Naha

From World travel guide

Naha (那覇) is the capital of the Okinawa Prefecture in Japan and is the main city on Okinawa Island, with a population of around 700,000 - more than half the total population of Okinawa.

1 Get in
2 Get around
3 See
4 Do
5 Buy
6 Eat
7 Drink
8 Sleep
9 Get out
10 External links

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Get in

Naha Airport (那覇空港 Naha-kūkō, OKA; [1]) is the largest airport in the Okinawa area and the main hub for international and inter-island flights. A new monorail, opened in 2003, connects the airport to the city center.

Note: There is also a Naha Airport (NAH) in Indonesia, which should not be confused with this!

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Get around

The Naha monorail ([2], Japanese only) links together the airport, the city and Shuri Castle. Tickets cost ¥200-290 depending on distance, or you can get a one-day pass for ¥800.

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See

Shuri Castle (首里城 Shuri-jō) is the former seat of the Ryukyu Kingdom, built in the Okinawan gusuku style. Completely destroyed during World War II, the present buildings are reconstruction from 1958 and 1992.

The town of Itoman lies south and southeast of Naha, and has several attractions.

Himeyuri Peace Museum 671-1 Aza-Ihara, Itoman, 098-997-2101, [3] (in Japanese). 9 AM-5 PM. Students from two women's schools, together called Himeyuri, were mobilized to work as field nurses during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. This memorial museum documents, from a personal perspective, their lives before and during the battle, in which many of them died. Exhibits are labeled in English, and the museum is a worthwhile visit. ¥300 (discounts for high school students and younger)

Okinawa Peace Park has several memorials relating to the Battle of Okinawa. To get there by bus, take bus no. 89 from Naha bus terminal, change to bus no. 82 at Itoman bus terminal, and get off at the Heiwa-kinendo-iriguchi stop.
- Peace Park This park has a beautiful view overlooking the ocean, and features several open-air memorials including the Cornerstone of Peace, wave-like walls of granite on which are engraved the names of those who died in the battle, on both sides.
- Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum 614-1 Mabuni, 098-997-3844, [4]. Tues-Sun 9AM-5PM, closed Dec. 29-Jan. 3. Museum describes the Battle of Okinawa. ¥300 (discounts for children)
- Okinawa Peace Memorial Hall 448-2 Mabuni Itoman, 098-997-3011. A separate memorial, marked by a high tower, with the Peace Memorial Statue and exhibitions of Japanese artists. ¥500 (discounts for junior high school students and younger).

Okinawa World 1336 Maekawa, Tamagusuku village (by bus No. 54 or 83, get off Gyokusendo-mae stop), 098-949-7421, [5] (in Japanese). 9AM-5PM. The major attraction at this theme park is Gyokusendo Cave, 890 meters long, with some interesting stalagmite and stalactite formations. Above the cave is a touristy village with performances of traditional dance, shops selling crafts and snake liquors, and restaurants. Separate admission is required for the habu snake exhibition which includes a snake and mongose show. Cave and village ¥1200, add ¥400 for snake exhibition (discounts for junior high school students and younger).

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Do

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Buy

Makishi Market. Known as "the kitchen of Okinawa", This market started as a kind of black market after WW2. There are more than 400 shops in one floor. You can buy any Okinawa’s traditional foods like dried sea snake (イラブー irabū), pork (Okinawas say they eat everything except the hooves and the scream), special vegetables not found on the mainland, colorful fish, or eatable seaweed. There are many restaurants upstairs, serving traditional Okinawan home cooking. If you pay extra money, they will cook dishes with ingredients which you bought downstairs.

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