Yonaguni Monument

Yonaguni is Japan's westernmost inhabited island, sitting in the East China Sea where, on clear days, the mountains of Taiwan are visible just 111 kilometers away. The island is home to the Yonaguni horse, a gentle native breed numbering fewer than 200, which visitors can ride along beaches and coastal trails. Underwater, the Yonaguni Monument draws divers from around the world: a massive rock formation with geometric terraces that has sparked genuine debate about whether it is natural or man-made. Above water, dramatic volcanic cliffs at Cape Irizaki line the coast. From December through March, hammerhead sharks gather in the surrounding waters in significant numbers.