Cape Hedo is the northernmost point of Okinawa Island, dramatically marking the far northern edge of the forested region known as Yanbaru. Rising above the rugged coastline, the cape offers spectacular views across the sea and a powerful sense of standing at the edge of Okinawa.
Yanbaru, meaning the mountainous northern part of Okinawa Island, is known for its rich natural environment and extensive forests. At its northernmost extremity, the landscape gives way to steep cliffs, rugged coral rock, and open ocean, creating one of the most dramatic coastal viewpoints on the island.
From Cape Hedo, Izena Island and Iheya Island can be seen to the west, while the islands of Yoron and Okinoerabu in Kagoshima Prefecture lie to the north across the sea.
Below the cliffs, powerful waves from the East China Sea and Pacific Ocean crash against sharp, weathered coral rocks. On clear days, the distant islands appear on the horizon, while the surrounding coastline reveals the raw power of Okinawa’s northern seas.
The combination of rugged cliffs, open ocean, and the remote atmosphere of Yanbaru makes Cape Hedo one of the most impressive scenic destinations in northern Okinawa.
Cape Hedo is also an important site in Okinawa’s modern history. During the period of U.S. administration of Okinawa, signals were sent from the cape as expressions of the people’s hope for Okinawa’s return to Japan.
Once a year, a gathering was also held between Okinawa and nearby Yoron Island as a symbolic exchange with people from mainland Japan. Because of its geographical position at the northern tip of Okinawa, Cape Hedo became a particularly meaningful place for expressing the desire for reunification.
Today, two monuments stand at the cape as reminders of this history: the Monument to the Struggle for Okinawa’s Reversion to Japan and the Yoron Island–Kunigami Village Friendship Monument.
On the southwestern approach to the cape is Kayauchi Banta, a dramatic sheer cliff overlooking the sea. The area is also home to an unusual underwater geological feature known as the Hedo Cape Dome, a rare underwater limestone cave.
The cave is regarded as an exceptionally unusual underwater geological formation and has become known as a diving destination. Beneath the surrounding waters, divers can experience a very different side of the rugged landscape visible above the sea.
Cape Hedo is more than a scenic viewpoint. It brings together the natural grandeur of northern Okinawa, the vast waters surrounding the island, and an important chapter in Okinawa’s modern history.
Standing at the northernmost tip of Okinawa Island, visitors can look across the open sea toward the distant islands of Kagoshima Prefecture while feeling the force of the waves below. The surrounding Yanbaru landscape adds a sense of remoteness and wilderness that is increasingly rare in modern Okinawa.
For travelers exploring northern Okinawa, Cape Hedo offers an unforgettable encounter with the island’s wild northern coastline and the history that connects Okinawa with the rest of Japan.
Free of charge
By Car or Rental Car
To get to Cape Hendo, get off at the Xuden IC, the northern terminus of the Okinawa Expressway, and drive north on Route 58 for about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
On the way, there is a bypass turnoff at Nago, but if you continue on, you will be back on Route 58 again.
By local bus
If you take a highway or local bus to Cape Hendo, it will take at least half a day to get there.
From Naha Bus Terminal, take the Nago West Route (Route 20 or 120), Nago East Route (Route 77), or Highway Bus (Route 111) to “Nago Bus Terminal.
From the Nago Bus Terminal, transfer to the Hedona Line (Route 67) and go to the Hedona Bus Terminal.
From the Hedona Bus Terminal, transfer to the Kunigami Village Bus Oku Line to “Cape Hedo” or to “Cape Hedo Entrance”,
Get off at “Cape Hendo” or “Cape Hendo Entrance”. The Hentomisaki bus stop is located in the Hentomisaki Park.
Cape Hendo Entrance bus stop is located along Route 58, and it takes about 10 minutes on foot to get to Cape Hendo.