We asked our eco-tour guide, Morimoto Takafusa, to show us some of the island's natural wonders. Eco-tourism combines touring with a deep appreciation of ecology, and promotes conservation of the local natural environment and cultural assets. Eco-tourism began in the West and has received considerable interest in Japan in recent years. Iriomote was the first tourist destination in Japan to adopt these ideals, when an eco-tourism association was established there. As we pass through a mangrove thicket, Morimoto warns us not to step on the roots.
Mangroves characteristically have roots growing above the mud.
The mangrove forest we are exploring has seven mangrove species, mostly in the Rhizophoraceae and Arecaceae families. Iriomote Island is the only place where you can see every type of mangrove plant that grows in Japan.