5 Amazing unknown natural wonders of Okinawa, according to a former local
For over two years from April 2018 to May 2020, I had the great privilege of experiencing life in Japan’s very own subtropical paradise, Okinawa (沖縄). In that time, I travelled extensively around the eponymous main island, keenly exploring all its fascinating scenery and taking in its tranquil ambience. I often quip about the prefecture being “Japan, but not Japan”, given its distinct climate, geography, and general way of life compared to the rest of the country. And even though I have since relocated to the Japanese mainland, I still look back fondly on those blissful days spent in the islands of Ryukyu and dream of a time I can go on vacation there to re-immerse myself in all its splendour.
Scuba diving at Cape Maeda, October 2019. (Image credit: Ananda Kang)
Now, I could ramble on all day about the numerous cultural, historical, and culinary sites worth visiting, but that would make for a rather verbose article, and many travel brochures and websites already do an ample job of touting Okinawa’s more prominent tourist spots anyway. Instead, I would like to focus on its hidden places of natural beauty, as can only be told by someone with insider knowledge of the area. Here, I shall introduce five lesser-known places in Okinawa that you simply have to see for yourself if you’re a big nature lover like me (once this whole pandemic situation blows over, of course).
Guardian lion-dogs need to be guarded from the perils of viral infection, too. (Image credit: Ananda Kang)
Caveat Emptor: Okinawa, unlike Singapore, is a generally rural area with very limited public transport infrastructure. While it is nevertheless entirely possible to get around by bus or taxi, and the best way to make the most of your travel experience, in terms of time and money, is by renting a car.
1. Taataki Waterfall
(Image credit: Ananda Kang)
A sleeper hit among the locals, especially American servicemen and expatriates, this place is a personal favourite of mine and hardly gets mentioned in any travelogues. Tucked away in the wilds of Ogimi Village up in the north, Taataki Waterfall (ター滝) may not be as well advertised as the more elegant and acclaimed Hiji Falls (比地大滝) a short distance away, but it certainly offers a ton of fun for people of all ages.
The river-run pathway leading up to the falls. Slipping and falling here is highly ill-advised. (Image credit: Ananda Kang)
The hiking trail going towards the falls is made for the more adventurous among us, as it criss-crosses the stream running from the waterfall itself. A fair bit of wading through waist-deep water and hopping over rocks is involved, so do plan to get wet. Waterproof your valuables and pack a towel and a change of clothes. Wearing a pair of booties or hardy footwear for the hike is also highly recommended.
Fun for the whole family. (Image credit: Ananda Kang)
At the end of the trek, one is rewarded with the picturesque sight of cascading water filling into a small pool. You can enjoy a cool respite from the summer heat in the water, get a massage from the moderately pounding waterfall, and even take a plunge from a rope swing that hangs off the edge!
Taataki Waterfall (ター滝)
Address: 1570-1 Tsuha, Ogimi, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa 905-1318
Opening hours: 24 hours
Admission fee: Free
Tel: +81-980-50-5707
2. Mount Yaedake
Pretty in pink. (Image credit: Ananda Kang)
Think about all the things you know that represent Japan, and chances are cherry blossoms would come to mind. Okinawa, with its image of a tropical paradise, doesn’t quite conjure that well-known impression of fluttering petals casting a quiet city street in a shade of mellow pink, but sakura trees certainly do exist there! Their strikingly vivid colours are guaranteed to captivate just as deeply as their mainland counterparts.
(Image credit: Ananda Kang)
The kanhizakura (寒緋桜) variant of cherry blossoms found all over the Ryukyus is also endemic to Taiwan and parts of China, and on Okinawa Island they are best seen at Mount Yaedake (八重岳), located in Motobu. From mid-January to early February, a whole forest of them comes to life, treating sightseers to gorgeous views of lavish pink trees outlining the mountainous slopes.
Nago City from a distance. (Image credit: Ananda Kang)
Being a mountain atop a peninsula, Yaedake also features spectacular panoramic vistas that can be enjoyed all year round, though they are especially peaceful and tranquil in the off-season. Getting to this location by car is easy, thanks to its well-maintained roads and abundance of parking lots. There is a forest park on the way to the summit that is great for kids, and two designated hiking trails further up top for bolder travellers. Finally, at the very top of Yaedake is a clearing that offers a grandiose 360º-view of the entire Motobu Peninsula (本部半島 Motobu hantō).
