Ishigaki Island's Cafe Taniwha * カフェたにふぁ＠石垣島

Welcome to Cafe TANIWHA!　カフェたにふぁへようこそ！

So... given that the center of the universe is notoriously hard to pin-point, how do people find their way to Cafe Taniwha? It's easy: forget about the center of the universe for a moment and simply pick the most notorious planet in the universe, Earth, where you will find an island called Taiwan. Look for the closest island group to the east of Taiwan and pick out the longest island of that group, which is called Ishigaki (see the arrow at the bottom of the map).

As you approach you will notice in the south of the island a population center with maybe 35,000 inhabitants (pretty much all of whom are earthlings), and in exactly that area you will find Cafe Taniwha, where you can order a meal and a drink in any language known in the universe - but your best bet is using Japanese or English, since these are the languages the owners are most comfortable with. At Cafe Taniwha there's always music - Salsa from Cuba, Maori warrior songs from New Zealand, American blues or jazz, classical temple music from India - usually from tape or CD but on some weekend nights live.

And then there are the parties... Add to that relaxed chat (local gossip! hehe...), simple but yummy meals, and of course, beer. (^^)

My own connection with Cafe Taniwha goes back to the beginning of 2001, just a few months after it had opened, and it has been one of my bases in Ishigaki since that time. The name "Taniwha" derives from a Maori spirit, with which the owners ("Fusa" and "Kuri" - see the photo below) became acquainted when they - together with their 3 school-age children - traveled on a sailboat in the South Pacific. The kids have flown the nest, but the boat is still around, and if you visit at the right time you might get a chance to join in on one of the sailing excursions that happen from time to time.

Having worked on ships myself, I particularly like the nautical charts on the walls and the occasional encounter with people who come to Ishigaki on a sailboat from far-away and exotic places like Holland, Honolulu, or Hokkaido.

Some guests come here for their regular fix of Awamori (the unique Okinawan spirit), while others come here for coffee and cake, a hot "chai" (Indian style sweet tea), or a chilled goya juice (you gotta come down here to find out what that is). And many come to mingle with pretty gals and handsome guys during weekly salsa night (sorry, no picture: possibly X-rated), while some hardy (nerdy?) souls even come here for a late-night conversation class in Spanish or English.

And not to forget: beer...!

This homepage (not the cafe) is "under construction", as it were...

This means, there'll be a bit more info coming up here in due time - in the meantime let's try to get some intercultural drinki.. exchange going here...

(Keep scrolling down for comments and more pictures...)

By the way (just in case you are a "mixi" user), Taniwha is also on "mixi":　
MIXI でも訪問できますよ！　カフェたにふぁ / Cafe Taniwha

住所：　沖縄県石垣市大川188

連絡先：　0980-88-6352

おすすめ：　野菜サラダ、ホットサンド、ピザ、
野菜カレー、チキンカレー、ハンバーグ

営業時間：　（約）１１：３０〜２３：００
　　　　　　（定休日：日・月曜）

サルサー！（火曜日）
ライブ！（主に金曜日や土曜日）

Phone (from anywhere in Japan): 0980-88-6352

Specialities: Seasonal Salad (homegrown veggies),
Hot Sandwich, Pizza, Veggie or Chicken Curry, Burger

Hours: from abt. 11:30am to 11pm or so
             (closed Sundays and Mondays)

Tuesday night is Salsa night!
Frequent live performances (usually Fri/Sat)

Comment...! 八重山観光の拠点、石垣島でお美味しいカレーを味わってみませんか（*⌒ー⌒*） by kuro-nekoさん（30代前半） 　石垣島は、八重山諸島を観光する際の拠点となるところですが、ここにあるＣＡＦＥ　ＴＡＮＩＷＨＡさんは、お美味しくて、健康的なカレーを提供してくれるお店です。海関係のご夫妻が経営されているということもあり、とにかく雰囲気が和やかで、一人旅でも気軽に立ち寄れる雰囲気がいいと思いますよ。 　オススメメニューは、「ベジタブル　カレー」で、地元食材である「ゴーヤー」や、カボチャ等の野菜をふんだんに使った、とってもヘルシーな内容となっています。 　暑い石垣島での滞在は、ここのカレーを食べて、元気いっぱいに過ごしていただきたいものですヾ(@⌒Ｏ⌒@)ノ http://www.hotpepper.jp/report/J000635688.html

Comment...! 「TANIWHA」と書いて「タニファ」と読むのだそうだ。意味を調べたところ、「水中に棲む魔物」(ニュージーランド)なのだそうだ。ほほぉ。 こんな店名を付けたのも、オーナーがヨットマンであるからに違いない。店内にも海図が貼られていたり、船グッズが飾られてたりするし。 メニュー的には広く浅くといった感じ。ハンバーグやピザ、パスタなど、妙にほっとするようなフードメニューが並んでいる。 店内の照明が暗めになっている。天気の良い日に入店すると、そのギャップに少し戸惑うかも。そして、帰りに扉を開けた時、外のまばゆさにまた戸惑う。ちょっと不思議な感じのカフェ。 http://www.worldwidecafe.net/cafe_j/taniwha/index.html

Comment...! [...] 長い木のカウンターには何となく座りづらかったので、いかにも手作りらしい木製のボックスシートに座ってハンバーグのランチとコーヒーを注文しました。店奥の壁は写真ギャラリー、入り口の壁は各国から届いた絵葉書で埋めつくされていて、バックパッカー系旅行者たちの情報交換所という趣です。[...] お店を出る時にはオーナーとお客さま全員が「行ってらっしゃい！」と送り出してくれてちょっと感動。なるほど、次に訪れたときに「ただいま」と言いたくなるわけです。ここは個人で旅する人々の情報基地。問いかけさえすれば、八重山の旅のヒントを両手に持ちきれないくらいもらえます。 http://homepage3.nifty.com/cafemania/travel_cafe/ishi_tanipha.html (2004年)

    Photos: Kuri / Text: Yuuri