I love lighthouses! In some of our travels, we were fortunate to be able to visit some like the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse at Fort Michilimackinac in Michigan , the Sullivan Island Lighthouse in Charleston, South Carolina, spotted the Naha Harbour Lighthouse during our whale watching here in Okinawa, and my favorite lighthouse to date, the fascinating Cape Lookout Lighthouse in Southern Outer Banks in North Carolina, which took us an hour drive plus a boat ride to marvel at its beauty.

And roughly a week ago, after some insisting to go out on a beautiful sunny spring day, hubby brought me to Cape Zanpa in Yomitan to see the Cape Zanpa Lighthouse. It was under construction and no climb to the lighthouse was allowed which was to my dismay. The lighthouse itself was not very impressive but it has its own beauty in simple white hue surrounded by what looked like a marvelous formation of volcanic rocks. It is best admired when viewed close to the cliff showing color contrasts between the Okinawan blue sky and clear turquoise water and the picturesque landscape. Hubby thought he was brought back to Scotland with the wonderful experience.

Cape Zanpa Lighthouse in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan. The statue on the right is Taiki, the first man from Okinawa to be sent to China to establish a tribute trade.
Cape Zanpa Lighthouse in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan. The statue on the right is Taiki, the first man from Okinawa to be sent to China to establish a tribute trade.
The marvelous formation of volcanic rocks surrounding Cape Zanpa Lighthouse in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan.
The marvelous formation of volcanic rocks surrounding Cape Zanpa Lighthouse in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan.
The beautiful Cape Zanpa Lighthouse in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan.
The beautiful Cape Zanpa Lighthouse in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan.
The beautiful Cape Zanpa Lighthouse in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan.
The beautiful Cape Zanpa Lighthouse in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan.
The beautiful Cape Zanpa Lighthouse in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan.
The beautiful Cape Zanpa Lighthouse in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan.
A monument and a fort at Cape Zanpa in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan.
A monument and a fort at Cape Zanpa in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan.
The picturesque cliff at Cape Zanpa in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan.
The picturesque cliff at Cape Zanpa in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan.
Cape Zanpa Lighthouse in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan.
Cape Zanpa Lighthouse in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan.

 

One feature of Cape Zanpa is the Zanpa Misaki Recreation Plaza with shops, restaurants, a playround and a petting zoo with a giant Shisa guarding the plaza’s entrance. The shore is also worth a walk when the tide is low. Cape Zanpa is must see when you are in Okinawa. It is now one of my favorites with its scenic beauty leaving an unforgettable imprint in my memory forgetting that Cape Zanpa is well known as a suicide cliff in Okinawa.

The giant Shisa guarding the entrance to Zanpa Misaki Recreation Plaza at Cape Zanpa in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan.
The giant Shisa guarding the entrance to Zanpa Misaki Recreation Plaza at Cape Zanpa in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan.
Cape Zanpa shore on a low tide.
Cape Zanpa shore on a low tide.
Another view of Cape Zanpa shore on a low tide.
Another view of Cape Zanpa shore on a low tide.

 

 

 

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