Cape Manzamo

Discover

About Cape Manzamo

Cape Manzamo is a coral limestone plateau that juts out over the East China Sea on Onna’s coast. The cliffs drop about 20 meters to the water, and wave erosion has carved an arch at the tip that resembles an elephant’s head and trunk, the most photographed image of the site. The water around, shallow over the reef, shifts in tone between green and blue. From above you can see the coral reefs under the shallow water and, in the distance, the beaches and resort buildings of Onna along the bay.

The name comes from an 18th-century story: King Sho Kei of Ryukyu, passing by, is said to have remarked that the grassy field on the plateau was large enough for ten thousand people to sit. The plateau is covered with low vegetation adapted to wind and salt, protected as a natural monument of the prefecture.

A circular path of about 500 meters runs around the edge of the plateau, with viewpoints over the elephant arch and the bay, where you can see the coast’s resorts. A visitor center at the entrance has parking, shops and snack stalls. The area is maintained by the village of Onna, which charges a small maintenance fee and keeps the path, lawn and safety railings.

The site is a stop on almost all excursions to the north of the island and gets crowded at midday. Late afternoon is the busiest time, because the sun sets over the sea on the cliff side.