Okinawa Kohama Island Summer Story - Day 1!

Departing from Tokyo, I take a domestic flight to Ishigaki. At 7 AM, the hotel shuttle provides free transportation to Haneda Airport. With a mobile ticket received via the app, I can enter directly without needing my passport—it wasn’t required even once. Having taken over 50 domestic flights in Japan, I always use self-check-in. After spending some time in the lounge, I board the flight at the scheduled time. Today’s flight path offers views of Yokohama, Enoshima, and Mount Fuji. Upon arrival at Ishigaki Airport, the flight is delayed by 10 minutes, and the connecting gate for the Peach flight to Naha is blocked, causing a 25-minute wait onboard. Once the Peach flight departs, we are finally allowed to disembark. The 12 PM bus waits for 15 minutes before departing, which is standard practice in Ishigaki. Even the dessert set reserved at the hotel arrives about 15 minutes late. Typically, restaurants in Japan wait for up to 30 minutes and may even call to confirm. Having made over 200 restaurant reservations in Japan, I’ve never had a no-show. 😎 Today, I set up a self-service afternoon tea, which the staff successfully helps organize. Next, I head to Ishigaki Port to find the Ishigaki Pokémon manhole cover. I board the ferry to Kohama Island with an e-ticket purchased in advance from Korea. The high-speed ferry takes about 30 minutes to reach the island, which has a population of just 70. I visited this island five years ago and completed all the sightseeing available through local bus tours back then. This time, I’m here to enjoy a relaxing hotel stay. At Kohama Port, the hotel shuttle awaits. After confirming my reservation, I join about 10 other guests heading to the hotel. Among the groups are a family of six (including children), a family of four, a couple, and myself traveling solo—four groups in total. After getting off the shuttle bus, we transfer to golf carts. The accommodations are individual buildings arranged like a village, and my room is prepared with an ocean view. A staff member comes to my room to complete the check-in process, setting schedules for activities, dinner, breakfast, and check-out. At the designated times, a golf cart will come to pick me up. While walking is an option, adhering to the resort hotel’s concept ensures the staff gets paid, so I follow their instructions. 🤗 The first activity is enjoying a beach beer experience. Sitting by the sea with a beer sounds great, but the strong wind makes it challenging to keep plastic items from flying away. I take a quick photo and move to the pool to enjoy my drink. Families are having fun swimming together. Returning to my room, I freshen up. With the scorching heat of 34°C (feels like 36°C), I change clothes and head out for a starlit dinner activity. The picnic box gives off an afternoon tea vibe, and the weather improves as the food impresses. I savor the sunset moments by the sea, accompanied by Orion Nago limited-edition beer and sparkling wine. As the lanterns light up, they create a beautiful ambiance. When darkness falls, the sky fills with countless stars visible to the naked eye—a heavenly moment. I lie in a hammock, jump on a trampoline to feel closer to the stars, and marvel at the galaxy’s brilliance. By 9 PM, the resort activities wind down. Back in my room, I relax. Outside the window, various animals coexist—iguanas, owls, crows, wild cats, roosters, and horned goats. Some even tap on the window. During check-in, an iguana clinging to the window startled me, but the staff reassured me it’s harmless, as it only eats plants and doesn’t bite humans. They even offered to assist if I felt scared. 🤣 The staff member was a petite woman—thank you for your kindness! 😊