Sights in Okinawa & The Southwest Islands
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Tsuboya Pottery Area
One of the best parts of Naha is this place, a centre of ceramic production from 1682, when Ryūkyū kilns were consolidated here by royal decree. Most shops sell all the popular Okinawan ceramics, including shiisā (lion-dog roof guardians) and containers for serving awamori, the local firewater. To get here from Kokusai-dōri, walk south through the Heiwa-dōri arcade for about 350m.
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Shurei-no-mon
As the ceremonial entrance to the Shurijō-kōen (首里城公園; castle), this Chinese-influenced gate was originally constructed some 500 years ago, though it was completely rebuilt in 1958. Today, it's considered to be the symbol of Okinawa and it appears on Japan's ¥2000 bank note.
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Shikina-en
Around 4km east of the city centre is a Chinese-style garden containing stone bridges, a viewing pavilion and a villa that belonged to the Ryūkyū royal family. Despite its flawless appearance, everything was painstakingly rebuilt after WWII. To reach the garden, take bus 2, 3 or 5 to the Shikinaen-mae stop (¥220, 20 minutes).
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International Cemetery
On the north side of Tomari port is this fascinating cemetery, which has a small monument commemorating Commodore Perry's 1852 landing in Naha. The US naval officer subsequently used Okinawa as a base while he forced the Tokugawa shōgunate to finally open Japanese ports to the West.
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Naha Folkcraft Museum
The Naha Folkcraft Museum houses a detailed collection of traditional Okinawan crafts. Staff members are on hand to demonstrate glass-blowing, weaving and pottery-making in the workshops. Located a three-minute walk from Akamine monorail station (follow the English signs).
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Shurijō-kōen
This reconstructed old residence (castle) of the Okinawan royal family is well worth a visit. There is an excellent brochure in English highlighting the attractions. The castle's walls have numerous gates, but the pick is the Chinese-influenced Shurei-no-mon (首里の門).
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Sōgen-ji
The reconstructed gates of Sōgen-ji are located at the eastern end of Kokusai-dōri. The original stone gates once led to the 16th-century temple of the Ryūkyū kings, though it was unfortunately destroyed in WWII.
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Fukushū-en
Garden fans should take a stroll through Chinese-style Fukushū-en. All materials were brought from Fuzhou, Naha's sister city in China, including the pagoda that sits atop a small waterfall.
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Tsuboya Pottery Museum
In Tsuboya, you will find the excellent Tsuboya Pottery Museum, which contains some fine examples of traditional Okinawan pottery. Here you can also inspect potters' wheels and inspect arayachi (unglazed) and jōyachi (glazed) pieces.
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Nami-no-ue beach
Nami-no-ue beach, near the Naminoue-gu shrine, is a small city beach where you can relax without leaving town. It comes complete with lifeguards, jellyfish/shark nets, showers and toilets.
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Okinawa Prefectural Museum
The modest Okinawa Prefectural Museum on the grounds of Shurijō-kōen has a number of interesting displays on Okinawan lifestyle, history, culture and natural environment.
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Kokusai-dōri
Kokusai-dōri is the city's main artery and makes a colourful walk, day or night.
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Yudomari Onsen
About 600m west is another great seaside onsen that can be entered at any tide. Get off at the Yudomari bus stop and take the road opposite the post office in the direction of the sea. Once you enter the village, the way is marked. It's a 300m walk and you pass a great banyan tree en route.
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Yonaha-Maehama
On the southwest coast, beautiful Yonaha-Maehama is a 6km stretch of white sand that attracts a lot of families and young folks due to its shallow waters. It's a lovely beach, but it can get crowded and the presence of the occasional jet-ski is a drawback. It's just before the Kurima-Ōhashi Bridge, on the north side.
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Yakushima Environment Culture Village Center
In Miyanoura at the corner of the ferry-terminal road. It has exhibits about the island's natural environment and history, with limited English signage. It screens a large-format 25-minute film with English subtitles at 20 minutes past the hour.
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Umigame-kan
About midway along Nagata Inaka-hama, along the main road, is this place which has displays and information about the turtles (mostly in Japanese).
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Tsuboya-yachimun-dōri
The atmospheric Tsuboya-yachimun-dōri is lined with pottery shops. The lanes off the main street here contain some classic crumbling old Okinawan houses.
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Tōrin-ji
Founded in 1614, the Zen temple of Tōrin-ji, near the intersection of Shimin-kaikan-dōri and Rte 79, is home to the 18th-century guardian statues of Deva kings. Adjacent to the temple is Gongen-dō (権現堂), a small shrine rebuilt after being destroyed by a tsunami in 1771.
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Taketomi Mingei-kan
Where the island's woven minsā belts and other textiles are produced.
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Sunset Beach
At the north end of the island, on the west coast, you will find another long strip of sand with a bit of offshore reef. As the name implies, this is a good spot to watch the sun set into the East China Sea.
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Sunayama
Just 4km north of Hirara you will find this excellent little beach, which lies at the bottom of a large sand dune (hence the name 'Sand Mountain Beach'). A cool stone arch at one side of the beach provides a bit of shade.
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Sukuji Beach
On the opposite side of the peninsula is a shallow beach that is good for families with children.
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Shuri-jō
The reconstructed castle sits atop a hilltop overlooking Naha's urban sprawl. It was originally built in the 14th century and served as the administrative centre and royal residence of the Ryūkyū kingdom until the 19th century.
Enter through the Kankai-mon (歓会門) and go up to the Hōshin-mon (奉神門), which forms the entryway to the inner sanctum of the castle, dominated by the impressive Seiden (正殿). Visitors can enter the Seiden, which has exhibits on the castle and the Okinawan royals. There is also a small collection of displays in the nearby Hokuden. To reach the complex, take the Yui-rail monorail to Shuri Station. Exit to the west, go down the steps, walk …
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Onoaida Onsen
In the village of Onoaida is a rustic indoor bathhouse that is divided by gender. Expect to rub shoulders with the village elders here. It's about 350m uphill from the Onoaida Onsen bus stop.
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Ōko-no-taki
On the west coast is Yakushima's highest waterfall at 88m. It's a five-minute walk from Ōko-no-taki bus stop, which is the last stop on some of the buses running south and west from Miyano-ura and Anbō (note that only two buses a day run all the way out here).
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