Good evening all,
I was fortunate enough to live in Okinawa for five years, and I did quite a bit of exploring during my time there. One of my favorite places to visit was Yabuchi Island and its cave, Janeh.
The island has very interesting rock formations and hosts a massive cave with some sort of religious or cultural significance. The cave is extremely deep, and at the bottom there is a small shrine. In some parts, I’ve seen round mirrors plastered to the walls. I’ve read that mirrors in or around sites like these allow friendly spirits to come and go.
Additionally, the island is home to another cave where I would regularly find cheap, unopened hard liquor staged neatly inside—but without incense or a yen box nearby.
For as long as I was in Okinawa, there was also a large bus on the island that had graffiti on it. The bus was in good condition, and it appeared that someone was living in it. I’ve added photos of the bus, handwritten signs on the windows, and balls wrapped in newspaper and tied off with string. I was unable to figure out what the newspaper-wrapped items were.
Lastly, this island has a large, well-cared-for cat population. I found a few spots where locals created cat shelters that included donation boxes, toys, and even cat scratchers.
If you can share any knowledge or experiences with the beautiful mysteries of this island, I would love to hear them.
If you decide to visit, respect the island, the people, and the culture. Take nothing, and leave nothing behind other than footprints.
by _Jersey_Kid_