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Go on a 1-kilometer walking tour full of sights related to Okinawa’s nature and history

Valley of Gangala is located about 30 minutes from Naha Airport by car and contains a forest about the size of Tokyo Dome. The valley was a limestone cave until several hundred thousand years ago but collapsed, forming the current lush subtropical forest it is today over the course of many years.

In order to enter the Valley of Gangala you must participate in a guided tour. The tour is about 80 minutes long and a full-time guide will accompany you along the 1-kilometer long course.

The tour starts from the Cave Cafe – an Instagram-worthy cafe located in a cave. As you listen to the thorough explanations on each point given by the specialist guide, stop by the Inagu Cave (Woman Cave) and Ikiga Cave (Man Cave) which are places of worship for fertility, then continue on through the verdant jungle.

Proceeding through the dark Ikiga Cave with a lamp in hand, is an extraordinary experience. Pay your respects at the symbolic limestone rock then head for the final attraction, an approximately 150 year old banyan tree known as the Ufushu Gajumaru. The impressive size of the tree and its presence are sure to captivate you.

There are many noteworthy points, such as the Tree Terrace – an observation deck located at the top of a tree – and the remains of an archaeological excavation site related to the Minatogawa Man. Feel the power, energy and history of Okinawa’s nature at Valley of Gangala.