Gyokusendo Cave (Okinawa World)
玉泉洞（おきなわワールド）26°08′ N 127°45′ ECaveRainy-day optionGood with kids
Gyokusendo is a limestone cave in Tamagusuku, Nanjo, whose show section of about 800 m is walked as part of the Okinawa World park (adult ¥2,000, 9:00–17:30, last entry 16:00).
Photo Hyougushi · Flickr · CC BY-SA 2.0
The cave belongs to a system of more than 30 passages along the Yuhi River, over 5 km in all, and the part you walk is about 800 m of lit walkway dropping from 14.4 m above sea level near the entrance to 4.7 m at the exit. It opened to visitors on 28 April 1972. A stream still runs through it some 30 m below the surface, and the cave holds bats and giant eels along with cave beetles and millipedes.
Okinawa World wraps the cave in a theme park with a reconstructed Ryukyu-era village street, craft workshops for Ryukyu glass and other crafts, a fruit orchard and the Nanto awamori distillery. The Super Eisa show runs at 10:30, 12:30 and 14:30 in a covered tent and lasts about 30 minutes. The park suggests allowing three to five hours.
Worth knowing
- The cave itself is not wheelchair or stroller accessible; the rest of the park is.
- Gangala Valley's guided tours start from the Cave Café across the road, so the two pair well on one rainy day.
- Craft workshops take walk-ins in small numbers until 16:30.
FAQ
Quick answers about Gyokusendo Cave (Okinawa World)よくある質問
How much is Gyokusendo Cave?
Gyokusendo Cave is entered with an Okinawa World ticket, which costs ¥2,000 for adults and ¥1,000 for children aged 4 to 14. Entry to the park is through the cave.
How long does Gyokusendo take?
The walkway through Gyokusendo is about 800 m, and Okinawa World suggests three to five hours for the whole park including the shows and workshops.
Is Gyokusendo good on a rainy day?
Yes. Gyokusendo is underground and the park's eisa and snake shows run in a large tent in the rain, though they can be cancelled when a typhoon approaches.
What are the opening hours of Gyokusendo Cave (Okinawa World)?
Gyokusendo Cave (Okinawa World) is open 9:00–17:30 (last entry 16:00).
Can you get to Gyokusendo Cave (Okinawa World) by bike?
Okinawa World sits on Prefectural Route 17 in Maekawa, Tamagusuku, about 10 minutes by car from the Haebaru IC. Ryukyu Bus routes 54 and 83 stop at Gyokusendo-mae, a 2-minute walk away, if you want to bus out and ride back.
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