"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.

"Kin Town's Hidden Nature Trail"

A glimpse of Kin Town's Hidden Nature Trail

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Kin Town's Hidden Trail

     GPS

Latitude	Longitude
N 26 27.123	E 127 55.410

Kin Town's Hidden Nature Trail 

If you ever driven through Kin Town you will see that it has a lot of good size buildings and houses on both sides of Highway 329. And you would probably never think to find a nature trail right smack in the middle of all those buildings. Well, guess again. I have lived in Kin Town for several years off and on and drove and walked by a particular section of this town so many times that it never occurred to me to scan my peripheral vision. This is common, since I think most of us tend to get tunnel vision walking from point A to point B. But every now and then you get a little surprise. If you look at the album cover you will see a picture of a road, a building, and a Coke machine. Nothing strange about that...until you look closely to the right of the soda machine.

Walking past this soda machine, it finally hit me that something seemed a little odd. There was an alley way that seemed to go no where. Then the map sign gave it away. It turns out, that the alley way does go somewhere. It's an entrance way to a nature trail that's very well hidden and tucked in within the town. The trail is only about 200-250 meters in total length, but it is a nice change of scenery. See the photo album. The trail is actually named 'Tiidagaa Forest' Park, which was written in Katankana and Kanji. Tiidagaa, I was told, is Hogen (Okinawan native language) that gives reference to the Sun and River.

As you go through the trail you will see wooden floor platforms for viewing, either for educational purposes or praying. Then there are three areas along the trail that have pools of water (almost just like a large puddle). On the sign, they were referred to as a 'well'. On the map (in the photo album), these 'wells' were identified by a 'blue' dot. This may be a small insignificant trail, but if you are really into hole-in-the-wall kinds of stuff then you may find it a small joy walking though this trail.

CAUTION. There was a lot of overgrowth on this trail. I recommend wearing pants and long sleeves, especially during certain times of the year. There were a lot of bugs... bugs I have never seen before. If you like bugs then this is the place to go. There were also a lot of mosquitoes. Again, depending on the time of the year, you may see a lot of them. Recommend, using a bug repellant. Wear gloves if you have them. I highly recommend not wearing any sandals either. Additionally bring an umbrella or a walking stick to help brush away possible spider webs and vegetation on the trail. I didn't see any snakes but it something always to be wary of. Don't let any of this scare you. I just wanted you to be prepared. I'm a big believer in 'trail maintenance'. When trails are not maintained, over time, they can disappear and become inaccessible and more importantly, they become unsafe. The more and more people use trails it prevents overgrowth.  

How to get there. If you look at the map, you will it is not far from Highway 329. You will see two landmarks where you turn off. Once you make the turn, it's only about 400-500 meters away where you will see that Coke Machine.

What to bring. Umbrella and/or walking stick, appropriate clothing, water, and a camera.

Other places of interest nearby. Kin Kannonji, Kin Watch Tower, Kinjo's Used Goods, Kin Castle Rock, Statue of Oshiro Kozo, Okawa Natural Spring, Richamocha Cafe, The Gold Hall, Statue of Toyoma Kyuzo, Birth Place of Toyoma Kyuzo, Kin Town's History Chronicles, Kin Town's Cherry Blossom Way.