In prewar okinawa, many of the roofs of Okinawan homes were covered with characteristic red tiles; and on the roofs facing the main entrance were the traditional, fierce-looking shisa (lion-dogs), standing guard against anyone or anything that might cause harm to the household. Homes were typically surrounded by walls of coral, or red hibiscus known locally as gakabanah. This peaceful, unchanging scene described the general living environment that could be found in many areas throughout okinawa for a great period of time.

However, the destruction caused by the war, and new styles of reconstruction afterwards, did a lot to change the face of much of the Okinawan residential landscape, leaving only the smaller outer islands of the Miyako and Yaeyama groups with the erstwhile quiet but still very scenic atmosphere. Taketomi Island is one location where residential lifestyles of the past can still be seen.

Having an area of 8.33 sq.km. and lying six kilometers to the west of Ishigaki Island, Taketomi Island can be reached by a relatively quick ten-minute boat ride from Ishigaki Port. A political center for all the islands of Yaeyama during the Ryukyu Kingdom Era, this island was the location of the former living quarters and seat of government of Nishito, appointed chief administrator of the Yaeyama area by the Shuri court.

With the omnipresent, private, wooden homes and their red tiles and coral walls, with sandy streets and tropical flowers, Taketomi is a far cry from the main island of okinawafs crowded traffic and upshoots of concrete wherever you turn. To get about for sightseeing, most visitors rent bicycles or ride carts pulled by water buffaloes. Their destination points are the Folk Museum, the Kihoin Temple, and the Tomb of Nishito.

While on Taketomi, one shouldnft miss viewing the special gMinsa g cloth, used as a symbol by women to show acceptance of a marriage proposal, and a variety of other folk arts and handicrafts can be seen. Taketomi Island has been made a Preserve of Important Traditional Buildings by the Japanese Government.