Ooishirinzan (Great Stone Forest)

Overview

Ooishirinzan is a tourist spot in the Yanbaru National Park in northern Okinawa's main island, characterized by its tropical karst landscape. The unique scenery, formed over millions of years by the erosion of 250-million-year-old limestone by rainwater and other elements, is a true work of natural art. The towering, sharply pointed rock formations create a magnificent vista reminiscent of China's Stone Forest, leaving visitors awestruck. Ooishirinzan offers trekking courses where you can fully enjoy this magnificent natural environment. Choose from short, beginner-friendly courses to longer, more challenging trails to suit your fitness level. Ooishirinzan has also been revered as a sacred place since ancient times and is known as a power spot. During the Ryukyu Kingdom era, it is said that priests offered prayers here to pray for the prosperity of the royal family, bountiful harvests, and safe voyages. Several prayer spots (haisho) are located throughout Ooishirinzan, each with its own associated mythology. For example, the "Ogan Gajumaru" in the center of Ooishirinzan is a sacred site where Ama-mikiyo, the god of island creation, is said to have descended, and many people still visit to offer prayers. In 2018, the "Okinawa Stone Culture Museum," showcasing Okinawa's stone culture, and the "Fureai Shokudou Nantoya" restaurant, serving Agu pork dishes, opened. The "Okinawa Stone Culture Museum" exhibits rock specimens and stone tools collected from various locations in Okinawa Prefecture, providing an opportunity to learn about Okinawa's stone culture. At "Fureai Shokudou Nantoya," you can savor dishes made with locally sourced Okinawan ingredients. Agu pork dishes, a local favorite, are especially delicious. Ooishirinzan is a captivating tourist spot where you can experience nature, history, culture, and a sense of power. Be sure to visit when you're in Okinawa.