On a clear day, Yoron Island can be seen.
Cape Hendo, the northernmost cape in the prefecture, is located in the northern part of the main island.
Cape Heto is about 2.5 hours by car from Naha Airport, but it is a sightseeing spot where you can feel the nature of Okinawa.
On a clear day, Yoron Island in Kagoshima Prefecture can be seen from Cape Heto.
Cape Heto has a well-maintained promenade, so the elderly, baby strollers, and wheelchairs can safely visit.
From the rooftop observation deck of the adjacent Cape Heto Tourist Information Center, you can see the vast 180° expanse of ocean and mountains made of Ryukyu limestone.
Point 1: About 2.5 hours by car from Naha
About 120 km from Naha Airport. After getting on the Okinawa Expressway to the Xuda IC, drive north on Route 58.
It takes about two and a half hours to drive there, feeling the sea breeze.
Cape Hendo, designated as Yanbaru National Park, is equipped with a tourist information center and a large parking lot, making it a good rest stop for driving and touring.
The promenade is well maintained, so visitors with strollers, wheelchairs, and the elderly can tour the cape with ease.
Point 2: Monument to the Restoration of the Motherland
At Cape Hendo, there is a “Monument for the Struggle for the Return to the Fatherland”.
Okinawa Prefecture was under U.S. military rule for 27 years before being returned to Japan in 1972.
Cape Hendo, the northernmost point of the prefecture, is known as a base for those who wish to return to their homeland because of its proximity to Yoron Island in Kagoshima Prefecture.
The monument was erected in 1976, four years after the reversion, as a symbol of the people’s longing to return to their homeland.
Point 3: Take a breather at the Tourist Information Center
Adjacent to Cape Hendo, the Cape Hendo Information Center introduces the highlights of the northern part of the island as well as the history and culture of the region.
You can take a break while viewing the cape at the cafe on the second floor.
On the rooftop observation deck, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the cape and the limestone mountains while enjoying the sea breeze.
On a clear day, Yoron Island in Kagoshima Prefecture can be seen from Cape Hendo.