Mount Yaedake (八重岳)
Address: Okayo, Motobu, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa 905-0223
Opening hours: 24 hours
Admission fee: Free
3. Kouri Island
A bridge fairly near. (Image credit: Ananda Kang)
Okinawa Prefecture encompasses an archipelago which includes the islands of Yaeyama and Miyako, as well as satellite islets scattered around the eponymous main island. Some of these land masses are close enough that road bridges have been built to connect them to Okinawa Island, making them highly accessible to visitors and creating opportunities for their tourism attractions to flourish.
Okinawa from across the sea. (Image credit: Ananda Kang)
Kouri Island (古宇利島) is one such island off the coast of the Motobu Peninsula, with plenty to offer in the way of fascinating scenery. Its main draw is Kouri Beach (古宇利ビーチ), a splendid representative of Okinawa’s trademark white sand beaches. Against the dramatic backdrop of Kouri Bridge (古宇利大橋) rising above emerald waters, many beachgoers both local and foreign choose to luxuriate in the balmy weather and cool sea breeze here. This mesmerizing view can also be seen from Kouri Ocean Tower (古宇利オーシャンタワー), which stands 82m above sea level.
I once dreamt of opening up a chic bistro nearby this place and calling it ‘Heart Rock Cafe’. (Image credit: Ananda Kang)
On the far side of Kouri Island sits a relatively unknown natural feature called Heart Rock. It is, quite literally, a pair of rocks both shaped like a heart, and is a big hit among people who came to know of the place through a TV commercial, most especially couples. To those who have found luck in love, surprise your significant other during your Okinawa holiday by bringing them here to watch a romantic sunset together.
Kouri Beach (古宇利ビーチ)
Address: Kouri, Nakijin, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa 905-0406
Opening hours: 24 Hours
Admission fee: Free
Tel: +81-980-56-2101
Kouri Ocean Tower (古宇利オーシャンタワー)
Address: 538 Kouri, Nakijin, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa 905-0406
Opening hours: 9am–6pm (last entry 5:30pm)
Admission fee: ¥850 (Adults), ¥600 (High school/middle school students), ¥300 (Elementary school students), Free (Children aged 6 and below)
Tel: +81-980-56-1616
Heart Rock (ティーヌ浜 ハートロック)
Address: 2 Kouri, Nakijin, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa 905-0406
Opening hours: 24 Hours
Admission fee: ¥300 (For parking)
Tel: +81-980-56-2101
4. Daisekirinzan
(Image credit: Ananda Kang)
At the northern tip of the island lies Cape Hedo (辺戸岬 Hedo-misaki), a set of karst cliffs accompanied by dramatic rock formations eroded by unceasing wave action over hundreds of millenia. This part of Kunigami Village is one of the most remote places on Okinawa Island, almost three hours away from Naha by car, and is largely untouched by civilisation.
(Image credit: Ananda Kang)
Overlooking this rocky outcropping, surrounded by nature, is a collection of hiking trails known as Daisekirinzan (大石林山). This national park is said to be Okinawa’s best place to commune with nature, a venerable ‘power spot’ flowing with positive spiritual energy, and has been the subject of worship by the locals for generations. A minibus takes travelers from the main reception building, which doubles as the Okinawa Stone Museum, to the start of the trails, all of which have something different to offer.
Pareidolia at work. What do you see in these rocks? (Image credit: Ananda Kang)
(Image credit: Ananda Kang)
One can trek past numerous unusual and interestingly-shaped rocks, some of which are said to confer good tidings to those who interact with them. Huge, sheer boulder faces moulded more than 200 millenia ago and exotic vegetation such as gigantic banyan trees offer exciting photo opportunities. Above all, the view of Yoron (与論島) and the Okinoerabu Islands (沖永良部島) off the coast of Cape Hedo (辺戸岬) on a clear day is guaranteed to be breathtaking. I have heard that a lucky few might even be able to see blue whales breaching the ocean surface in the winter!
