Usually when the vacations arrive all-around, a lot of of us who stay on the island are inclined to head north wherever numerous lovely beach locations and mountains await. Nonetheless, the southern portion of Okinawa also delivers plenty of beautiful landscapes and an intriguing historical background really worth finding to know.
1. Giza Banta
This cliff on the southern coast is about 40 meters over sea level and has a darkish past. The internet site where by several Japanese threw by themselves to their premature fatalities through the 1945 Battle of Okinawa is also recognised as “suicide cliff.”
Compared to other historical details of fascination nearby like the Peace Memorial Park and the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters, Giza Banta is fairly very low-profile. In simple fact, initial-time visitors could come across it really hard to track down. Inspite of its tragic tale, nonetheless, some may also get in touch with this a concealed gem since it delivers a scenic ocean look at and a opportunity to trek on a curious rocky terrain.
The cliff is about a five-moment push northeast from the Peace Memorial Park and is accessible by way of a slim road that branches off Route 331 around a golf program. There is a space at the finish of the street exactly where you can park your car or truck. A slope runs by the cliff, using people down to the coastline. While it is paved halfway by way of, the route results in being rocky and bumpy outside of that. With rocks currently being damp and slippery, it would be a excellent strategy to have on footwear with superior traction when you go there.
Together the coast spreads a lagoon, which is termed “inoo” in Okinawa. Especially when tides are minimal, the rocky bottom of the sea will be exposed, creating countless designs. This area is also regarded for waters that operate down rock walls like waterfalls. When I visited the location just lately, the stream of h2o was a small far too modest to be identified as waterfalls but the vertical waterflow was abnormal sight.
You can also consider some concrete techniques to the northeast of the cliff, by means of a tunnel to get to the coast. Receiving to the measures needs navigating by shrubbery, but you’ll be rewarded with intriguing terrain and much more good sights.
– GPS Coordinates: N 26.101033, E 127.734482
2. Odohama Kaigan (Odo Seashore)
About a 5-minute generate west of the Peace Memorial Park, Odohama Kaigan is a strike amongst snorkelers and surfers. Comparable to the coast off Giza Banta cliff, a large lagoon spreads from the coastline.
Although you won’t obtain a 40-meter-large cliff there, a curious-looking statute welcomes site visitors as a substitute. Manjiro Nakahama a.k.a. “John Manjiro” is the individual the statue is modeled right after. Manjiro is recognised as the initially Japanese human being to established foot in the U.S.
According to the statue’s inscription, Manjiro was rescued by an American Whaling ship when he went adrift while fishing in 1841. The whaling ship took him to the U.S. where by he grew to become the very first-at any time student from Japan. After performing as a crew of a whaling ship, and also mining gold in Sacramento, Manjiro obtained a whaling ship in Hawaii and head out to Japan. On his way back again residence, his ship designed a prevent on Okinawa’s Odo Seashore in 1851 to stay clear of a storm.
Right before becoming taken to Satsuma Domain for interrogation and departing for Tosa, his hometown in the southern coastline of the mainland, Manjiro put in some time on the island interacting with locals. He would afterwards serve as an assistant and a translator for the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603 – 1867), a surveyor and a whaler for the duration of the Meiji period (1868 – 1912).
Manjiro’s ship was named “Adventurer,” symbolic of his eventful lifestyle. At Odahama Kaigan, you’re on the lookout out at the same perspective and going for walks in the footsteps the Japanese adventurer noticed and walked 170 a long time in the past.
– GPS Coordinates: N 26.089946, E 127.710291 (Manjiro’s statue)
3. Gushikawa Castle Ruins
These castle ruins overlooking the southern coast of Okinawa boast a wonderful panoramic check out. Even though substantially of the initial construction is gone and only some walls continue to be, curious stacked rocks present a exceptional look at related to people at Nakagusuku Castle Ruins. There are also holes called “Hii Fuchimii,” which hook up to the sea. In accordance to an on-web page commentary, these holes were for lifting and lowering supplies and machines and for straightforward evacuation in the celebration of an unexpected emergency.
According to Itoman Metropolis, the castle is presumed to have been used involving the 13th and 15th hundreds of years. Whilst it is referred to as a location for fishing and surfing, obtain to the beach front was limited when I frequented.
– GPS Coordinates: N 26.080462, E 127.664563
4. Buckner Memorial
This monument is devoted to U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Simon B. Buckner Jr. who was the commanding basic of the U.S. 10th Army.
According to Itoman Metropolis, Buckner was killed the place the memorial now stands on June 18, 1945, just times before the end of the Struggle of Okinawa. According to the US Office of Protection, Buckner was the optimum-rating armed service officer killed through the overall war.
There are memorials committed to Brig. Gen. Claudius M. Easley, assistant commander of the 96th Division, and Col. Edwin T. May perhaps of the 383d Regiment of the Ninety-sixth Military Division as well.
– GPS Coordinates: N 26.114648, E 127.680378
5. Hawaiian Cafe Dining KOA
Considering that Itoman Town offers quite a few points of fascination, this is a good location to replenish your vitality. Hawaiian Café Eating KOA on the beach front is a fantastic place for that. Its hearty loco moco (1,590 yen or approx. $11.50) can raise your energy with its delicious sauce, creamy cheese, and thick hamburger. If you acquired a sweet tooth, their pancakes (starting at 1,290 yen) are truly worth ordering. This cozy café with a great ocean look at and a laidback vibe can choose you on a momentary trip to Hawaii.
– GPS Coordinates: N 26.117810, E 127.662568
– Hrs: Mon-Wed-10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Fri-Sunshine, vacations, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. (reservation expected for supper, immediately after 5 p.m.), shut on Thurs.
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