A tourist bureau affiliated with Okinawa Prefecture has recommended ending tourist access to a cave in central Okinawa that played a key role in World War II, local officials said Wednesday.
In January, the Okinawa Tourist Convention Bureau told the village of Gushikami that Garabi Cave should be made off-limits due to the danger of falling rocks, the officials said.
This request drew criticism, however, from local volunteers who conduct guided tours of the cave. The volunteers said that both guides and visitors take safety precautions while in the cave and that closing the cave off will only limit visitors' opportunities of learning about the Battle of Okinawa.
The 500-meter cave attracts 30,000 tourists annually, mainly students from other prefectures on school excursions.