Yambaru Discovery Forest

The night hike with a guide was thoroughly enjoyable. Ours had incredibly sharp eyes and knew so much about the forest plants and animals. At the visitor centre, Momoka-san was warm and welcoming, and I really appreciated her laughter, excellent English, and insights about Okinawa. The lush surroundings made us feel right at home, and all the staff were friendly and easy to talk to. This was an amazing experience and deserves a place on an itinerary. If you’re cycling through, though, getting here may be challenging for casual riders because of the rolling terrain and sweeping bends.

We’ve camped here in tents twice and had a fantastic time both visits. The staff are professional and friendly, and there’s plenty to do. The facilities can also handle big groups; we met a group of around 90 campers. There’s a large obstacle course, but a lot of it is broken and could be dangerous. Families with kids have other options, including night hikes and kayaking.

The location worked well for seeing the Yanbaru Kuina at Ada. We stayed in a family room with dinner and breakfast. Dinner was delicious and generous, and the kids had a separate menu with some dishes similar to the adults’ meal. Breakfast was Japanese, with small portions, so it might not suit people who prefer bread and butter. Our room didn’t have an attached bathroom, but the toilet was just outside and that wasn’t inconvenient. There’s also an indoor and outdoor public bath in a separate building, open from 5 to 10 p.m. The nature trails close after 5, and some require an entrance fee. The playground is elsewhere, so you’ll need to drive there.

We stopped by for the day to get some information and walked both the accessible trail and the wild boar trail. We liked them both. We also asked about the river song tour, but were told our son had to be 10. Maybe we misunderstood. The visitor center staff member was kind and accommodating, and gave us maps and information. Trail fees are paid there too, and range from ¥300 to ¥100 per person depending on age.