Northern Okinawa tour from Naha: Cape Hedo and Kouri Island

Hike Yanbaru's tropical forest and cross the long bridge to Kouri Island

A full-day sightseeing tour departing Naha that travels through Kunigami, Higashi, and Ogimi villages in northern Okinawa, with guided hiking in Yanbaru National Park, views from Cape Hedo at the island's northernmost point, a shikwasa juice factory tour, and a crossing of the Kouri Bridge to Kouri Island. The tour includes lunch, entrance fees, an audio guide in four languages, and a local specialty gift. Children from age 3 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Northern Okinawa Nature and Culture

• Depart from Naha Prefectural Square
• Watch 360 video at Yanbaru Forest Visitor Center
• Have sashimi and fried fish lunch in Kunigami Village
• Visit Cape Hedo observatory
• Hike in Yanbaru National Park and Daisekirinzan
• Tour shikwasa juice factory and taste products
• Cross Kouri Bridge and stroll Kouri Beach
• Return to Naha and drop off at T-Galleria Okinawa

The experience

The bus departs Naha at 8:00 AM from Prefectural Square and heads north through the Yanbaru region. Along the way, you stop at the Yanbaru Forest Visitor Center to watch a 360-degree video introducing the landscape you're about to explore, then move into the three villages themselves. Lunch happens at a local fisherman's dining in Kunigami Village, where you eat sashimi and fried fish, and the pace gives you time to settle into the rhythm of the day before the hiking begins.

At Daisekirinzan, designated as a national park, you hike through rich tropical forest where unique plants and rock formations line the trails. If conditions are right, you might spot the Okinawa rail, a nationally protected species found nowhere else. From Cape Hedo, the northernmost point of Okinawa Island, you stand at an observatory overlooking the ocean. The view is the payoff for the morning's travel. After the hike, you visit a shikwasa juice factory in Ogimi Village where you turn on a "dream faucet" to taste the local citrus juice, sample seasonal variations, tour the production area, and browse shikwasa-based cakes and products for souvenirs.

The final stop is Kouri Island, reached by crossing the 1,960-meter Kouri Bridge. Driving across it feels like traveling on the sea itself, and from the bridge you might spot sea turtles in the water below. Once on the island, you have time to walk Kouri Beach and explore a public market filled with subtropical fruits and vegetables. The bus returns you to Naha by 6:20 PM, dropping you at T-Galleria Okinawa by DFS, Tomariman, or Prefectural Square depending on the season.

What’s included

• Round-trip sightseeing bus fare from Naha.
• entrance fees to Yanbaru Forest Visitor Center, Daisekirinzan, and the shikwasa factory.
• lunch at a local fisherman's dining.
• a free bottle of shikwasa jelly made with local juice.
• multilingual audio guide in English, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese.
• WiFi on board.
• bottled water.
• and a tour conductor.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Monday and WednesdayDeparts at 08:10

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Infant (3 to 5 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 30

Audio guideEnglish, Chinese, Japanese and Korean

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Jumbo Tours Co., Ltd.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guided bus tour covering three northern villages with hiking at a national park and coastal viewpoints, all departing from central Naha.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years); Infant (3 to 5 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Okinawa rail and where do I see it on this tour?

The Okinawa rail is a nationally protected species found only in Okinawa, and you may spot it during the hike through Yanbaru National Park at Daisekirinzan if conditions are favorable. The forest there is its natural habitat, though sightings are not guaranteed.

What happens at the shikwasa factory in Ogimi Village?

At the shikwasa factory, you turn on a tap to taste fresh shikwasa juice, sample juice from different harvest seasons, tour the production facility, and shop for shikwasa-based cakes and products to take home as souvenirs.

Can I walk around Kouri Island or is it just a drive-through stop?

You have time to stroll Kouri Beach and visit a nearby public market full of subtropical fruits and vegetables after crossing the Kouri Bridge, so it is not just a drive-through. You can explore on foot.

What is included in the lunch?

Lunch is served at a fisherman's dining in Kunigami Village and consists of a sashimi and fried fish set meal.

Does the tour operate on the same schedule year-round?

The departure time shifts in October: through September, the bus leaves at 8:00 AM from Prefectural Square, and starting in October, it departs at 8:10 AM from Kenmin Hiroba. Return times also vary by season and drop-off location.