Local Column
COLUMN
coconut crab (Birgus latro)
1. What is a coconut crab?
The hermit crab is one of the largest hermit crabs, measuring 40 cm in length, weighing 4 kg, and reaching about 1 m when its legs are spread out.
Even though they are members of the hermit crab family, adult hermit crabs do not enter their shells due to their hard body surface and size, and only juvenile individuals less than 1 cm in length enter their shells.
They live entirely on land and make their homes in humid rock crevices and dugouts.
During the day, they hide in their dwellings to protect themselves from natural enemies and direct sunlight, and are active during rainy and foggy nights in search of food.
The lifespan of the coconut crab is estimated to be about 50 years, according to research, which is quite long.
After the peak breeding season in July and August, the female spends several months with eggs in her belly and releases the larvae, called "zoea," which have already hatched on the beach at high tide in October or November, into the sea.
The survivors descend to the seafloor and, like ordinary hermit crabs, carry shells on their backs as they grow up and head for the coast.
Although it has "palm" in its name, it does not have a special fondness for palm nuts.
They are omnivores and will eat anything from plant matter such as berries and fallen leaves to animal matter such as sea turtle eggs and animal carcasses.
In some parts of Okinawa, there is a custom of cooking and eating coconut crabs.
However, because of their omnivorous nature, coconut crabs may even eat poisonous or pathogenic organisms as bait, and they are likely to accumulate harmful components in their bodies, making it very dangerous for the layperson to catch and eat coconut crabs.
To begin with, Miyako Island established a coconut crab protection ordinance in April 2014, which basically regulates the catching of coconut crabs by the general public.
The ordinance mainly prohibits the capture of individuals in protected areas or below a specified size, and prohibits the capture of individuals in the entire Miyako Island area from June 1 to August 31, the period of spawning and breeding.
In Japan, coconut crabs inhabit Miyako Island, Okinawa Island, Yaeyama Islands, and Sakishima Islands, but their numbers are decreasing every year due to overhunting for food and habitat destruction caused by land development, and they are now listed as an endangered species in the Red Data Book of Japan.
Although the coconut crab has become such a rare species, it is still a specialty of Miyako Island, and tourists can still enjoy coconut crab dishes served at local restaurants and tours to search for coconut crabs that are active at night.
2. where are you?
If you come to Miyako Island, you must want to catch a glimpse of the coconut crab!
The best time to find coconut crabs is after 10 p.m. at high tide in October or November, which is the breeding season.
At this time of year, coconut crabs, which normally live on land, move to the beach at night, the time of their activity, to release their hatched young into the sea.
For this reason, sandy beaches are often cited as spots for coconut crab sightings.
It is also recommended to look for trees with adan nuts (pineapple-like fruit) as bait.
Here are some spots where coconut crabs have been spotted.
Check it out and try your hand at exploring coconut crabs!
0 Hotel Breeze Bay
The natural grounds of this hotel at the Shigira Resort are home to a wide variety of creatures.
If you are lucky, you may encounter not only coconut crabs but also other rare tropical creatures such as flying foxes, cockatoo crabs, and hermit crabs.
Address: 784-1 Uenomiyakuni, Miyakojima City
TEL: 0980-74-7206
Zuho Rosen Beach
This beach is located in the south of Miyako Island and is famous for its natural spring water pool and nearby limestone caves.
The area around that Horaisen beach is known as one of the best spots to encounter coconut crabs because of the abundance of adan nuts, the bait of coconut crabs.
Address: 1139-1 Jobe-Horara, Miyakojima City
0Sunayama Beach
It is famous for its distinctive rock formations and for being a place where beautiful coastal photographs can be taken.
It is said that it is easy to encounter coconut crabs on the road from the parking lot to the beach and in the surrounding wooded areas.
Address: 705 Aza-Kagawatori, Miyakojima City
0Nagasaki beach
This small beach on Kushima Island is also known as a star observing spot.
Since few tourists come here for swimming, it is a quiet and serene place where coconut crabs are frequently seen.
Address:Shimoji Raima, Miyakojima City
3. Tour Introduction
To encounter the palm crabs, which are nocturnal, you must look for them at night, when the sun has set and it is pitch dark.
