Important: Wikitravel is exploring a license upgrade to CC by-sa 3.0, please give your consent or refusal here.

We will be down for scheduled maintenance Wednesday 11 November @ 6AM UTC for approximately 4 hours. We thank you for your patience.

From Wikitravel

Kitadaitō (北大東; [1]) is an isolated island in the open sea located about 360km east of the Okinawan mainland, in Japan. The outer part of the island is made of precipitous cliffs, while the inside is flat plains that lay in a basin surrounded by vegetation covered cliff side.

[edit] Understand

Kitadaito, literally "North Great East", is the northern half of the Daito Islands, with a population of around 540.

There are a lot of marshes in the interior of the island. A plethora of unique flora and fauna can also be found.

However, there are no natural sources of water on Kita Daito. The island utilizes a de-salynization plant to convert sea water into fresh water.

There is a wide-variety of animal and plant life on Kita Daito. The most famous of which are the Kita Daito Fly Fox, or Fruit Bat. There are estimated to be approximately 300 left on the island.

Among the most diverse and thriving animal communities on Kita Daito are those of the insect and arachnid families. There are many different forms of butterflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers, crickets, centipedes (mukade), spiders, wasps, honey bees, ants, cockroaches, and moths on the island.

Another interesting animal on the island is the island's poisonous toad which is rumored to be brought to the island from China.

Kita Daito's main industry is Sugarcane (Saitokibi) farming and processing. Sugarcane fields cover the majority of the island.

Fishing is extremely popular with the local population. Athletic contests of all sort are also popular with the local population. Okinawan Sumo, Edo Sumo, Eisa Dancing, and Baseball are a few of the predominant activities.

[edit] Talk

Pretty much everybody in Kitadaito understands standard Japanese, but there's also a peculiar local dialect of Japanese closely related to the dialects of Hachijo and Aogashima.

The dialect of Kitadaito is the only one in Japan descended from the "Eastern Dialect" of the Nara period, found in "touka" in the Man'yoshu.

• Welcome: おじゃりやれ (Ojariyare)
• You: おめーOmee (to superiors, as in Omee ga itsumo shokannooja, "You probably know it well"), おまいomai (to people of equal or lesser status), うぬ　なれunu / nare (rude words)
• Bad/Not OK: だめどーだーよーDamedoodaayoo
• Like this: こごんどーKogondoo
• I know: しょきゃShokya
• I'm sorry: めーららいMeerarai
• Morning: つとめてTsutomete
• Where are you from: どっかーおじゃりやろーどーDokkaa ojariyaroodoo?

Hogen, the Okinawan dialect is also widely used.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

There are two one-hour flights a day from Naha to Minamidaito, and one three-minute flight from Minamidaito to Kitadaito daily.

There's a weekly 12-hour-long ferry from Naha.

[edit] Get around

[edit] On foot

In the center of the island most activities are within walking distance of the "Yakuba" or village office.

[edit] By bicycle

Bicycles can be rented at Hamayuu-so hotel. Virtually all parts of the island are accessible by bicycle.

[edit][add listing] See

• Phosphorus ore warehouse. Ruins of a warehouse that was once used to store phosphate mined on Kitadaito, in the prewar days.
• Kokuhyo (国標, "nation signpost"). The only signs in all of Japan indicating that the territory belongs to Japan.
• 長幕。環礁の名残で、巨大な山の壁。
• Cape Makkuro (真黒岬) (Okinawa Umi). The easternmost point of Okinawa.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Daito Sushi is rumored to be the best in the world, and with good reason. The fish is extremely fresh and everything is made from scratch.

[edit][add listing] Drink

The local drink is awamori, a type of strong distilled rice liquor. It is drunk with water and ice.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Splurge

• Hamayuu-so (ハマユウ荘). Location:北大東村字中野152-9 (152-9 Jinakano, Kitadaito village). Tel.: 09802-3-4880. Impressive modern-style hotel run by the village. 1 night 2 meals start at ¥6000.

• Niroku-so (二六荘). Location:北大東村字港37 (37 Jikou, Kitadaito village). Tel.:09802-3-4046. 1 night 2 meals starting from ¥4000.

[edit] Stay safe

Don't go swimming at high tide or during a storm. The waves can get very rough and people have died doing so. Some as a result of drowning and others from being knocked against the lava rock that surrounds the island.

[edit] Get out

There are many activities to enjoy while staying on Kitadaito Island. If you have the time, go diving during calm seas for taco (Octopus) or giant clams with a local guide. Its a fun way to see the ocean life and get a tasty meal.

Another fun activity is cliff diving. There are three ports on Kitadaito, and when the weather permits the locals take the time to jump off the lower piers and swim in the ocean around there. If you bring goggles you will also be able to see a myriad of fish and other ocean wild life.

Kitadaito also plays host to several Mastsuri or festivals. The largest festival is held in the middle of September and includes both Edo and Okinawan sumo plus a day devoted to portable shrines. The Daito islands are the only Okinawan Islands to include the shrines in their festivals.