- Activity
- Okinawa
ASMUI Spiritual Hikes
Ancient memories of the Earth found in the Yanbaru Forest created over 250 million years
A candidate for the World Natural Heritage, Yanbaru is an area of lush nature at the northern tip of the main island of Okinawa. ASMUI Spiritual Hikes is a scenic spot located in the Yanbaru National Park, adorned withsteep rocky mountains, strange shaped rocks and subtropical natural forests. Since ancient times, the area has been known as Ashimui and was the setting of many sacred myths, as people offer prayers here even today.
History of ASMUI Spiritual Hikes
ASMUI Spiritual Hikes was created by limestone formed in the sea in the Paleozoic era around 250 million years ago, which appeared on the surface due to crustal movement. Over another several million years, the limestone was further eroded by winds and rain, and a unique landscape of sharp, strangely shaped rocks was created. This rocky mountain has been here since the main island of Okinawa first began to form. Even today, rainwater and bacteria are melting the limestone and continuously changing the landscape of the mountain.
Yanbaru, a treasure trove of endemic species
A vast subtropical forest of untouched wilderness, Yanbaru is full of indigenous animal and plant species, making it a rare natural treasure trove in the world. Because the Ryukyu Islands repeatedly separated from and rejoined the continent throughout their formation, the left-behind flora and fauna have evolved into endemic species over tens of thousands of years. You can also spot these rare flora and fauna at ASMUI Spiritual Hikes located within the special protection area of Yanbaru National Park.
ASMUI Spiritual Hikes in the sacred Ashimui land
ASMUI Spiritual Hikes is situated within the four rocky peaks of the Ashimui, a land deemed sacred since ancient times. From the peak, you can view the distant islands of Yoron and Okinoerabu beyond the horizon. The magnificent rocky mountain has also served as a beacon for travelers who sought new lands from overseas. The forest in the area holds the remains of many stone structures thought to have housed livestock, suggesting that there were people who reached and made their living on this land. Today, Ashimui maintains around 60 uganjo, where people still come to offer prayers.
Location
| Name | ASMUI Spiritual Hikes |
|---|---|
| Website | (In Japanese) https://www.asmui.jp/ |
| Address | 1241 Ginama, Kunigami-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa |
| Access | From the Kyoda IC on the Okinawa Expressway, take the National Route 58 north for approximately 1 hour. |