Every parking space has a car parked in it, so we pull off to the side of the road. The scene is pretty much the same every weekend. Men, women, and children of various shapes and sizes check and double-check their gear before they burden their backs with the heavy load.
My wife or other climbing partner looks at me, “Scuba diving is too much work,” one of them will usually say. I agree and load my own back. We follow the next herd towards the water, but we continue when they turn left at the entry point.
Although the emerald-colored ocean appears quite appealing, we came here to scale the multi-colored limestone cliffs, not to dive into the deep blue sea.
The Okinawan Climbing Community
The Okinawan climbing community is a nice mix of American Service members, DOD civilians, family members, and Japanese nationals of mixed climbing ability levels.
A weekly email informs climbers where the group’s core will climb weekly. Fortunately, Okinawa is reasonably small, and all areas are close enough for day trips. With the email sent, individuals start to plan, primarily in organizing carpools so single military members without vehicles can play, too, or save on gas costs.
The small, tight-knit community is conducive and supportive, and it’s not unusual to have a climber in the group on Saturday who’s only been on the island for three days.
Barbara Treadway, a Kinser Elementary school teacher, has been climbing for tens of years. Her climbing resume includes half the major climbing areas in America, with trips to Thailand, Australia, and China to keep things interesting. She routinely picks up Marines on Schwab or Hansen, the northern end of the island, to make sure they can climb while on the island.
“It’s nice to see how Marines and local climbers instantly accept one another because they are climbers,” Barbara explains. “On the cliff, climbing is all that matters. You don’t think about your job or any of your problems.”
Climbing in Okinawa
On any given Saturday or Sunday, it’s evident that climbing transcends any cultural differences among the group. Both American and Japanese, or the equally cross-cultural match of civilian and service members, climbers instantly accept one another, regardless of their differences or climbing abilities. “Climbing gives me an insight into the community.
Normally, once I find the climbing and the climbers at a new location, everything is alright,” says Mrs. Treadway while tying the rope to her harness.
Last month, Shingo, a mainland transplant who’s been climbing for five years, established a new route. In honor of the climbing group, he named the route “International.”
Since starting to climb with the Okinawa climbers, Shingo has decided to start studying English again to communicate more easily with his new partners. Still, he needed to read and understand American climbing magazines.
To “really improve his English,” he’s planning a climbing trip to Yosemite. American climbers who scaled the big Yosemite walls readily advised him where to climb and what to do while in Yosemite. Climbers gather in nearby soba shops and exchange climbing stories. Watching from a distance, the conversations look more like a dance reversal than anything.
Hands and feet reach for imaginary holds while the faces grimace or smile in memory of the various moves. An onlooker could think that this is due to a lack of common language, but the reality is that the same conversation would look and sound the same in any other country. These conversations bring climbers together regardless of their culture and language.
Beta for Climbing in Okinawa, Japan
Okinawa offers five major climbing areas and two climbing gyms, all providing excellent climbing opportunities at superb locations. The most popular spot for observing climbers in action is Gushi Chan beach on the island’s southern end.
Climbers flock to this beach to practice on the various boulders, with up to thirty climbers gathering there on Sundays.
Another favored climbing location is Usa Beach, situated on the north end of Cape Hedo Beach. This spot offers the best vantage point for spectators to watch climbers, as the cliffs are just a short walk from the parking area.
A very Kid Friendly Climbing Area. A stroll on the beach will give onlookers a different perspective of Cape Hedo. Climbers are friendly and open to conversation, so engaging with them might lead to an invitation to try climbing and be added to their email list. Aga, a Climbers Guide to Okinawa, is available on Amazon but is a bit outdated.
Feel free to share your climbing experiences or ask questions about these locations in the comments below!
