ジャネー洞

Janē hora - Janeh Cave - Jyane Caves - Yabuchi Cave Ruins

Useful Information

Location:	Yonashiroyakena, Uruma, 904-2304 Okinawa Prefecture. (26.314497, 127.928546)
Open:	no restrictions. [2022]
Fee:	free. [2022]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Janeh Cave, 3458-2 Yonashiroyakena, Uruma, 904-2304 Okinawa Prefecture. Uruma City Board of Education Culture Division, Tel: +81-98-973-4400.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1959	four archeologist named Masahide Takemoto, Seitoku Hokama, Shoichi Heshiki, and Koutoku Miyagi first made the discovery of old ruins.
1960	an excavation team, headed by Naoichi Kokubu, finds old pottery and shell arrowheads dated 6500 BP.

Description

ジャネー洞 (Janeh Cave) is located on Yabuchijima (Yabuchi island) which is only 180 m from the mina island Okinawa and connected by a road bridge named Yabuchi Bridge. The cave is on the far end of the island at the beach. Just follow the only road until it ends and then walk straight ahead down the stone staircase. The large karst cave with stalactites all over the ceiling was used as a shelter during prehistory and as a religious site. Pieces of earthenware from the Jomon period (6,500 BP) have been excavated.

In Okinawqan dialect the cane is called ジャネイガマ (Janei Gama). For the locals it is a place of worship and you can see Okinawans come and pray. There are different areas where certain spirits are prayed to.