Cape Zanpa
残波岬26°26′ N 127°43′ ECapeGood with kids
Cape Zanpa is a headland in Yomitan where cliffs about 30 m high run for roughly 2 km above the East China Sea, topped by a 31 m lighthouse that visitors can climb for ¥300. The cape and its car park are free, and the Yomitan tourism association calls its sunset the last on the main island.
Waves break white against the foot of Zanpa's cliffs, a sight Yomitan's tourism association calls rare on Okinawa's gentle coasts. The north side of the cape belongs to the Okinawa Kaigan Quasi-National Park, and the reef below shelters one of the widest lagoons on the main island. On clear days the Kerama Islands show on the horizon.
Zanpa lighthouse stands 31 m from the ground to the lantern, the tallest in Okinawa, and it is one of the lighthouses in Japan that the public can climb. From the gallery you can pick out Aguni, Tonaki and Kume-jima on a clear day. Around the cape, a park with paved paths and a playground makes it an easy stop with children, and a giant shisa statue stands nearby.
Worth knowing
- Since March 2026 the lighthouse closes for lunch from 12:00 to 13:00.
- Stay back from the edge in typhoon swell or a strong north wind, when waves wash high up the rock.
- Wear proper shoes: the ground between the car park and the lighthouse is sharp coral rock.
FAQ
Quick answers about Cape Zanpaよくある質問
Can you climb Zanpa lighthouse?
Yes. Zanpa lighthouse opens to visitors from 9:30 to 12:00 all year and from 13:00 to 16:30 between October and February, for a ¥300 donation from junior-high age up. It stands 31 m tall, the tallest in Okinawa.
Is Cape Zanpa free?
Yes. Cape Zanpa and its car park are free to visit. Only the lighthouse climb has a charge.
How much does Cape Zanpa cost?
Adult entry to Cape Zanpa costs ¥300 (The cape and its car park are free. Climbing Zanpa lighthouse costs a ¥300 donation from junior-high age up; primary-school children go free).
What are the opening hours of Cape Zanpa?
Cape Zanpa is open Cape open at all hours. Lighthouse 9:30–12:00 year-round and 13:00–16:30 from October to February; last entry 20 minutes before closing.
Can you get to Cape Zanpa by bike?
Free parking sits at the cape. The stretch from the car park to the lighthouse crosses rough rock, so walk the bike there; the rest of the park has paved paths.
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