However, for tourists from outside the island, unfamiliar nighttime roads can be dangerous, and it is difficult to determine where and when the coconut crabs appear.
If this is the case, join a guided tour of the island in search of coconut crabs.
With a guide who knows the island's topography and coconut crab biology, you have a high probability of encountering coconut crabs.
In addition, the tour offers the opportunity to encounter a variety of nocturnal creatures other than coconut crabs and to stargaze under the beautiful night sky.
If you want to meet coconut crabs or explore Miyako Island at night, please check it out!
0Night Tour: Searching for coconut crabs & stargazing
<Recommendations
If the weather is fine, you can also enjoy the starry sky of Miyako Island!
Convenient hotel pick-up and drop-off!
<Details
Start time: 19:15 - 20:00 approx.
Time required: approx. 2 hours
Fee: Adults 3,000 yen, 3-11 years old 1,500 yen (credit card payment upon reservation)
Reservations: Required (at least 2 days in advance)
Number of persons: from 2
TEL: 050-3312-4144
Site: Night Tours Archives - Miyako Travel Club | Miyako Island Sightseeing & Optional Tours - Leave it to Miyako-Travel Club! Miyako Tabi Club | Leave it to Miyatabe for sightseeing and optional tours in Miyako Island! (miyatabi.com)
Zero Night Tour Gajyumaru
<Recommendations
Children can participate from the age of 2 years old!
Group discounts are available for groups of 5 or more participants!
<Details
Time required: approx. 2 hours
Fee: 3,000 yen per person
Reservations: Same-day and last-minute reservations possible
TEL：080-6492-6896
Website: Okinawa Night Tour (Okinawa Starry Sky Tour) Gajyumaru (peraichi.com)
4. Where can I eat?
Some tourists visiting from outside the prefecture may be surprised to learn that they can eat coconut crabs.
In some parts of Okinawa, coconut crab is a common food item, and coconut crab dishes can be found at Okinawan restaurants.
There are several seafood restaurants on Miyako Island where you can eat coconut crab.
When visiting Miyako Island, why not take this opportunity to experience what coconut crab tastes like and what the texture is like?
Here are some palm crab restaurants.
0-kappo Uomiya
Located near Hirara Harbor, this restaurant does not deal in frozen ingredients and insists on local produce.
Dishes featuring coconut crab, lobsters, and sawfish are well-received.
The owner's father is an expert in catching coconut crabs, and instead of eating them immediately after they are caught, he spends more than a month feeding them fruits and proteins and raising them to produce higher quality meat before cooking, so you can enjoy coconut crabs that can only be found here.
The budget for coconut crab dishes ranges from 5,000 yen to 15,000 yen.
Reservations are available.
<Details
Open: Lunch 11:30 - 14:00, Dinner 16:30 - 22:00, Open irregularly
Address: 3-1 Hirara Nishi Nakasone, Miyakojima City
TEL：0980-72-6595
Site: Uomiya - Miyakojima City/Okinawan Cuisine [Food Log] (tabelog.com)
0 kappo izakaya suehiro
Fresh seafood from Kakawatori Port right in front of the restaurant is served with sushi and local Okinawan dishes.
Yashigani crab dishes start at 3,000 yen.
Reservations are available.
<Details
Business hours: 17:00-22:00, irregular holidays
Address: 133-1 Kakawatori, Hirara, Miyakojima City
TEL: 0980-72-3099
Site: Suehiro - Miyakojima City/ Izakaya [Food Log] (tabelog.com)
0 Kaisen Goku
A seafood tavern with Pina Gama Beach right in front of you, and to your surprise, an owl welcomes you.
Enjoy the view of the sea of Miyako Island during the day and enjoy your meal with a drink at night!
Yashi gani (coconut crab) is available for 6,000 yen, and mangrove gazami, a high-end Okinawan delicacy, is available for 8,000 yen.
Reservations are available.
<Details
Open: Lunch 11:30 - 15:00, Dinner 17:15 - 22:30, Open irregularly
Address: 246 Hirara Shimozato, Miyakojima City
TEL: 0980-72-0897
Website; Kaisen Goku - Miyakojima City/Okinawan Cuisine [Food Log] (tabelog.com)
This article was written by.
