The island won’t be this quiet for long, our guesthouse owner tells us, as the King Sho En marathon would be taking place in a few days. The ferry to Yoron leaves from Naha Port and costs about NT$1,240 one way. Of course, the ferry is named after Sho En, adorned with a large decal of the king, still dressed as a peasant, pointing toward the sky and his destiny. Legend has it that Sho En, originally known as Kanemaru, fled Izena after locals became resentful that his fields still had water while everyone else were suffering from drought. He arrived in Okinawa and eventually became an influential noble and statesman in King Sho Taikyu’s court.

Source: Taipei Times February 14, 2019 16:03 UTC