Okinawa Yanbaru Three Villages Tour

The three villages of Kunigami, Ogimi and Higashi are in the northern end of the main island of Okinawa. It is a region nurtured by a forest with a diverse eco-system, home to many precious animals such as the Okinawa rail, Okinawa woodpecker and the Yanbaru long-armed scarab beetle. The bountiful ocean and the people living in the area envelop the forest. The trip to Okinawa Yanbaru is a journey to search for the origin of our life. Welcome to a world nurtured by nature.

The three Yanbaru villages of Okinawa became
"Yambaru National Park" in 2016.
And making the goal of becoming recognized
World Natural Heritage site.

The Yanbaru region, consisting of Kunigami, Ogimi and Higashi, has been recognized for its abundant biodiversity and natural environment, The Ministry of the Environment designated 17,300 hectares of land and sea in the area as “Yambaru national park” in Sep. 15th 2016. Of this area, 5,100 hectares of land will be recommended to UNESCO to be recognized as a World Natural Heritage site. We are strengthening nature conservation efforts here to prepare for the registration of “Amami & Ryukyu” (Kagoshima & Okinawa) as World Natural Heritage sites as early as summer 2018. *“Amami & Ryukyu” consists of four regions: Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima in Kagoshima Prefecture, and Yambaru and Iriomote-jima in Okinawa Prefecture.

Nature, Tourist Facilities and Activity Menu

Kunigami

  • Kunigami Forest Park

    A nearly three kilometer trail is filled with the scent of the forest and great clusters of castanopsis, flying spider-monkey tree ferns, chinquapin and machilus thunbergii. There are campsites, bungalows and tree houses.

    Hentona 1094-1, Kunigami-son, Kunigami-gun
    ☎︎ 0980-50-1022（Japanese Only）

  • Okinawa Rail Ecology Center

    Here you can see an actual “Okinawa Rail”, which is a Natural Monument of Japan and exists only here in the world. Watch as it makes its cute “chirps”.

    Ada 1477-35, Kunigami-son, Kunigami-gun
    ☎︎ 0980-41-7788（Japanese Only）

  • Northernmost Okinawa Yanbaru
    Forest Guided Tour

    Fee: 5,000 yen (3 hours). Search for plant and animal life in the Yanbaru forest with a guide. Participants must be age five or older.

    Okuma 1605, Kunigami-son, Kunigami-gun （Meeting point）
    ☎︎ 0980-41-2537（Japanese Only）

Ogimi

  • Bunagaya Forest

    The forest where the Bunagaya forest fairies live. This forest takes up about 76% of the area of the village. The Mount Nekumachiji area at the center is a bonanza of wildlife, called “Little Yanbaru” by those who know it, because it is where nearly all the wildlife that can be found in the north grows up.

    The forest in Ogimi-son, Kunigami-gun
    ☎︎ 0980-44-3007（Japanese Only）

  • Mutabaru Observatory
    (& Shioya Bay)

    A beautiful secret viewpoint. You can see Shioya Bay, Shioya Ohashi, Nakijin, Kouri Island, and the Motobu Peninsula. The road up to the viewpoint is lined with Taiwan cherry trees.

    Taminato, Ogimi-son, Kunigami-gun（Observatory）

  • Bunagaya Lake Canoe
    Experience Tour

    Experience canoeing on the serene lake surface. Float past the dreamlike underwater forest of the mountain trees reflected in the glittering lake surface. Several choices of courses from 5,000 to 6,000 yen.

    ☎︎ 0980-44-1960（Japanese Only）

Higashi

  • Higashi Fureai Hirugi Park
    (Gesashi Bay Mangrove Forest)

    This is the largest mangrove area on the main island, with three of the four species of mangroves found on the island growing here. Designated as a National Natural Monument. Has walking trails and an observation deck.

