Deep Okinawa you've never seen before - A soul-filling wellness journey to Nakijin, a place rich in history and culture

From the former castle settlement "Imadomari Fukugi Yashikirin" to the old climbing route "Hanta Road" to Nakijin Castle

One of Okinawa's most representative plants is the Fukugi tree. This tree is deeply connected to Okinawa's history and the lives of its people, and has played a special role. The thick, overlapping leaves of the Fukugi tree not only block the sea breeze and protect homes from the strong summer sun and typhoons, but also serve as fire prevention and privacy. For this reason, it has long been a custom to plant them around houses as gardens around houses.

The Fukugi tree-lined street in the Imadomari district of Nakijin Village is a precious presence that conveys Okinawa's traditional landscape to the present day. This landscape, which once spread throughout Okinawa, was swallowed up by the wave of urbanization and gradually disappeared. However, in the Imadomari district, the Fukugi tree-lined street, forming a deep green arch, still lives on in the village. The value of this landscape has been recognized and it has been designated as an Important Cultural Landscape by the nation as the "Fukugi House Forest and Village Landscape of Imadomari, Nakijin Village."
The idea of Feng Shui is deeply rooted in Okinawa, and it is believed that evil spirits move low to the ground. For this reason, roads are designed to be gently curved and intersections are not at right angles to prevent evil spirits from moving in a straight line.
The sunlight filtering through the rows of Fukugi trees casts a fantastic light on the ground, and the scenery of timeless stone walls and old houses evokes a good old atmosphere that can't be experienced at large tourist destinations. The feeling of being one with nature relieves you from the stresses of everyday life and refreshes your mind and body. This is a special spot where you can spend a relaxing time in a lush green environment.

The Imadomari village is located at the foot of Nakijin Castle, which was built during the Ryukyu Kingdom era, and the old road that connected the village to the castle still remains today as the "Hanta Road." It was once a key point for the movement of goods and people, but now it is a quiet mountain path rich in nature.
To get to the World Heritage Site "Nakijin Castle Ruins," we recommend taking the Hanta trail with a guide, which is different from the usual route up the castle. Not only is it rich in nature, but the trail is dotted with historical sites such as the stonework "Mimungusuku," allowing you to enjoy the history of the Ryukyu Islands from a new perspective.

Imadomari Fukugi Forest and Village Scenery, Nakijin Hunter Trail

*The Hanta Trail is a relatively beginner-level trekking course, but it can be slippery on rainy days, so it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes, long sleeves, and long pants.

Seeking healing through the scents and colors of nature – Cosmetics brand "YUMEJIN" and dye studio "BOTANICA"

Okinawa is the only place in Japan with a subtropical climate, and is warm and rainy. This unique climate allows for rich vegetation that is different from that of the mainland, such as banyan trees, deigo trees, palm trees, and mangroves. Even while walking around town or trekking for wellness tourism, you can enjoy the colorful flowers and deep green plants. In particular, the hibiscus is a symbolic flower of Okinawa, contributing to tourism, not only adding color to the landscape, but also being depicted on various items.

Hibiscus is a familiar plant in Okinawa, used since the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom for its beauty and natural moisturizing power to care for hair and scalp. YUMEJIN, located in the village, has stylishly brought this traditional wisdom back to modern times. At the YUMEJIN factory shop, skin care products containing extracts extracted from hibiscus are sold, allowing customers to try them out and choose what they like. Inside the store, photo panels clearly explain the manufacturing process, allowing customers to learn about the process that goes into making the products. There are also experience menus and workshops available using hibiscus essential oils and extracts, allowing customers to learn while having fun.
At YUMEJIN, we cultivate small hills of forests and expand our fields to grow safe and reliable ingredients ourselves. We pay particular attention to the preparation of our fields, and practice organic cultivation without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. We are passionate about creating products that utilize the power of plants. Our products are highly regarded for their skillful combination of traditional wisdom and modern needs, and are sold throughout the prefecture.
The popular original smoothies at the YUMEJIN factory shop include a pink smoothie made with hibiscus and a green smoothie made with plenty of komatsuna. You might be lucky if you try the seasonal Nakijin specialty watermelon smoothie. Why not soothe your travel fatigue while feeling the power of plants grown on the land of Nakijin in the aroma-filled shop?

Another place where you can enjoy an experience using Okinawan plants is the dyeing studio "BOTANICA." Here, dyeing using natural materials such as plant dyes using Fukugi bark and mangroves, soil dyes using local soil as pigments, and genuine indigo dyes are carried out. They also incorporate charcoal dyeing using charcoal from discarded pineapples from the nearby "Nago Pineapple Park," making full use of Okinawa's bounty.
The experience takes place in a workshop located on the site of a closed junior high school.
The sight of dyes extracted from various soils and plants lined up gives a nostalgic feeling, reminiscent of a science lab. In the dyeing experience, you can choose the fabric and color, design which parts to soak in the dye, and how, and in about an hour you will complete a one-of-a-kind stole. Another great thing about it is that you can take it home on the same day.
Plant dyes change color when they combine with metal ions, allowing you to enjoy the colors that are born from the "ambiguity" of nature. BOTANICA takes advantage of this uncertainty in nature and achieves the ideal color through many years of experience. You can enjoy the unique experience of not knowing what color will be produced.
In addition to the experiences, they also produce small items and clothing made from woven fibers extracted from hibiscus, as well as large-scale art pieces that combine dyeing and weaving techniques to create more advanced works of art. There are many products that emphasize harmony with nature, and by visiting, you will be moved by the beautiful works and feel a sense of respect for nature.
Experiencing the blessings of nature will be a great opportunity to actually feel the colors, scents, and ingredients and regain your vitality.
Wellness tourism in Nakijin Village became a journey to rediscover the ancient culture and history, and the deep connections between nature and people.

YUMEJIN FACTORY SHOP

BOTANICA (Nakajima Planning Ltd.)