Tokashiki
Mighty Forest March
Ascend to a narrow forest road, then make your way down from Tokashiki to Aharen by the “path less traveled”
Route: Tokashiki Village – Aharen Village
Distance: 9 km
Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Level: Difficult
Overview
There are two options available for people who want to go from Tokashiki Village down to Aharen: the main Sondo Aharen Road; or a combination of two forest roads, Tokashiki Rindo Forest Road and Kubiribaru Rindo Forest Road. For walkers, the forest road option is preferable because the road is much narrower with much less traffic.
Detail
This is quite a long trek, so it helps to break it down into stages.
Stage One: 3 km
This stage takes you out of Tokashiki Village via the Tokashiki Rindo Forest Road to the junction with the Kubiribaru Rindo Forest Road. There are a couple of viewpoints that break this part of the journey into three roughly equidistant sections. You will get to the Port View Viewpoint after almost 1.5 kilometers which offers nice views back down towards Tokashiki. If you’re there at the right time, you can enjoy the sight of the high-speed boat and the ferry coming in. A bit less than a kilometer on will take you to the Aran Viewpoint, from which you can see the islands of Gusuku, Maejima, and, if the weather is very clear, the Okinawa main island. A further three-quarters of a kilometer will get you to a fork in the road. Take the road on the left, the Kubiribaru Rindo Forest Road. (If you’re feeling tired, you can bear right and head for Tokashiku instead, which is about 2.7 kilometers, 45 minutes’ walk away.)
Stage Two: 4.8 km
Your next goal is the junction of the Kubiribaru Rindo Forest Road and the Sondo Maetake Road. This stretch is 6.5 kilometers long and reaches heights of as much as 200 meters above sea level. The high, winding road offers tantalizing glimpses from various angles of the ever-changing Kerama Blue and its interplay with the sky, as well as views down to Aharen Cape at the island’s southern tip. It is a good idea to bring binoculars in the winter months.
Stage Three: 1.1 km
When you reach the junction with the Sondo Maetake Road, turn right and follow the signs for Aharen. Your reward for all the hard work is the sight of Aharen Beach and the Kerama Blue beyond it. The descent will take 20 minutes or less. You can return to Tokashiki by bus.
SUGGESTED PHOTO(S)
1. Picture of Forest Road
2. Port View Viewpoint
3. Aran Viewpoint
4. crossroads with Kuburihara Rindo sign
5. View from Kuburihara Rindo
7. Junction with Sondo Maetake Road
8. View to Aharen & Aharen Beach
9. Bus(?)