The Yaeyama Islands ( 八重山諸島 `` Yaeyama-shotō '' , also 八重山列島 `` Yaeyama-rettō '' , Yaeyama : `` Yaima '' Okinawan : `` Eema '' ) are an archipelago or group of islands in the southwest of Okinawa Prefecture , Japan , and cover .
The Yaeyama Islands ( 八重山諸島 `` Yaeyama-shotō '' , also 八重山列島 `` Yaeyama-rettō '' , Yaeyama : `` Yaima '' Okinawan : `` Eema '' ) are an archipelago or group of islands in the southwest of Okinawa Prefecture , Japan .