CONTRIBUTED BY QUENTIN RICHARDSON
Kyan View
These two sites provide fantastic views of the southern coast as well as secluded snorkeling opportunites (given the sea condtions). Both sites are amazing places to take a loved one; however, kids need to be closely watched if present. Both sites can be visited en route to other places, such as Okinawa World & Peace Park, and are free.
The Gushikawa ruins lie facing the coast. The ruins themselves are slighty preserved and seem to have some restoration underway.
Kyan Ruins
There is a spectacular view of the sea from here. On the left you are able to climb down to the ocean. Once near the bottom you will see a cave that looks up into the ruins.
Kyan Cave
Going further down and to the left (east) you walk for about 100-200 meters to find deep tide pools ideal for snorkeling, one is marked with a swinging rope.
Kyan Swinging Rope
Cape Kyan is nothing more than a scenic lookout with many Japanese visitors. There is a lighthouse that seems abandoned, a few monuments and a raised picnic area. This site, unlike Gushikawa, does not have access to the ocean.
Kyan Lighthouse
Kyan 331 Sign
Directions: To get to both sites, you need to drive south on 331. From Kadena, the fastest way to get there would be using the Okinawa Expressway on to the Airport Expressway until it ends on Route 331 and turn left (southbound). From Kinser or Foster, head south on route 58, it turns into Route 331 in Naha. Continue on Route 331 until you reach the sign that says Nashiro/Cape Kyan (next to Nanbu Hospital) and make a right.
Kyan Sign
Follow the signs as they lead you to Route 3 (I think it’s the first light) and turn right. Stay straight on Route 3 as you will see a confusing wide open intersection with no lights/signs. Use the narrow road next to a small store marked by a large Coca-Cola sign and you will see white signs pointing you towards both sites the rest of the way.
Kyan White Signs
At some point there will be split, the ruins will be dead ahead and the cape will be a left turn. Follow the signs and you can’t go wrong. (Map point below is at the point of some of these white signs.)
My husband and I went yesterday. Very lovely place to visit.
Thank you for this wonderful information. We are planning to go soon to see this area.
Both of these sites are beautiful! The views are really breathtaking! And this is a wonderful write up. When I went, I got confused in Naha when the main highway (I want to say it was 58) splits into two overpasses going two different ways. We went left… I have navigation in my car so I realized that the road I was on had changed names (or #s). We made a right as soon as we got off of that highway and I found the right road with no problems. I do suggest mapping this one before going if you don’t have navigation in your car! But I suppose you really can’t get lost… just head S.!!
Also, a suggestion for a day trip down S. We went to Cape Kyan, Gushikawa Ruins, the Ryukyu Glass factory, Peace Memorial Park and Museum, and then Cape Chinen all on the same day. We just headed S. down the West side of the Island and came back up on the East side of the island. Cape Chinen is pretty spectacular too…. if you’re looking for other stops along your way there or way back! 
Susan,
58 is the main highway and turns into highway 331 just before the airport… it wraps around the bottom of the isalnd and reappears in the north. Yes, there are more sites to see while you travel 331, I am writing about them too, Cape Chinen is one of them.