# Cape Manzamo, Okinawa > Manzamo is a cape on Okinawa's west coast in Onna village: a coral cliff whose arch looks like an elephant's trunk above deep-blue sea. On top are a grassy plateau and a short clifftop trail. Entry to the trail is about ¥100. It's open from 8:00 until sunset. From Naha it's about an hour by car. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/cape-manzamo - City: [Okinawa](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa), Japan - YesGo score: 25/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 30 min - Entry: ≈ ¥100 - With kids: Fine with kids - Trail entry: About ¥100 - Hours: From 8:00 to sunset - In strong wind: The trail closes in storm-force wind - Highlight: The 'elephant trunk' rock and sea view - Best time: Sunset - Getting there: About an hour by car from Naha, or bus - Coordinates: 26.50500, 127.85028 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **'Elephant trunk'** — the shape of the arch in the coral cliff (source: travel guides) - **10,000** — people 'could sit' on the plateau — the name's meaning (source: travel guides) - **Sho Kei** — the Ryukyu king credited with the words about the field (source: travel guides) - **Onna** — the village on the west coast (source: travel guides) - **≈ ¥100** — trail entry fee (source: travel guides) - **2020** — the Manzamo centre opened by the cape (source: travel guides) - **Until sunset** — the trail is open (source: manzamo.jp) - **≈ 1 hour** — by car from Naha (source: travel guides) ## What is Cape Manzamo? **Manzamo** is a cape on Okinawa's west coast in **Onna** village. It's a cliff of **raised coral** in which the sea has carved an arch that looks like an **elephant's trunk** dipping into the water. Below are deep-blue sea and white surf; on top is a flat grassy plateau. The name means 'a field where ten thousand people can sit': legend says the Ryukyu king **Sho Kei** exclaimed this on seeing the plateau. Today a short **trail** runs along the cape's edge with views of the rock and coast, and a centre with shops and cafés stands at the entrance. > **Come for sunset** The cape faces west, so sunset is the best time: the sun sinks into the sea right behind the 'trunk' rock. The trail is open until sunset, so arrive 30–40 minutes before. In storm-force wind or a typhoon the trail closes — check the forecast and the centre's social media. ## Entry and hours The clifftop trail charges an entry fee — about **¥100** according to guides — paid at machines on the ground floor of the Manzamo centre. According to the centre's official site, the trail is open until sunset, and the centre itself opens roughly **8:00 to 19:00**. The loop takes about **20–30 minutes**. At the centre you can hire traditional Okinawan **ryuso** costume and stroll round the cape in it — from ¥2,000, or from ¥1,000 for children. ## What to see - **The 'elephant trunk' rock** above the sea. - **The grassy plateau** on top of the cape. - **The clifftop trail** with coastal views. - **Sunset** over the East China Sea. - **Onna's coastal resorts** in the distance. - **A walk in ryuso costume.** ## How to get to Cape Manzamo 1. **By car** — from Naha on the Okinawa Expressway to the Ishikawa exit, about an hour, 40 km. 2. **Bus** — routes 20 or 120 to the Onna-son Yakuba-mae stop, then about 15 minutes on foot. 3. **From Ryukyu Mura** — about 15 minutes by car. 4. **To Churaumi** — about an hour by car north. 5. **Tour** — often combined with the aquarium and Kouri Island. ## Cape Manzamo or Kouri Island | | Manzamo | Kouri | | --- | --- | --- | | Highlight | A cliff and the 'trunk' rock | A bridge and turquoise shallows | | Entry | ≈ ¥100 | Free | | Time | 30 minutes | 1–2 hours | | Best | At sunset | By day, in sunshine | ## How long do you need? **30 minutes** is enough for the cape: walk the loop and look at the rock. It makes a good stop on the way north — to **Churaumi** Aquarium and **Kouri Island** — or the last stop of the day at sunset. Nearby are **Ryukyu Mura** village with its old Okinawan houses and Onna's resort beaches. On clear days the water by the cape is remarkably clear — you can watch the waves break on the coral ledge. The plateau is open and shadeless, and the sea wind can be strong — hold on to hats and don't step beyond the barrier at the cliff edge. In summer bring water and sunscreen. ## Is Cape Manzamo worth visiting? Yes, if you're heading north: it's one of Okinawa's best-known views and takes just half an hour. The YesGo take: the cape is small, and by day it's busy with tour groups. It's not worth a special trip from Naha, but on the way to Churaumi — definitely. It's best at sunset, when the groups have gone. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Coins for entry — about ¥100 - [ ] Today's sunset time - [ ] Wind forecast - [ ] Water and a hat - [ ] Churaumi further north ## Sunsets and views: compare and choose Sunset spots and viewpoints rated by YesGo. - [Naminoue Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/naminoue-shrine) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free - [Cape Manzamo](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/cape-manzamo) — YesGo score 25/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · ≈ ¥100 ## Northern Okinawa in a day Cape Manzamo on the way, Churaumi Aquarium at midday, and the turquoise shallows of Kouri Island towards evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Cape Manzamo](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/cape-manzamo) — YesGo score 25/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · ≈ ¥100 2. [Churaumi Aquarium](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/churaumi-aquarium) — YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ¥2,180 3. [Kouri Island](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/kouri-island) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free; tower ≈ ¥1,000 ## Good to know Cape Manzamo is on the west coast in Onna, not Cape Hedo at the island's northern tip. ## Tips - Come for sunset. - Entry is about ¥100. - The trail closes in storms. - Stay behind the barrier. - Next: [Churaumi](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/churaumi-aquarium). ## Questions ### How much is entry to Cape Manzamo? About ¥100 for the trail, according to guides. ### What are the opening hours? The trail is open from 8:00 to sunset. ### Why 'elephant trunk'? The arch in the cliff looks like an elephant's trunk dipping into the sea. ### How do I get there? About an hour by car from Naha, or bus 20/120. ### How long do you need? About 30 minutes. ### When is the best time to go? At sunset. ### What does the name mean? 'A field where ten thousand people can sit'. ### What's nearby? Ryukyu Mura, Churaumi Aquarium and Kouri Island. ## How we checked Centre hours, wind closures and the costume walk are from the Manzamo centre's site. The trail fee, legend and access are from guides; the fee is marked 'being checked'. Time needed is the YesGo estimate. ## Sources - Manzamo centre official site (manzamo.jp) — centre hours, trail until sunset, wind closures, ryuso costume (via curl 09.11.2026) - Travel guides — trail fee, the name's legend, access (unofficial) - Wikidata Q11353838 — coordinates --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.