noun
Yanbaru; mountain areas of northern Okinawa
Refers to the forested, mountainous region of Kunigami County in the northern part of Okinawa Island. Often used in tourism and nature contexts.
やんばるの森には希少な生き物がたくさんいる。
The forests of Yanbaru are home to many rare creatures.
山原地方は沖縄本島の北部に位置する。
The Yanbaru region is located in the northern part of Okinawa Island.
Kunigami is the administrative district name; 山原 (Yanbaru) is the more colloquial and geographical term for the same area.
The reading やんばる is of Okinawan origin, combining 山 (yama, 'mountain') and 原 (hara, 'field'), referring to the mountainous terrain of northern Okinawa.