Want to see a dramatic sea cliff, wander through pottery workshops and visit a World Heritage castle site, all in one trip? Yomitan Village, about an hour by car from Naha, packs Cape Zanpa, Yachimun no Sato (the “pottery village”) and Zakimi Castle Ruins into a few minutes’ to a dozen minutes’ drive of each other, so you can cover them comfortably in half a day to a full day.
Based on information confirmed on the Yomitan Village official website and other sources, this article shows how to plan a drive that takes in Cape Zanpa, Yachimun no Sato, Zakimi Castle Ruins and the Yuntanza Museum. It covers the approximate drive time from Naha, a warning about the bus lanes on Route 58, workshop etiquette and how to think about parking, all from the driver’s point of view.
Getting the Big Picture of a Yomitan Drive
Drive Time from Naha and a Recommended Order
From Naha Airport to Yomitan Village, expect roughly 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes by car up Route 58 (this varies a lot with traffic). You can also take the Okinawa Expressway and exit at a nearby interchange such as Okinawa-kita IC. Choose based on your departure time and how busy the roads look.
We recommend this order: Zakimi Castle Ruins and Yachimun no Sato in the morning, Cape Zanpa in the afternoon. Workshops are calmer in the morning, and the cliffs at Cape Zanpa show off the blue of the sea best in bright daytime light. Zakimi Castle Ruins and Yachimun no Sato are in the same Zakimi district, so moving between them takes almost no effort.
| 9:00 | Leave UMUI Rent-a-Car Naha Airport store → head north on Route 58 |
|---|---|
| About 10:15 | Zakimi Castle Ruins (30–60 min) → Yuntanza Museum too, if you like |
| About 11:30 | Walk around Yachimun no Sato (60–90 min) |
| About 13:00 | Lunch (a local restaurant; check each place’s hours) |
| About 14:30 | Cape Zanpa Park and Cape Zanpa Lighthouse (30–60 min) |
| About 16:00 | Head back toward Naha (before the evening traffic) |
These times are only a guide. If you want to spend longer at the Yuntanza Museum or in the pottery workshops, trim the plan, for example by saving Cape Zanpa for another day.
Watch Out for the Bus Lanes on Route 58
One thing to watch when driving north from Naha on Route 58 is the bus lanes. According to information published by the Okinawa Prefectural Police, on weekday mornings (7:30–9:00) and evenings (17:30–19:00), general vehicles (including rental cars) may not use the bus-only lane. The rule applies to roads centered on Route 58 in Naha, Urasoe, Ginowan and nearby cities, and there is no restriction on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Details are in our existing article Driving Rules and Tips for Visitors to Okinawa. Always check the location and hours of bus lanes on the road signs and road markings. If you leave the Naha Airport store at 9:00, the first stretch falls within this time window, so follow your navigation while watching the signs.
Park First, Then Walk
The main sights in Yomitan are all places where you park and explore on foot. At Yachimun no Sato, too, the basic approach is to use a car park on the entrance side and walk around. Capacity and conditions can change, so it is reassuring to check the latest parking information on the Yomitan Village website or with the village office.
Parking on the roadside gets in the way of local residents and can cause accidents. Set the car park itself as your navigation destination.
The Afternoon Highlight: Cape Zanpa
Cape Zanpa Park
Cape Zanpa juts out from the northwestern tip of Yomitan Village, with continuous cliffs of Ryukyu limestone that make it one of the best scenic spots on the main island. You can stroll the park freely and there is no admission fee. On windy days or when the waves are high, do not go too close to the cliff edge.
