Nature Spots in Okinawa Area
Area
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Okinawa
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Okinawa
Category
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- Heart Rock
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Kunigamigunnakijinson Kouri
- "This rock is located in Teenu Beach in the north of Kouri Island. Kouri Island is a popular island known as ""Love Island"" because of there are legends similar to Adam and Eve and theories that its name is an accented way of saying ""love island."" Heart Rock appears to become one when the two rocks are seen from a certain direction, and it got its name since its shape resembles a heart. After it was used for shooting a television commercial, it quickly became a famous sightseeing spot. In addition, there are several parking lots in the vicinity."
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- Ie Island
- Travel / Tourism
- Ie-mura, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture
- An island floating around nine kilometers northwest of the Motobu Peninsula. About a 30-minute ferry ride from Motobu Port. A white sand beach sprawls along the island's south side, while deep-blue ocean extends into the distance on its north. Here you can also find an abundance of local specialty products, including shima rakkyo (Okinawa shallots), jimami (peanuts), and Ie beef. The Ie Island Lily Festival is held in spring around the time some one million Easter lilies come into bloom.
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- Kafu Banta cliff
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Urumashi Yonashiromiyagi 2768
- Kafu Banta cliff located in Miyagi Island, Yonashiro, Uruma City is a picturesque spot. Banta means a cliff in Okinawan dialect. As its name “kafu” (good fortune) suggests, the cape situated at a high elevation on Miyagi Island and the scene from the cape which is layer upon layer of blue is overwhelming. You can spend a relaxing time while feeling the comfortable sea breeze in the beautiful scenery.
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- Hateruma Island
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Yaeyamaguntaketomichou Hateruma
- This is the southern-most inhabited island in Japan, which is one of the Yaeyama Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. There are three monuments lined up on the cliffs of Cape Takanazaki which are located at the southernmost tip of the island—a monument of the southernmost point in Japan, a monument of Hateruma and a monument of peaceful prayers. This island is also famous as you due to its low latitude are able to observe the Southern Cross. The Star Observatory Tower has a planetarium and a 200 millimeters refractorial telescope, and it is also possible to observe craters on the moon. It is popular with tourists seeking a beautiful starlit sky.
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- Shimojijima Airport 17 END Beach
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Miyakojima-shi Irabu Sawada
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- Yonaguni Island
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Prefecture Yaeyama-gun Yonaguni-cho
- This is the westernmost island of Japan. There is a lighthouse and a viewing platform at the cape which is at the most eastern part of the island where you can get an unbroken view of the cobalt blue sea. Also in Irizaki, there is a monument of the westernmost point in Japan. If the weather conditions are right, you can see a silhouette of Taiwan in the distance. It was also the setting for the drama series, “Dr. Koto Shinryojo”; even now the set used for filming remain there.
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- Kudaka Island
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Nanjoushi Chinen Kudaka
- Kudaka Island is a long, thin island that lies five kilometers off the southern coast of the main island of Okinawa. Kudaka Island was believed to be the first place in the Ryukyu Islands that the creator goddess Amamikiyo made after descending from Heaven, and since ancient times it has been venerated as an “island of the gods.” There are many sacred sites on Kudaka Island, such as Udunmya. Many of these places have been sacred to the Ryukuan people since ancient times, and visitors should be aware that some places are off-limits to non-locals.
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- Tori-ike (lit. path lake)
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Miyakojimashi Irabu Sawada
- Tori-ike is a pond in Shimoji Island in Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture. Tori-ike consists of two circular lakes, a large lake and a small one—the large one has a diameter of 75-meters and the small one has a diameter of 55-meters. The two lakes are interconnected under water, furthermore as the lakes are connected to the ocean through a cave, it has got the name, “Tori-ike”. It is a popular diving spot where you can see a wide variety of fish, and it has been designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty and a National Natural Monument.
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- Zanpa Beach
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Nakagamigunyomitanson Uza 1933
- Clear blue water and fine white sand make this gorgeous beach to the west of Cape Zanpa worth a visit. From sea bathing to flyboarding, marine jetting, and diving, there’s no shortage of ocean activities to enjoy. The nearby park contains athletic equipment and a barbecue area, making this beach a popular spot for families.
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- Manza Beach
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Kunigamigunonnason Serakaki
- Manza Beach is a beautiful beach with highly transparent sea and coral reef, overlooking Manzamo. It is adjacent to the ANA Intercontinental Hotel and you can enjoy a range of activities such as diving and fishing.
