To see the kind of scenery where Ryukyu limestone is created, we encourage you to visit Cape Manzamo in the village of Onna, where wide-open fields spread out atop a tall cliff overlooking the ocean. The grasslands were wildly popular, drawing great crowds in the time of the Ryukyu Kingdom. When it rains, the rainwater wears away the upper cliff faces, while the ocean waves erode the bottom part. If you look at it from afar, the cliff looks a lot like a nose -- a nose whose shape continues to change even today.
People who can’t make it to Cape Manzamo can still find many of the topographical features that cause the creation of Ryukyu limestone, in beaches and knolls. We recommend scoping out the mushroom-shaped pedestal rock formation “Kinoko-iwa.” As the seawater wears down the limestone, the rock becomes notched with dents at the sea’s level. If you look at it from afar, you can see its mushroom-like shape.
Incidentally, did you know that Okinawa is made up of 160 islands? Limestone is spread across approximately 30 percent of the total land area, but what about the remaining 70 percent? The rest is actually populated by rocks that are much older than the limestone. There are volcanic islands in Okinawa, though only a few. The way each island was formed slightly varies from one another, and their scenery is uniquely comprised of those ancient rocks. Their variety is Okinawa’s hidden charm. If you’ve settled on a destination, we encourage you to visit the “Natural History Exhibit Hall” at the Museum to learn more about these rocks.