Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The cave is unusual, for you must first climb before you can descend. It's up a steep little
rock mountain, where a staircase is provided, and then down into its depths. The entrance is
through a quite narrow slice of rock. Those a bit on the hefty side will not be able to enter.
Once inside, it's clean white sand all the way down to its bottom. It's about 80 feet (25 meters)
deep and there's one large hall about 30-50 feet (10-15 meters) across. There is an altar and
people come here to pray. here are mythological Okinawan legends about this cave. It was
supposedly the hiding hole for Amanoterasu-ōmikami, a sun goddess who hid herself for she
could not bear to watch the other gods quarreling.
About 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) below the beach and cave you'll come to the next big
“sight” of Iheya, a huge pine tree called Nentō Hira-matsu (
念頭平松
). It's a Ryukyu black pine
estimated to be about 250 years old. It is 26 feet (8 meters) high and has a central trunk with
a diameter somewhat larger than 3 feet (1 meter). Its crown is roughly 80 feet (25 meters)
across. It's called the “Umbrella Pine” and that name comes from the way its branches grow
on all sides like an umbrella that is spread wide open. The Nentou-Hiramatsu Pine Tree,
along with Kume's Five-branched Pine, are known as the two most famous great pines of Ok-
inawa.
Exterior and interior of Kumaya Cave, the subject of several mythological Okinawan legends.
