Ufudake Viewpoint
Positioned at a height of almost 100m above sea level the ufudake observation platform offers an incredible panorama of the island of Kohama and beyond.
To the west lies Yaeyama's largest and wildest island, Iriomotejima, and if you gaze to the north east you'll see the small, flat, uninhabited island of Kayama, which lies between Kohama and Ishigaki. It has been given the nickname 'Rabbit Island' due to the fact that rabbits which were being raised by residents ended up overrunning the island. There is still evidence of human activity on the island, and it's earned the reputation of being a quality snorkeling destination.
Kohama is surrounded by coral reefs and given the right light the view of the northern coastline is spectacular. Turn to the south you'll be treated to a view of the entire island and on a clear day you'll be able to see Hateruma in the distance.
The walk to the top takes just a few minutes, but it's worth noting that the stairs are quite steep in sections. For this reason some people choose to make use of the walking sticks which have been provided at the base of the trail.Access
Ufudake is very easy to find. On leaving the ferry terminal turn left down the main road and you will eventually come to a right turn which leads up a hill. Take this turn and continue along the road until you see a parking area at the base of Ufudake on your right.
Map
