Gesashi Bay mangroves and Higashi Fureai Hirugi Park
慶佐次湾のヒルギ林・東村ふれあいヒルギ公園26°36′ N 128°09′ EMangroveGood with kids
The Gesashi Bay mangroves in Higashi make up the largest mangrove forest on Okinawa Island and a national natural monument, and you can see them from a free 670 m boardwalk or by canoe at high tide.
Photo Ray_go · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Three mangrove species grow here, and for the Yaeyama hirugi this bay is the northern limit of its range. The forest became a national natural monument in 1972 and sits inside Yanbaru National Park. The wooden boardwalk loops 670 m out and back through the trees, and it takes 15 minutes if you don't stop to look for mudskippers and crabs.
Canoe tours leave from the park with private operators and run on the tide, about 90 minutes from ¥4,500. The park asks you to stay on the boardwalk and off the mud flats, and to leave the crabs where they are. Since April 2026 visitors pay for parking, and the money goes to looking after the forest.
Worth knowing
- Book a canoe tour for the morning's high tide; at low tide the channels drain.
- Bring your own canoe or SUP only after signing a consent form at the park office, open 8:30–17:30.
- Drop a coin in the Gesashi River environment box by the office; the suggested amount is ¥50 per person.
FAQ
Quick answers about Gesashi Bay mangroves and Higashi Fureai Hirugi Parkよくある質問
Is the Gesashi mangrove boardwalk free?
Yes. The boardwalk at Higashi Fureai Hirugi Park is free and open from sunrise to sunset. Parking costs ¥500 per car since 1 April 2026.
When do the Gesashi mangrove canoe tours run?
Gesashi mangrove canoe tours run around high tide, so start times change every day. Private operators run them from about ¥4,500 for roughly 90 minutes.
Can you cycle on the Gesashi mangrove boardwalk?
No. Higashi Fureai Hirugi Park bans bicycles and other wheeled vehicles from the boardwalk.
What are the opening hours of Gesashi Bay mangroves and Higashi Fureai Hirugi Park?
Gesashi Bay mangroves and Higashi Fureai Hirugi Park is open Boardwalk sunrise to sunset; park office 9:00–17:00 (closed 30 December–3 January), closed open year-round; boardwalk shuts under storm or high-tide warnings.
How long do you need at Gesashi Bay mangroves and Higashi Fureai Hirugi Park?
Plan about 30 minutes at Gesashi Bay mangroves and Higashi Fureai Hirugi Park.
Can you get to Gesashi Bay mangroves and Higashi Fureai Hirugi Park by bike?
The park sits beside Route 331 at Gesashi on Yanbaru's east coast. Bikes are not allowed on the boardwalk, so lock up by the park office.
Within 8 km
Eat and drink nearby食
Within 8 km
Stay nearby宿
Book it
Line up the trip around Gesashi Bay mangroves and Higashi Fureai Hirugi Park
Some of these links pay us a commission. It costs you nothing and keeps the guide independent.