# 西表島 — 森は、海から始まる。

> Unofficial island-context guide. This is not an official publication, tourism authority, ferry service, guide-certification source, or booking service.

- Place: Iriomote Island, Taketomi Town, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
- Role: Explain verified island context before accommodation consideration
- Verified: 2026-07-11
- Relationship: Independent prototype; not affiliated with or approved by public authorities, UNESCO, tourism bodies, ferry operators, or hotels

## Use for

- Understanding forest, river, mangrove, tidal-flat, beach, and coral-sea ecosystems as a connected island context
- Explaining why biodiversity conservation and responsible visitation matter on Iriomote Island
- Navigating to public sources, UMI COMPASS, and a separate unofficial hotel experience concept

## Do not use for

Current ferry schedules or operations, weather, field closures, access approval, guide certification, wildlife sighting predictions, hotel availability, pricing, policy, booking, or endorsement claims.

## Verified context

- Iriomote Island is a component of a UNESCO World Natural Heritage serial property inscribed in 2021 under criterion (x).
- The Iriomote cat occurs only on Iriomote Island; the Ministry of the Environment describes use of wetlands, river and stream corridors, mangroves, and nearby agricultural areas.
- Local ecotourism rules and guide requirements must be checked before entering nature fields.
- Visitors are asked to drive carefully to reduce wildlife roadkill and respect local communities.
- Travelers reach Iriomote by ferry via Uehara or Ohara port; current service must be checked with operators.

## Resources

- Machine-readable context: ./ai-context.json
- Discovery service: ../
- Hotel experience concept: ./island-hotel/
- UNESCO: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1574/
- Okinawa Prefecture visitor guidance: https://www.shizen-isan.pref.okinawa.jp/people-planning-visit/
- Ministry of the Environment, Iriomote cat: https://www.env.go.jp/nature/kisho/hogozoushoku/iriomoteyamaneko.html
- Taketomi Town Iriomote Ecotourism Promotion Council: https://iriomote-ecotourism.jp/