Cape Zanpa also appears in Manzamo and the Onna Coast: A Sunset Drive, a half-day route north on Route 58 timed for the sunset. See that article for a sunset-oriented plan; this article shows how to combine the cape with Yachimun no Sato and Zakimi Castle Ruins in daylight.
| Address | 沖縄県中頭郡読谷村宇座 |
|---|---|
| Viewing | Free to walk around (no admission fee) |
| Parking | Free car park available |
| Inquiries | Yomitan Tourism Association 098-958-6494 |
| Access | About 1 hour or more from central Naha via Route 58 (varies with traffic) |
Cape Zanpa Lighthouse (a Lighthouse You Can Climb)
Cape Zanpa Lighthouse inside the park is one of the “climbable lighthouses,” where you can walk up the inner stairs for a view from the top. According to the village’s official information, the visiting hours changed on March 1, 2026. In the morning they are 9:30–12:00 all year round; in the afternoon they are 13:00–17:30 on weekends and similar days and 13:00–16:30 on weekdays from March to September, and 13:00–16:30 from October to February. Entry ends 20 minutes before closing, both morning and afternoon.
In this article’s model plan you reach Cape Zanpa at about 14:30, which falls in the afternoon visiting hours. The lighthouse is closed to visitors from 12:00 to 13:00, so check your timetable so that lunch does not overlap. For the admission fee and other details, please check the Yomitan Village official website before you go.
| Visiting hours | Morning 9:30–12:00 (all year) / Afternoon 13:00–16:30 (Oct–Feb); Mar–Sep until 17:30 on weekends etc. and 16:30 on weekdays / Last entry 20 minutes before closing (revised March 1, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Admission | Please check the Yomitan Village official website |
| Parking | Use the Cape Zanpa Park car park |
The Morning Start: Zakimi Castle Ruins, a World Heritage Site
Highlights of Zakimi Castle Ruins
Zakimi Castle Ruins was inscribed on December 2, 2000 as one of the components of the World Heritage Site “Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.” The Yomitan Village website says it was built in the early 15th century by Gosamaru, the lord (aji) of Yomitanzan, and gives the outer perimeter of the castle as 365 m and the area inside as 7,385 m².
The highlight is the curving wall of stacked Ryukyu limestone. Rather than running in straight lines, the walls undulate gently, and they look different from every angle as you walk. Because the site sits on a hill, views open up around you. Plan on about 30 to 60 minutes.
The village website’s visitor information states that the site “can be entered freely.” The website does not list visiting hours, fees or parking, so it is safest to check hours and parking in advance with the Yuntanza Museum (098-958-3141). The walls are cultural property, so do not climb or sit on the stonework.
| Address | 沖縄県中頭郡読谷村字座喜味708番地6 |
|---|---|
| Viewing | Can be entered freely (please check the official website for details) |
| Parking | Not listed on the official website; please ask the Yuntanza Museum (098-958-3141) |
| Access | About 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes by car from Naha Airport (varies with traffic) |
The View from the Ruins
Because Zakimi Castle Ruins stands on a hill, from the open space inside the walls you can see the sea beyond the town. Looking at the walls from the side and looking out from inside are two different ways to enjoy the site.
There is little shade, so bring a hat and something to drink in summer. Much of the ground is grass or gravel, so wear comfortable shoes.
Yuntanza Museum
Right next to Zakimi Castle Ruins is the “World Heritage Zakimi Castle Ruins Yuntanza Museum.” According to the village website, it had its grand opening on June 23, 2018, and besides a guide to Zakimi Castle Ruins it has exhibits on Yomitan’s history, folk culture, arts and crafts, and nature. It suits visitors who want background before walking the walls, and it also works as a way to fill time on a rainy day.
| Address | 沖縄県中頭郡読谷村字座喜味708番地の6 |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30) |
| Closed | Wednesdays; New Year period (Dec 28–Jan 4); temporary closures for exhibit changes, fumigation and so on. If a public holiday falls on a Wednesday, the following day is closed |
| Admission (permanent exhibition, non-resident individual) | Elementary/junior high students 300 yen, high school students and adults 500 yen, ages 65+ 400 yen, young children free |
| Inquiries | Cultural Promotion Division 098-958-3141 |
The museum is closed on Wednesdays, so avoid Wednesdays on the day you want to go inside. Fees and exhibits can change, so please check the latest information on the official website.