    Gesashi 54-1, Higashi-son, Kunigami-gun
    ☎︎ 0980-51-2433（Japanese Only）

  • Looking-Glass Mangrove
    (Village Natural Monument)

    Made up of around fifteen buttress roots that rise about one meter off the ground and have a magnificent, streamlined look. It has lived for more than 100 years. The greatest mangrove tree on Okinawa is a must-see.

    Higashi-son, Kunigami-gun
    (800m left side of upriver from the river mouth of Fukuji-river)
    ☎︎ 0980-51-2655（Japanese Only）

  • SUP Yoga
    (Fukujigawa Seaside Park)

    Fee: 4,200 yen (one hour). Leaves from the Fukujigawa Seaside Park beach, newly established in 2015. Reservations must be made two days in advance. Participants must be age 10 or over.

    Kawata, Higashi-son, Kunigami-gun
    ☎︎ 0980-51-2301（Japanese Only）

Local Specialties of the Three Villages

Higashi

Pineapples

Higashi Village is famous for their pineapples, and is proud that they’re the largest producer in Japan. We also have an abundance of processed foods such as canned goods and sauces made from pineapples harvested at the height of their deliciousness!

“SUNRISE SWEET”

“Sunrise Sweet” is an original canned pineapple product from the Higashi Village direct sales store. Only a limited number are produced each year, so they’re a must-buy when you find them.

Kunigami

Yanbaru Inobuta

The “Yanbaru Inobuta” is a boar and pig crossbreed that’s bred and raised in Kunigami Village. The high-quality fat that seems to melt at body temperature and the light flavor of the meat makes it very popular.

Kunigami Donuts

The official village sweets “Kunigami Donuts” were developed cooperatively among Kunigami cake shops. This highly select product is made without eggs, milk, or animal fat.

Ogimi

Shikuwasa

The “shikuwasa” (citrus depressa) is the source of the long-living villagers’ energy. This fruit comes from Mount Nekumachiji and the limestone mountains, and has a unique sweet and sour flavor which will make you crave for more once you start eating it.

Buckwheat

Buckwheat produced in Ogimi Village is harvested the earliest in Japan, and can even be harvested twice a year. You can also have some at restaurants in the village. The photo is of “Esu no Hana.”

Roadside Stations / Direct Sales Stores / Co-op Stores / Restaurants

Ogimi

Roadside Station
“Ogimi”

Neroma 1373, Ogimi-son, Kunigami-gun
☎︎ 0980-44-3048（Japanese Only）8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Open 365 days.

Esu no Hana

Taiho 326-224, Ogimi-son, Kunigami-gun
☎︎ 0980-43-3040（Japanese Only）11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Closed 　　Every Wednesday,New Year's holiday

Higashi

Direct Sales Store
“SUNRISE Higashi”

Taira 550-23, Higashi-son, Kunigami-gun
☎︎ 0980-43-2270（Japanese Only）9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Closed /New Year's holiday

“Agarinuhama”

Taira 550-23, Higashi-son, Kunigami-gun
☎︎ 0980-43-2270（Japanese Only）11:00 a.m. - Last Order 4:00 p.m.
Closed /Every Tuesday,New Year's holiday

Kunigami

Roadside Station
“Yui Yui Kunigami”

Okuma 1605, Kunigami-son, Kunigami-gun
☎︎ 0980-41-5555（Japanese Only）9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.(New Year's holiday- 3:00 p.m.)
Open 365 days.

Restaurant“Kuina”

Okuma 1605, Kunigami-son, Kunigami-gun
☎︎ 0980-41-5555（Japanese Only）11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.(New Year's holiday- 3:00 p.m.)
Open 365 days.

Access from Naha Airport area -Yanbaru north area

Access to Okinawa：
Okinawa is easy to access from airports across the country. There are 25 or more flights per day from Tokyo Haneda, and 10 or more per day from other major airports such as Osaka and Fukuoka.
In recent years this has become very affordable thanks to early reservation discounts and LCCs. Okinawa is easy to get to since travel time from Haneda is about 2 hrs. 50 min., which is not much different than traveling other ways.

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