Scenic Driving
The west coast of the Okinawa Main Island is the best for scenic drive. Take Route 58 to the north while seeing beautiful ocean on the left. Visit Manzamo and Kayauchi Banta to see gorgeous contrast of steep cliff and deep blue ocean. Go across the longest bridge in Okinawa, Kouri Ohashi. Travel to the northernmost site of the Island, Cape Hedo. Don't forget to stop by Michi no eki (Road Stations) to get local products as souvenir and to have local specialty food.
Destination Guide - Northern Okinawa Main Island >>
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The word Manzamo means "the grass field where ten thousand people can sit." The steep cliff of elevated coral reef is natural vantage point; it provides a magnificent view of East China Sea. In Okinawa, some plants are observed only here, thus the vegetation at Manzamo is designated as a prefectural natural monument.
Address: Address: Onna, Onna Village, Okinawa
Website: http://www.okinawastory.jp/en/view/portal/0130000060/
Parking: Available
206 312 097
Approximate Travel Time 1 hour by Car (About 30 km)
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Boasting beautiful nature, Yagaji Island and Haneji Inland Sea are altogether designated as one of 500 Important Wetlands in Japan. The island offers a variety of activities such as swimming, eco touring, fishing, camping, and more.
Address: Nago City, Okinawa
Parking: Available
485 571 262
Approximate Travel Time 10 minutesby by Car (About 5 km)
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Connecting Yagaji Island and Kouri Island, Kouri Ohashi Bridge is the longest toll-free bridge in Japan. The bridge extends about 2 kilometers. Seeing subtropical ocean on both sides, one will be enchanted by the beauty of gorgeous scenery.
Address: Nakijin Village, Okinawa
Parking: Available
485 632 605
Approximate Travel Time 5 minutes by Car (About 2 km)
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Surrounded by beautiful ocean, Kouri Island is a small round-shaped island, whose radius is only about one kilometer. The island is famous for a legend: it is said that the first man and woman have lived here. It holds good old atmosphere and is a nice location for taking pictures and videos. There are cafes/restaurants on the shore, and you can enjoy magnificent scenery while having meals.
Address: Nakijin Village, Okinawa
Parking: Available
485 722 100
Approximate Travel Time 1 hour by Car (About 48 km)
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Kayauchi Banta means “a cliff to throw thatching.” It is said that even thatching is fasten up tightly it will be unfasten when it is thrown here because of strong updraft. 80 meters steep cliff is facing the sea, and when looking down, one can enjoy the deep blue color of the sea.
Address: Ginama, Kunigami Village, Okinawa
Tel: 0980-41-2101
Parking: Available
728 645 731
Approximate Travel Time 15 minutes by Car (About 3 km)
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Cape Hedo is the northern most tip of the Okinawa Main Island. There is a monument commemorating the return of Okinawa to Japanese administration from the US occupation in 1972. The cape provides spectacular view. When it is sunny, one can even see Yoron Island of Kagoshima Prefecture.
Address: Hedo, Kunigami Village, Okinawa
Tel: 0980-41-2101
Website: http://www.okinawastory.jp/en/view/portal/0120010903/
Parking: Available
728 737 183
Approximate Travel Time 10 minutes by Car (About 2 km)
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Yanbarukuina Observatory is located in the south of Cape Hedo. The observatory is modeled after Yanbarukuina, an endangered bird inhabiting in Yanbaru, a deep sub-tropical forest in the northern Okinawa.
Address: Hedo, Kunigami Village, Okinawa 905-1421
Tel: 0980-41-2101
Parking: Available
*Only 7 cars can be parked at the observatory but there is a bigger parking lot on the foot of the hill.
728 676 898
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