Walking Through the Pottery Workshops at Yachimun no Sato
What Is Yachimun no Sato?
“Yachimun” is the Okinawan word for pottery. According to the Yomitan Village website, there are more than 70 workshops scattered around the village, making it one of the leading pottery-producing areas in the prefecture. One of the best-known places is “Yachimun no Sato,” a cluster of workshops and shops that you can explore on foot.
You will be walking around the village, so comfortable shoes are recommended. A slow walk, popping into the workshops that catch your eye, suits this place well. Allow about 60 to 90 minutes, and leave yourself some time to spare.
Opening Hours Vary by Workshop
Yachimun no Sato is not a single facility but a collection of independent workshops and shops. For that reason, opening hours and closing days differ from workshop to workshop. You may arrive to find a place closed, so if there is a workshop you particularly want to visit, check with it beforehand. The village’s tourism section (Commerce and Tourism Division, 098-982-9216) can also offer guidance.
The model plan in this article puts the visit in the morning so that you have time to choose the workshops you like and take your time.
| Location | 沖縄県中頭郡読谷村座喜味2653-1 |
|---|---|
| Hours and closing days | Vary by workshop (please check with each workshop) |
| Parking | Use the car park on the entrance side and walk around. For capacity and conditions, please check with the village’s Commerce and Tourism Division (098-982-9216) |
| Inquiries | Yomitan Village Commerce and Tourism Division 098-982-9216 |
| Access | A few minutes by car from Zakimi Castle Ruins (same Zakimi district) |
Etiquette When Visiting Workshops
A workshop is also a place where craftspeople work every day. When you visit, keep the following in mind.
- Do not enter work areas or the areas around kilns without permission
- Some workshops prohibit photography, so follow posted signs and staff instructions, and ask before photographing people or their work
- Handle pieces carefully and put them back where you found them
- Do not stand in the middle of the path where you might get in the way of other people or workshop entrances
The Yomitan Village website asks that requests for interviews or inquiries be sent directly to the workshops. Whether visits are possible, and on what terms, is up to each workshop. Follow each workshop’s rules so that everyone can enjoy the visit.
Tips for Taking Pottery Home
Yachimun is the kind of pottery you enjoy picking up to compare weight, thickness and patterns. Because ceramics break easily, put your purchases in the trunk or a stable spot on the floor of the car, and drive without hard braking. Packing arrangements differ from shop to shop, so ask when you buy.
If you are flying home with your purchases, check your airline’s rules on carry-on versus checked baggage beforehand.
Yomitan Drive FAQ
Can I do it as a day trip from Naha?
Yes. Zakimi Castle Ruins, Yachimun no Sato and Cape Zanpa can be covered in a day trip, leaving Naha in the morning and returning by evening. If you add the Yuntanza Museum, watch out for the Wednesday closure and leave some extra time for the other stops.
What time of day is best?
Considering the opening and visiting hours of the workshops and the lighthouse, we suggest Zakimi Castle Ruins and Yachimun no Sato in the morning and Cape Zanpa in the afternoon. Route 58 tends to get busy in the evening, so leaving early on the way back to Naha gives you breathing room.
What about rainy days?
On rainy days, focus on the Yuntanza Museum exhibits and on shopping in the workshops and shops of Yachimun no Sato. At Cape Zanpa, stay away from the cliff edge when the wind or waves are strong. Our article Indoor Spots for a Rainy Day in Okinawa may also help.
The appeal of Yomitan is that after only about an hour’s drive from Naha you can enjoy three very different scenes in one trip: a cliff over the sea, a stone-walled castle and a pottery village. UMUI Rent-a-Car offers a free shuttle from Naha Airport to our store. Please consider us for your drive to Yomitan.
* Opening hours, fees and other information in this article are as of October 2026. They may change, so please check the Yomitan Village official website and each facility or workshop before you go. Travel times are estimates assuming no traffic.
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Public domain). Photographers are credited in each photo’s caption.
