Hiking in Okinawa

Hiking in Okinawa

Loren and I both come from pretty outdoorsy families and spent our childhood summers canoeing, camping and rucking around forests.  While Okinawa isn't the greatest place for hiking, there are still some fun and challenging trails around the island.

Tips & Tricks

Trails in Okinawa are fundamentally different from what I was used to in the northern Midwest.  Instead of a beautiful canopy of pine trees, you usually find yourself under a sweltering blanket of jungle. 

On the bright side, you don't have to worry about bears or mountain lions.  (Although the prospect of habu snakes is terrifying enough ...)  You'll also become well-acquainted with our friend the banana spider.  Given an entire jungle to inhabit, these palm-sized creatures tend to create their webs directly across the trail.  Avoiding them while hiking can turn into an acrobatic endeavor.  (You know the scene in heist movies when the thief is ducking and leaping to avoid lasers so he can steal the diamond-encrusted Faberge egg?  It's a lot like that.  Except instead of stealing the crown jewels, you're trying not to end up with a giant spider on your face.)

Some of Okinawa's best treks are up mountains.  While the peaks on the island aren't terribly tall, you're rewarded with a nice view.  That being said, be sure to wear sturdy shoes with a nice grip.  You'll be walking across jagged coral during parts of the hike, and the rocks can get slippery in the rain.  Also bring plenty of water -- the heat in the summer can be downright oppressive.

 

Favorite Trails

Listed below are some of my favorite hikes here in Okinawa.  This isn't an exhaustive list, but it covers some of the most popular trails and provides links with more information.  If you come across something that isn't listed, please feel free to send me an email.

Mountain Hikes

• Mt. Hedo.  Near Cape Hedo.  By far, this is the prettiest hike on the island.  It's located at the northernmost tip of the island.  The hike is short but strenuous.  Use the ropes and chains along the trail to pull yourself up the mountain.
• Mt. Yonaha.  Near Okuma Recreational Facility.  This is the highest mountain on the island.  However, the peak is overgrown with brushes, so don't expect a great view.  The trail is quite nicely groomed, though.  It's located in the Yanbaru wildlife area, and there are oodles of little trails in the area.
• Mt. Nago.  Near Nago (obviously).  This was our first hike in Okinawa.  It's okay, but expect to climb a lot of stairs.  This is a popular hike and easily accessible for newbies.
• Mountains in Motobu:  These are my absolute favorite hikes.  These three mountains are located on the Motobu peninsula, just north of Nago.  They each range from 2-4 hours in length, depending upon your speed.  Definitely wear boots.
• Mt. Katsuu.  A good, fun, slightly strenuous hike.
• Mt. Awa This is the longer hike.  Awa-dake has two peaks and several caves to explore along the way.
• Mt. Furushi.  Furushi-dake has a sheer rock face on one side.  You can explore it by sliding along a narrow ledge.  Definitely not for people who are afraid of heights, but a fun experience.
• Mt. Gusuku.  On Ie-jima.  You'll have to take a 30-minute ferry out to the island.  The hike is relatively quick and involves a lot of stairs.  But you'll be rewarded with a great view of tiny Ie Island.

River Hikes

• Ta Falls:  North of Nago.  This is a very popular hike.  The actual trail is a creek itself, so be prepared to get wet.  You can climb up to the top of Ta-Dake and continue along the creek to a second set of falls.
• Fukugawa Falls:  North of Nago.  Another set of two falls.  This one is less spectacular than Ta-dake, but it's also far less crowded. 

Other Trails

• Ishikawa People's Park:  Located in Ishikawa, northeast of Kadena.  Although it's officially closed, you can still wander around the trails.  There's an abandoned castle-shaped viewing area that you can explore as well. 
• Spider Trail:  Yomitan.  This is a great trail-running and mountain-biking area. 
• Paintball Trail:  Yomitan.  Located across the highway from the Spider Trail, this path runs along the perimeter of an abandoned military base.  It's also a good trail-running path, although the brush can get a bit high in the summer. 
• Yamada Stone Bridge Trail:  Onna.  A series of trails leading to an observatory.  This is a great place, complete with caves, castle ruins, etc.