Voyage to the Dawn of Time

There is no place in the world like Okinawa. It bears the influence of its Chinese ancestors, centuries of trade with Korea, Japanese domination and American occupation that lasted after World War II until 1972.

We had no idea we were about to take a walk through time on this hot and humid day when we signed up for the tour of the Valley of Gangala. Hidden away in Okinawa’s lush subtropical forest, this otherworldly valley was once a massive limestone cave. Over hundreds of thousands of years, parts of the ceiling collapsed, leaving behind the open canyon and cave formations we see today. It feels less like a tourist site and more like a sacred space. No wonder it is growing in popularity as a spiritual retreat.

The path winds past jungle vegetation, towering cliffs, and a banyan tree so massive and gnarled it looks like it emerged from some mythic story. This one is estimated to be about 150 years old, its roots dangling down like nature’s own chandelier. The whole place feels prehistoric, and that’s not just imagination—archaeologists are still actively excavating the area, where they’ve found evidence of human life dating back some 20,000 years.

The tour begins at the Cave Café, a cool little spot tucked inside the Sakitari Cave. It’s not just a coffee stop—this cave is a treasure trove of history. In 2004, researchers uncovered ornaments made from shells, tools, and even human bones buried deep in geological layers that are nearly 2 million years old. These were the first Paleolithic-era artifacts of their kind ever discovered in Japan.

The body was buried about 2500 years ago, but they also found stone brick and some pottery from about 4000 BC. The skeleton was found buried facing down with a bracelet on his left his left arm. He was also wearing a necklace made of shell. His remains were contained in a stone sarcophagus. Excavation suggested people started living here about 7000 years ago.

And get this—among the finds was one of the world’s oldest fish hooks, crafted 23,000 years ago. Made by carefully shaving and polishing shell fragments, the hook was likely used to catch giant eels and parrotfish, whose bones were also uncovered nearby. It’s wild to imagine people living here, fishing these waters, and making tools with such skill so long ago.

Excavations continue, but some archaeologists think that the first homo sapiens to leave Asia might have settled here. If so, this site would take its place among the most important archaeological sites ever discovered.

If you’re anywhere near Okinawa and want to experience something ancient, mysterious, and genuinely moving, the Valley of Gangala is more than worth the detour.En savoir plus