.

 

 

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summary

 

 

We introduced Yaeyama palm colony in Yonehara. How was it?

 

 

Please keep the above points in mind and visit the Yaeyama palm colony in Yonehara.
Thank you for reading to the end.