Okinawa, Japan 4: Hiking Route 58
Written & Directed by James Knott

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James Knott takes a long hike along Route 58 through northern okinawa. He needs to reach Hentona before night creeps in. You should see the size of the centipede he finds along the road.

OKINAWA, JAPAN

Okinawa is Japan's southernmost prefecture. Over 1.25 million people are scattered across nearly 150 islands.

Okinawa has a unique culture that goes back several hundred years to when it was an independent country known as the Ryukyu Kingdom. This kingdom was known to trade frequently with China and as a result adopted much more from the Chinese than the rest of Japan.

The main island, Okinawa-honto, is surrounded by vivid, bright blue ocean and coral reefs. It is densely populated and urbanized in the south, while the the mountainous northern part of the island consists of just a few fishing villages and dense forests.

The beautiful, sub-tropical setting combined with historical roots that are more intertwined with China than Japan, have created a wonderful culture that is distinctly Okinawan.

TRANSCRIPT
Okinawa, Japan 4: Hiking Route 58

SOT “I’m currently hiking to Hentona, It’s about 15 kilometers, at least that’s the way it looks on the map.  Could be a long, long walk if I’m wrong”

I have a late start leaving Hedo Misaki and my plan is to hike along Route 58 which follows the coast line.  There are a few farms and signs of civilization, but mostly the rock and jungle quickly climb high above the ocean to my right.  Butterflies dance from flower to flower.  Nature is all around.

SOT “I’m walking back to Hentona but I wanted to take a moment to check out the beautiful view right here.  The mountains go straight down to the sea, and there’s just barely enough room for a car.”

Every twist in the road provides a new postcard picture.  Occasionally, there is a tiny weathered fishing village hidden in a protective cove.  Life moves at a slower pace on the north end of the island. 

The air is hot and humid, and I don’t encounter any annoying mosquitos or bugs that I was expecting.  However, this dead centipede, nearly seven inches in length, reminds me that there are few creepy crawlers in the bush. 

I turn just in time to see my friends from earlier in the day, riding back to the comfort of their hotels.  But I want to go the long route.

SOT “I’ve just gone off the beaten path, and I found the most spectacular view, right at the bottom of this trail.”

Two men fish at the bottom these steep slopes.

Every twist provides an opportunity to explore, but I have to reach Hentona before night, so I have a place to sleep. 

The sun begins its descent to the horizon and I’m starting to worry that I might not get to hentona before it shuts down for the evening.

I miscalculated how much distance the curvy roads would add to the journey, I’m tired and hungry and as the sunsets I see Hentona in the distance.

SOT “Well the walk from Hedo Misaki, just about killed me.  I thought it was 15 kilometers and it turned out to be 20 kilometers.  Those last five kilometers were pretty hard.”

SOT “I finally found a hotel room here in Hentona – a modest room with dinner and breakfast for less than sixty bucks.  Not bad for Japan.