Hateruma

Hateruma is frequently visited by tourists from Ishigaki on day trips, as it boasts the southernmost tip of land of Japan. In addition, the southernmost school and the southernmost police station of Japan are tourist attractions. In the only village, several well-preserved old houses showing the traditional architecture with a hip roof, red tiles and a shisa statue on the top can be seen. Many old houses are still surrounded by a thick wall consisting of dark coral stones. On the south coast, there is a monument indicating the southernmost tip of land of Japan. ==Climate==

Hateruma has a tropical rainforest climate (Af according to the Köppen climate classification), because all twelve months have a mean temperature of at least . The temperature is consistently warm year-round, with January, the coolest month, having a mean of and an average low of . July is the warmest month, with a mean of and an average high of . The highest temperature ever recorded was in August and the lowest recorded temperature was in March. Hateruma receives of precipitation annually. Precipitation is abundant year-round, with every month receiving at least of rain. Typhoons often bring heavy rain, so Hateruma receives more precipitation at the peak of the typhoon season. September is the wettest month, receiving of rain on average. February is the driest month, receiving of rainfall. There are a similar amount of precipitation days each month, with April having the least with 8.3 and January having the most with 11.6 days. Hateruma receives 1965.8 hours of sunshine annually, with summer being the sunniest season and winter being the least sunny season. {{Weather box|width=auto ==Infrastructure==

Hateruma Airport is located on the island, but is not currently served by any commercial flights. Haterujima is accessible by ferry from Ishigaki several times a day. ==Education==

The Taketomi town authorities maintain a single combined elementary and junior high school on the island: Hateruma Elementary and Junior High School (竹富町立波照間小中学校). For public senior high school students may attend schools of the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education. ==Notable people==

• Naata Ufushu (1456–1517) – chieftain ==See also==