"Yomitan's Tucked Away Nature Trail"

The beginning of a trail in Yomitan

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Yomitan's Tucked Away Nature Trail

     GPS

Latitude	Longitude
N 26 24.270	E 127 44.770

Yomitan's Tucked Away Nature Trail

For those who are not familiar with Yomitan Village you are most likely to drive pass a small nature trail and not even be aware of it. This is because the beginning of the trail is tucked quite cleverly near a slope just off Highway 12 as you are heading towards Zakimi-jo Castle from Highway 58. The mostly, paved small trail is about 1.5 km long. However, it still delivers an opportunity to view nature, especially birds who feed along the creek side. Though it seems largely forgotten because of overgrown vegetation in some areas, it can still serve as a nice morning or afternoon walk with the family dog or with a friend. At about a 150 meters into the trail you will see a well to the left and at the very end of the trail you will see a set of steps that leads you to a small cave cut-out structure used as a prayer site. There is also a small tomb built on the cliff side next to the prayer site. You cannot go any further pass this point. The creek that skirts along the trail runs into the Nagaham Dam, however, the dam will not be visible at the turning point. 

If you do decide to walk your dogs in this area please keep them on a leash. There is a farm next to the trail with chickens and small farm animals that roam the area freely.

Also marked on the map and south of the trail is a small well believed to be named 'Tanangaa' Well. The carved name etched in stone next to the well was slightly eroded.

Getting there. Getting there is not hard. It's a straight shot on Highway 12 leaving Highway 58. Look for the Kijimuna (Okinawa jungle boy) statue as a landmark. Park across the street in the open dirt lot (Green Thumbtack above.)

Other places of interest nearby: Zakami-jo Castle.