A forest which has kept the original nature of Okinawa
Hiji Falls which is located in Kunigami Village in the northern part of the main island of Okinawa is the largest waterfall on the island at a height of 26m. It is located in the middle of the Hiji River which flows through the forest, and around the nature trail, a jungle-like scenery spreads out which is somewhat peculiar for a subtropical zone. The scenic view from the basin of the falls is incredible, and you will be stunned by the impressive sound of the falls as it flows through the quiet of the forest. In the area of the falls, there are 380 academically valuable species of plant life flourishing along with unusual birds such as Okinawa rail and Ryukyu robin, and animal life such as shrimp, crab and goby.
Trekking courses that will take you to the falls
The most ideal trekking course is the one going through Yanbaru Forest one way for 1.4km in 40 minutes. Yanbaru refers to the northern area on the main island of Okinawa which still has the mountains and woods from ancient times. There are giant plants such as the Hikage tree fern and the Mucuna climbing vine which are peculiar to a subtropical area, and strange animals such as the Ryukyu tree lizard and the Sword-tail newt; you are bound to come across them from places such as the suspension bridge. It’s recommended that you do your trekking during the easier morning hours while relaxing on the beach from the afternoon.
A campground visited by more than 30,000 people annually
At the entrance to the nature trail for Hiji Falls is Hiji Falls Campground. This is also convenient for trekkers since there is a café, washrooms and shower facilities available. In the administration building, there is the Hiji Café which is often patronized by users of the campground and people taking walks. The menu is popular for items such as Indian curry, sweet black bean soup using brown sugar and the special Nago coffee. The Hiji River flows beside the tent area with the perfectly clear waters being the ideal place for children to play.