Ishigaki Island opens swimming season

For those of you who feel you are tough and can swim in Okinawa at anytime...let's see you jump in with all those nearly invisible jellyfishes around! You better hope there are lifesupport system setup onshore before you jump in. See those signs along the shore with all those fatalities in the past...better read them.

Ahh...ishigaki island...definitely one of the most beautiful places in the world. Just sitting on the beach is enough, even without swimming. If only there is a Doraemon door that allows me go there at anytime...

 

Um, I am here and do swim whenever I like depending on the weather. Some days are better than others, from October until April. But it's not too cold. Hell, I swam in Germany during a very hot summer, but the laek water temp was about 60. Not real warm, but we did.

ciao

 

Jellyfishes (Chiropsalmus quadrigatus) are there at certain time of the year (especially between June to September) and at certain locations. As with all open water around the world, people can't prevent you from jumping in, but swim at your own risk. It's better to check posted signs before swimming or swim within netted areas. Those things are transparent and hard to see in water. They can swim as fast as human. Of course, the main thing is they have toxin that is known to be at least 10X stronger than snake toxins.

 

One of the main reasons why beaches "close" in mid August around Tokyo and Northern Japan is because of the Jelly Fish, they come in in hordes and during september and October, if you don`t have a wetsuit on, you will most definately get stung if you are in the water for any lengthy amount of time.

Jelly fish are around throughout the year of course, but the more dangerous ones appear at certain times of the year and tend to be in very large amounts. Another thing to watch out for is the sting rays. Very deadly in Tokyo Bay in wading areas and virtually impossible to see. Even thick boots can`t protect you from a ray sting.

 

Yeah, just ask Steve Irwin - oh wait, you can't...sorry

 

Umibiraki is the epitome of Japanese people's widespread (but not complete - I know there are some individual thinkers) inability to think for themselves. It's the same reason people have to get out of the water for mandatory rest at pools, and the same reason that people will stand and wait for a red light instead of crossing a 1.5 meter wide empty street.

Okay, so let's say there are hordes of sting rays and jelly fish that check their calendars and show up on September 1st, and equally dutifully leave on whatever day the local bureaucrats choose in Spring. It's still stupid to ban swimming, because the ban then needs to be enforced. I wanted to swim near the Ginowan convention center on March 1st in Okinawa. I saw the sign indicating no swimming until April. I went down and started getting ready to swim anyway, when a security guard showed up and told me not to swim. I asked the question no one wants to hear when enforcing such rubbish:

"Why?"

"Because there's no lifeguard."

"Well, someone's paying you to be here, why don't they pay a lifeguard instead?"

He didn't want to talk after that, since I had questioned the necessity of his presence. He just dismissively told me not to swim again, and I decided not to press the issue. The great thing is that he probably went drinking with his co-workers later that night and marvelled at the stupidity of foreigners. The "we can't think for ourselves or take personal responsibility for our safety" thinking is incredibly vexing. I guess that's my point.

 

Why on earth would anyone want to wade in Tokyo Bay?

 

I've been surfing here every summer for 8 years from May until October with no wetsuit, and I've yet to see these "killer" jellyfish.

You want to see killer jellyfish, then go to northern Australia and you'll find the box jellyfish... a real nasty piece of work.

 

nitro,
The jellyfish are around in the spring (Mar-Apr). They get blown onshore by the strong winds. Usually they are all gone by May or when the rainy season starts.
They aren't the killer type anyway. Feels like a bee sting. Wet suit has always kept the poison confined to the hand/wrist.

 

I remember once going to stay in the JAL resort in the north part of the main island of Okinawa.

I arrived at Naha in the morning, did some sightseeing and spent my day working my way up the coast to the resort. A beautiful mid summer afternoon, I went and tossed my luggage in my room, threw on my togs and ran for the beach.

So there was I on a beautiful deserted white sand beach in the afternoon, and as I start to walk towards the water... "Chotto, sumimasen..."

"What" I wonder to myself, and turn around to see the resort uniformed staff member accosting my on my walk to the perfectly still, waveless, warm, green, crystal clear water...

"I'm sorry but it's five o'clock. The beach is now closed. You may not enter the water."

I honestly thought she was joking at first, but she told me, if I really wanted to get in the water, I had to walk several hundred yards to a beach outside the resort, because the resort could not take "responsibility" for anyone in the water after 5pm (bear in mind, this is mid summer, so 9pm sunsets).

Gotta love that 'safety-first' culture...

Peace

 

Hiko -
Those 'resorts' are better avoided. Their beautiful white sand private beaches tend to be artificial, with not a coral reef in sight, and only the occasional lost fish to add any excitement. It's hardly worth getting wet.
You would probably have a lot more fun on the natural beach several hundred yards up the coast.

 

The jellyfish are around in the spring (Mar-Apr). They get blown onshore by the strong winds. Usually they are all gone by May or when the rainy season starts.
They aren't the killer type anyway. Feels like a bee sting. Wet suit has always kept the poison confined to the hand/wrist.

We get these killers during Obon. They can drag a man clear under. Fortunately, I bring a jar of extra-chunky and two slices of bread. They know I mean business.

Ranshima Beach in Hokkaido clears bathers out of the hip-deep water when the waves get higher than a few inches. Nothing brightens my beach experience than a blaring loudspeaker telling me to get out of calm, waist-deep water.
best to go after the season's done, when they're not there to save you from yourself.

 

You should have gone to one of the other neighboring islands like Taketomi -- there are no people around to stop you from swimming wherever you like!

(Or at least there won't be until these rapidly depopulating islands decide to institute a lifeguard program in hopes of keeping 20-year-olds from moving off to the main island in search of work and excitement!)

 

a city in Okinawa.

 

until these rapidly depopulating islands decide to institute a lifeguard program in hopes of keeping 20-year-olds from moving off to the main island in search of work and excitement!)

Tropical weather and an endlessly rotating supply of northerners in search of a good time?

If it ain't broke...