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Through Japan's Ryukyu Islands (Coral Adventurer)

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Through Japan's Ryukyu Islands (Coral Adventurer) THROUGH JAPAN'S RYUKYU ISLANDS (CORAL ADVENTURER) Discover the submerged stone structures of what’s thought to be an ancient underwater city sunk by an earthquake approx. 2,000 years ago off the coast of Yonaguni Jima. On Iriomotoe Island, the second largest island in Okinawa, take an island-hopping adventure in a buffalo-drawn cart across a shallow sandy strait as the driver sings traditional songs accompanied by a three-stringed banjo-like Sanshin musical instrument. Look for the almost extinct Iromote Yamaneko, a type of wildcat found nowhere else. Walk through UNESCO-listed thousand-year-old cedar forests and view a 25m ITINERARY tall giant cedar tree estimated to be up to 7,200 years old. Day 1: Depart Nagasaki Admire the star-filled night sky with the benefit of little light Board Coral Adventurer at Nagasaki at 4:00 pm on 2 November pollution from the Astronomical observation tower on Hateruma 2021. Settle into your cabin before Captain’s welcome drinks Island. Look for some of the more than 200 bird species where you meet your crew and fellow guests as the sun sets. sighted on Aguni Island while admiring traditional homes Lumina Island After dinner, on Lumina Island, participate in surrounded by limestone walls amidst a unique landscape Japan’s love of games with an interactive forest adventure formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago. brought to life with state-of-the-art technology and digital art. Days 2 - 16: Expedition Cruising These are expedition itineraries covering remote regions. Your Captain and Expedition Team may make changes to the daily schedule when necessary to maximise guest experience. Below are the highlight destinations of your voyage. Shimokoshiki Jima Shimokoshiki Jima is a top geological site with large scenic cliffs along with dinosaur fossils at sites located across the island. Have the opportunity to explore around Napoleon Rock and cruise around Kashima Cliffs. Spend time at the Satsumasendai Fossil Exhibition. Learn about the history of Shimokoshiki while walking along Old Samurai Street, and perhaps hear songs 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com played on the unusual traditional instrument called a”Gottan”. well. The Yakusugi Museum displays the ecology, history and Iojima & Kuroshima Islands Iojima is an incredibly unique industry of the forests on Yakushima Island. Here you can learn volcanic island, known as the “Sulfur Island”. In the 10th to about the Yakushima cedar trees, the products that come from 13th centuries, this island was used as a hub for Japan-China them and how they were harvested. Tokara Island Group foreign trade. Interestingly a lot of the villager’s play the African Suwanosejima, one of the Tokara Islands, has a population of djembe drum after a world-famous djembe player Mamade about 70 people. We may visit or cruise past and admire the Keita from Guinea began teaching on the island. At Iojima enjoy plumes of ash from the active volcano. Nakanoshima is the soaking in an Onsen, or hot springs, at either Higashi, or biggest island in the Tokara island group. With an interesting Ana-no-ham and Utan which reside by the sea creating a scenic landscape, the island’s nature is a highlight: mountains, black atmosphere for your relaxation. We may also take a walking cows, tokara horses, tokara goats, various plant life, coral and a track through the Bamboo and Moss forest to Shunkan shrine. beautiful blue sea. At the historical museum, you can learn Keep your eyes peeled for the symbol of Iojima – the White about Tokara islands history, nature, culture and lifestyle. Peacock. Kuroshima is the most remote and the oldest of the Amami Oshima Kayak through the large mangrove forests at the three-island Village of Mishima (Takeshima, Iojima and central east coast of the island. While on the island, keep your Kuroshima) and is lush with forests, waterfalls and rainfall. eyes open for many endangered and threatened bird species Cruising along Kuroshima Island’s coastline, you will see including the prefectural bird, Lidth’s Jay, a bird with blue and dramatic cliffs dropping 50 metres down with small waterfalls red plumage. At Kinsakubaru Virgin Forest, flying spider-monkey everywhere, along with Whiotebana white cliffs from salt erosion tree ferns tower overhead like giant parasols and broad-leaf of soft volcanic pumice rock. Admire the long-held practice of elephant ear plants, the inspiration for the leaf-umbrella carried Hanaui textile weaving which the Okinawa Islands are by Totoro in the movie My Neighbor Totoro, can be found. The well-known for and take a guided tour and tasting of Mishima species of flying spider-monkey tree ferns have retained the Shouchuu Distillery, where liquor is made using