Daisekirinzan (大石林山)
Address: 1241 Ginama, Kunigami, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa 905-1422
Opening hours: 9:30am–5:30pm (last entry 4:30 pm)
Admission fee: ¥1,200 (Adults), ¥550 (Children aged 4–14), ¥900 (Senior citizens aged 65 and above)
Tel: +81-980-41-8117
5. Ie Island
(Image credit: Ananda Kang)
Coming back to the satellite islets surrounding Okinawa Island, popular getaways such as the Keramas and the aforementioned Kouri Island often take centre stage, but there exists one other lesser-known isle that I have taken a personal liking to.
(Image credit: Ananda Kang)
A 30-minute ferry ride from Motobu Port, Ie Island (伊江島) or Iejima is instantly recognised by an outstanding natural feature: Gusukuyama (城山), a loaf-shaped mountain situated on the east half of the peanut-shaped landmass. Easily seen from Churaumi Aquarium (美ら海水族館), Tacchu—as it is known by the locals—stands 172m above sea level and is easily ascended in 15 minutes by stone stairs.
The view from the top. (Image credit: Ananda Kang)
The summit provides a spectacular, unbroken 360º-view of the entire island plus Iheya (伊平屋島) and Izena Islands (伊是名島) in the horizon, and is undeniably the first place any visitor to Iejima needs to check off their to-go list.
(Image credit: Ananda Kang)
Also known as “Flower Island”, Iejima has much to offer for fans of pretty flora. The Lily Field Park (リリーフィールド公園) is home to the Lily Festival (百合祭り) held every late April to mid-May, when more than a million lilies bloom to life and appear to float above the deep blue sea beyond. Not too far away, the Hibiscus Garden (ハイビスカス園) features over 1,100 different varieties of Okinawa’s trademark flower, including the 30cm-wide Hawaiian hibiscus and several hybrid breeds that are cultivated nowhere else in the world.
(Image credit: Ananda Kang)
Apart from all of that, this 22km² island also boasts several other notable tourist spots, such as the Iejima Beachside Horse Park (伊江島ビーチサイドホースパーク) where horse riding experiences are available; Waji Bluffs (湧水), a grand stretch of jagged cliffs over on the northern edge; and the Youth Travel Village, a multipurpose facility that also hosts a peaceful camping spot which sits beside the equally tranquil Ie Beach. It is possible to get around via bicycle, scooter, or kei-car (microcar) rentals on the island itself, but one may choose to ferry a car over from the main island too.
Gusukuyama (城山)
Address: 552 Higashieue, Ie, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa 905-0501
Opening hours: 24 hours
Admission fee: Free
Lily Field Park (リリーフィールド公園)
Address: 3087 Higashieue, Ie, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa 905-0501
Opening hours: 24 hours
Admission fee: Free
Tel: +81-980-49-2906
Hibiscus Garden (ハイビスカス園)
Address: 3682 Higashiemae, Ie, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa 905-0502
Opening hours: 9am–5pm
Admission fee: ¥500 (Adults), ¥200 (Secondary/tertiary students), ¥100 (Primary students, Free (Infants)
Tel: +81-980-49-3161
Youth Travel Village (伊江村青少年旅行村)
Address: 2438 Higashiiemae, Ie, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa 905-0502
Opening hours: 9am–6pm (reception hours)
Admission fee: ¥400 (Adults), ¥250 (Children)
Tel: +81-980-49-5257
Beachside Horse Park (伊江島ビーチサイドホースパーク)
Address: 2525 Higashiiemae, Ie, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa 905-0504
Opening hours: 9am–5pm
Admission fee: ¥4,000~¥20,000 (Various courses available)
Tel: +81-080-3455-0694
Conclusion
Okinawa is a fantastic travel destination filled with deep wide wonders, some of which are known the world over and others one can only come upon with guidance from those in the know. Hopefully, this article has inspired you to seek out Okinawa’s charms in greater detail, and experience its true essence in these obscure locales. Nifee deebiru (thank you) for reading, and mensooree (welcome) to Okinawa in advance!
Header image credit: Ananda Kang
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