Higashi
東村Higashi26°38′ N 128°09′ EVillagePop. 1,580
Higashi is a village of about 1,600 people on Yanbaru's Pacific coast, and its Gesashi Bay mangroves are the largest on Okinawa Island.
Five settlements left the old village of Kushi in 1923 to form Higashi, named for the sunrise over the Pacific, and Takae split from Miyagi the next year to make six. The village office is at Taira. Farmers here grow pineapple and are working to build it into a brand.
The Gesashi River runs into a bay of mangroves protected as a national natural monument, where canoe tours paddle out at high tide. Around Takae, part of the forest belongs to the US Northern Training Area, and the road climbs over the ridges toward Aha in Kunigami.
For a rider, Route 331 through Higashi is the empty, rolling side of the island, with long views over the Pacific and few shops. Plan water and food before you leave Nago's east coast.
See and do
Things to do in Higashi遊ぶ
FAQ
Quick answers about Higashiよくある質問
Why is Higashi village called Higashi?
Higashi means east, and the village, formed in 1923, takes its name from the sunrise over the Pacific, according to its fifth master plan.
How many people live in Higashi village?
Higashi village had an estimated 1,580 residents on 1 September 2026, making it the smallest of the three Yanbaru villages by population.
What does the name Higashi mean?
Higashi comes from the local name Higashi, meaning east, for the sunrise over the Pacific. Higashi split from Kushi village in 1923. Japanese Wikipedia, citing the village's fifth master plan, says the name comes from the sunrise and quotes 'hi no deru tokoro higashi nari', where the sun rises is the east. The Kunigami and Okinawan readings are also higashi.
How do you get to Higashi?
Route 331 runs along the coast from Nago's east side through Higashi; Higashi Fureai Hirugi Park sits beside it at Gesashi.
Within 12 km
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