Hijio Falls

This guide to Hijio Falls in Okinawa's Yanbaru forest traces how three days of rain in November 2024 shut down the island's tallest waterfall. It covers the mile-long trail through Kunigami Village's forest reserve, the swaying suspension bridge that once carried hikers across the river, and the rare plants, birds and turtles the reserve protects. You'll hear what the village's tourism association admitted once the damage was assessed. Best heard standing at the barrier, listening for the falls still running just out of sight.