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- Aragusuku Kaigan
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Miyakojima-shi Gusukube Aragusuku
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- Miyagi Island
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Urumashi Yonashiromiyagi
- Situated between Henza Island and Ikei Island, Miyagi island is connected via a marine road. With the cobalt blue sea and sprawling, serene sugar cane fields, this locale is gorgeous whether you’re driving or on foot.
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- Tinu Beach
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Kunigamigunnakijinson Kouri
- Tinu Beach is in the north of Kouri Island. On the calm beach where the sea spreads off into the distance, there is a so-called “heart-shaped stone,” which is popular as a place of matchmaking.
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- Yagaji Island
- Travel / Tourism
- Nago, Okinawa Prefecture
- Yagaji Island is located north of the main island of Okinawa, and it is an island floating on the Haneji inland sea. The area is about eight square kilometers. The east side of the main island of Okinawa is connected by the Yagaji Bridge, Ojima Island and the Haneji O Bridge, while the west of the main island of Okinawa is connected by the Warumi Bridge and Kouri Island is connected to Yagaji Island by the Kouri Bridge. In the tidal flatlands, migratory birds flying in and there are black mangroves (mangrove plants) which grow in excess of 10 meters in height. In 1976 during the Showa period, the entire island was designated as a national wildlife sanctuary.
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- Nishihenna Cape
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Miyakojimashi Hirara Karimata
- A 15-minute drive from Miyako Airport. Situated on the northwestern side of Miyako-jima Island, visitors to this cape can take in emerald green ocean and forest and deep blue skies. Three huge white wind turbines stand in a row and blend in with the surrounding scenery. From an observatory on the cape, visitors can enjoy a sweeping view of Ikema Ohashi Bridge, Ikema Island to the north, Irabu Island to the west, and Ogami Island to the east. The wind turbine power generation is a part of the Enetopia concept and the unique scenery created by the three turbines standing in a line has become a symbol of the Nishihenna Cape. Visitors can delight in the local scenery from the observatory and take a leisurely stroll to the tip of the cape using a walking path which traverses the area.
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- Hiji Falls
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Kunigamigunkunigamison Hiji 781-1
- In Kunigami Village in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island is a 26-meter-tall waterfall, the biggest in the prefecture. The sight of the white splashing water will make you think of a subtropical oasis. There’s a walkway leading to the waterfall, and it takes approximately 40 minutes to reach it. The walkway features many steep slopes owing to the wooden staircases and bridges, so watch your step. Many precious plants flourish around the waterfall, and you may spot wildlife such as shrimps, crabs, and gobies.
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- Shiraho Beach
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Ishigakishi Shiraho
- This coast is famous for the views it provides of blue coral and Porites coral. You can go snorkeling and enjoy the vibrantly colored Porites coral, “Usukomon” coral, and other varieties of coral.
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- Yonehara Beach
- Travel / Tourism
- Ishigaki-shi, Maibara, Okinawa
- Yonehara Beach offers a great view of coral reefs, bright-colored tropical fish, and more. Many people come for diving, snorkeling, and other activities, but because the tidal currents are fast, it is designated as a dangerous swimming area.
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- Oganzaki
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Ishigaki-shi Sakieda
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- Aka Island
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Shimajirigunzamamison Aka
- Aka Island is part of the Kerama Islands group. It belongs to Zamami in Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture. It is the setting of the movie “Marilyn ni aitai” (“I want to meet Marilyn”) based on the true story of a male dog Shiro who swam across the sea to meet a female dog Marilyn who was in Zamami Island on the other side. On the island, there is also a statue of Shiro. The island is connected to Geruma Island by way of the Aka Bridge and is connected with Fukaji Island by way of Geruma Bridge, so therefore it is possible to reach the island by car or by bicycle.
Okinawa Areas
Let go of your image of a busy, ordered Japan and replace it with crystal-clear waters, white sand beaches, and relaxing folk music: You’ve arrived in Okinawa. A world away from the high intensity of Tokyo, Okinawans appear to live a laid-back beach life on this paradisiacal tropical island that lies in the middle of the East China Sea almost 1,000 kilometers south of mainland Japan’s most southern tip. Home to a spattering of islands, prepare yourself to discover underwater caves, star-shaped sand, and an island culture sometimes unrecognizable from mainland Japan.
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