traditional same form from 300 million years ago. Look for the endangered distilling processes from sweet potatoes and mountain water. Amami black rabbit – one of the most primitive species of rabbit We might also take a short hike up 622 metre tall Mount Yagura alive today. While Amami Oshima has a rich ecosystem on land, for views over the water. For those interested in World War its underwater ecosystem is equally diverse. The Kuroshio history, we may visit Peace Park (Heiwa Kouen) dedicated to Current brings warm tropical water from the south, sustaining retreating Japanese soldiers who crash-landed in a sinking boat the world’s northernmost coral reefs. Okinoerabujima on the island during the Pacific War. Yakushima Island Walk Okinoerabu which is called the ‘Island of Flowers and Limestone through UNESCO-listed thousand-year-old cedar forests and Caves’ is a beautiful and peaceful island. Over 300 limestone view a 25 metre tall giant cedar tree estimated to be up to caves can be found here. Visitors to these ancient caves 7,200 years old at Yakusugi Land. With a number of walking discover the natural beauty and mysteries which have spawned trails on the island, we may visit some of the many waterfalls as many of the legends and stories surrounding these natural 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com treasures. Deep blue waters, coral reefs and pristine beaches views. Swim, snorkel, scuba dive and kayak from the pristine meet an iconic limestone cave system on this southerly beaches of largely undeveloped islands that receive few visitors. Japanese island. It is home to over 300 limestone caves. Spot Where a translucent aquamarine sea is populated with tropical turtles, sea snakes, sea cucumbers, star fish, octopus, stingrays fish and turtles with vividly coloured coral reefs and deep and reef sharks in the island’s blue waters alongside numerous drop-offs favoured by scuba divers. Iriomotoe Island On species of coral. There is the opportunity to visit the Fucha cliffs Iriomotoe Island, the second largest island in Okinawa, take an off the coast of the island, Tamina Misaki Cape and Shoryudo island-hopping adventure in a buffalo-drawn cart across a Caven. Okinawa (North & South) Okinawa is a Japanese shallow sandy strait as the driver sings traditional songs prefecture comprising more than 150 islands in the East China accompanied by a three-stringed banjo-like Sanshin musical Sea between Taiwan and Japan’s mainland. It’s known for its instrument. Look for the almost extinct Iromote Yamaneko, a tropical climate, broad beaches and coral reefs as well as World type of wildcat found nowhere else. Hateruma Island Admire the War II sites. A well-kept local secret, Hiji Falls is not one of star-filled night sky with the benefit of little light pollution from Okinawa’s easiest sites to access, but the stunning sights it the Astronomical observation tower on Hateruma Island. offers are well worth the effort. Cross the beautiful wooden Hateruma is the southernmost inhabited island of Japan. The suspension bridge over a green valley and discover the local name Hateruma Island is said to be the etymology of ‘the island wildlife that call the trail home. Later, try your hand at glass of the uruma (coral reef) on the edge’. Yonaguni Island Discover making and glass blowing, creating a piece in vibrant colours the submerged stone structures of what’s thought to be an that reflect Okinawa’s ocean blues and greens and sunrise ancient underwater city sunk by an earthquake approx. 2,000 oranges and yellows. Learn to play Okinawan music on a years ago just off the coast of Yonaguni Jima. Sanshin instrument which is traditionally covered in snakeskin and has been integral to Ryukyu culture for around 600 years. Day 17: Arrive Keelung Aguni Look for some of the more than 200 bird species sighted Our voyage ends in the Taiwanese city of Keelung. Disembark on Aguni Island while admiring traditional homes surrounded by Coral Adventurer at 9:30 am and bid farewell to new-found limestone walls amidst a unique landscape formed by volcanic friends, the Master and crew. activity millions of years ago. Kerama Island Group: Geruma Island & Aka Island The clarity of the water in the ocean here is Please Note: This itinerary is an indication of the destinations we visit and world-class, and the colour of the ocean is known as ‘Kerama activities on offer. Throughout the expedition, we may make blue’. Various tropical fish swim between colourful coral reefs. changes to the itinerary as necessary to maximise your The underwater scenery is spectacular and lures scuba divers expeditionary experience. Allowances may be made for from around the world, though is equally appealing for seasonal variations, weather, tidal conditions and any other snorkellers. Visit the observatories on Tokashiki Island, Zamami event that may affect the operation of the vessel.
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