Taketomi Yugafu-kan

Taketomi Yugafu-Kan

The Taketomi Yugafu-Kan opened on June 24th, 2004 as a building to explainthe island's nature and traditional culture and arts. The name "Yugafu," which literally means "world fortune" in standard Japanese, means "a divine blessing of a good harvest" in the Okinawan dialect. It was named so in the hopes of a greater exchange between the inhabitants of the island and its visitors.
Located near the East Port, the gateway to Taketomi Island, this building functions as the reference center of the Field Museum. It provides the most up-to-date information about Taketomi ,so please stop by when you visit the island. The "Taketomi Island Natural Education Walking Path" for hikers, highly recomended by the Ministry of Environment, starts from here.

With strong community support, and the blessings of the surrounding nature and sea, the people of Taketomi have prospered on their remote island home. To show their appreciation for all that life had given them, traditional folk dances, unique kyogen, and other distinctive displays were created and passed down through the generations. These unique cultural assets are still widely performed today.
The daily life and work of the islanders is the focus of a permanent exhibit here in the Yugafu-kan titled "The natural environments of Taketomi". This display is presented in the traditional dialect. The underlying theme of this display delves into how day-to-day life, both its joys and its sorrows, has affected the performing arts and the spirits of the people living on this small, subtropical island. We employ high-quality, interactive media so that you can really become a part of this exciting exhibit.
Also of note is our wide-screen theatre in the Tehdhun Library (Image Archives). Here, you can view a short film that provides a sweeping overview of Taketomi. And even when not showing films, the theater is used as a gallery.

In addition, along with giving advice on how to enjoy the island and the manners to follow in order to keep the island in its most natural state, we can offer you exchanges with the locals, analyses anddata on "Taketomi's Natural Environment," and other information.
We also provide staff for detailed explanations and guided tours.
Please contact us if you're planning a group visit.

Hours: 8:00 to 17:00
Closed: Year-end & New Year's Days and during the ten days of the Tanedori Festival
Admission: Free
Management: NPO Takidhun
Address:Aza-Taketomi, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa,907-1101 JAPAN
TEL:0980-85-2488/ FAX 0980-85-2489


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