Okinawa is a Japanese island in the East China Sea. In Naha city, Shuri Castle is the rebuilt palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Okinawa is located in the Southernmost part of Japan. It is also home to the United States Naval Base during World War II. The current remains located on the island of Okinawa, Naha city is the capital. In the past it was the center of the ruin kingdom. But it was Japanese join together and become holiday resort with the art of martial arts and Karate south of Kyushu. Okinawa returned to the rule of motherland or Japan on May 15, 1972. After being ruled by the United States Army since the end of World War II, the province was also a province with a high proportion of older people, more than 100 years old. The average age of men is 90.1 years and the average age of women is 93.2 years. The reason for this is probably due to the social and health conditions.
Where to go:
1. Shuri Castle
Shuri Castle (首里城, Shurijō) is a Ryukyuan gusuku and first castle in Shuri, Okinawa city of Japan which located in the western part of a highland community. When looking down you will see Naha and the ocean next to it. The castle was built in 1237 which the castle became the Grand Palace and the temple complex. In the 2nd Shan Dynasty, which ruled the country in the year. Around year 1469 Byzantine emperor Zhou Enlai remained the political and cultural center of the Ryugu Islands until 1879, when the last emperor, Okazi, was ousted by the Meiji regime. Suri became the commander of the Japanese Army during the 82-day war which was born in Okinawa.
In 1945 when the Japanese army chose this as the last base to challenge the Western allies. Before the invasion of the main Japanese islands, Suri was destroyed. During the war The pre-war records indicate that Okinawa has a fascinating beauty and architecture. Many of the stone castles were rebuilt in the near future. Ryutan Koen Park is a park with no visitors. Missing Popular people take photos with a Okinawa woman wearing an ancient Shuri no Mon, an ancient gate to the castle. Tamaudon Mausoleum (Tamaudon Mausoleum) contains the remains of Emperor Soon and the royal family in the Cho dynasty.
2. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium located in the city of Motobu in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It is the largest aquarium in the world after the Georgia Aquarium of Atlanta. Water is up to 7,500 cubic meters covered with acrylic glass and up to 60 centimeters thick. Inside there are giant tank, giant whale sharks and stingray fish swim to sight.
This is the best aquarium in Japan which opened since 2002.
Admission fee are follows:
- Adult 1,850 yen
- University children 1,230 yen
- Children 610 yen
- if you visit after 16:00 adults will be 1,290 yen, Children’s University 860 yen and Children 430 yen
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium opening from 8:30 am – 20:00 pm (during October – February will close on 18:30) and Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium closed on the first of Wednesday in December and the next day.
3. Miyakojima Islands, Okinawa
Miyako Island (宮古島, Miyakojima), located 300 kilometers south of Okinawa Main Island and 100 kilometers north of the Yaeyama Islands. As Miyakojima city had formed after the merger of several towns in 2005, Miyakojima spans six linked-up islands. At the island that you can visit Sunayama Beach (take in the views from Irabu Bridge), Yonaha Maehama Beach and visit Kurima Bridge.
4. Torinji Temple in Ishigaki Island
Torinji Temple was built in 1614 and is the oldest wooden building in Okinawa. In the two cages at the entrance stands two Deva kings, they are from the 18th century and the oldest wooden carvings of the region. They are said to be the guardians of Ishigaki. Next to the temple stands the Gongen-do Shinto shrine that was rebuilt after the 1771 tsunami.
5. 730 Crossing in Ishigaki Island
730 Crossing is located in Okinawan prefecture was occupied by the US after WW2 and was therefore made to have right-hand side of the road. The prefecture was returned to Japan in 1972, but it took another six years for the traffic to change back to left-hand side again. The memorial stone marks the date, July 30 1978, when the switch happened.
6. Kabira Kannon Temple in Kabira bay
Kabira Kannon Temple is on top of the hill nearby the observation point is a small temple worth a visit. It was built in the 17th century when Kabira bay was one of the primary ports for Okinawa main island. According to legend, one day a ship had anchored in the bay while waiting for the weather to clear up. A small boy went ashore while the ship was waiting to do some exploration in the nearby area. When he came back to the shore, the ship had sailed without him! The boy prayed and prayed for the ship to come back.
Then, suddenly a strong north wind started blowing. The ship had no choice but to come back to the bay because of the bad weather and the boy could go aboard and return to his home in Okinawa. Later in life the boy, who became a monk ,returned to Ishigaki and built the Kabira Kannon temple. Kabira bay is a mere 30 min. drive by car from the city, by buss it takes about 45 min.. You can find bus timetables here (click on “Monday -Sunday” at the top of the timetables to see return times). A taxi will cost around ¥3500 from the city and the bus fare is ¥720 per person (one-way).
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