Naha

Geography

Okinawa Prefecture, the southernmost prefecture in Japan, is located on the large Ryukyu Archipelago, which stretches over a thousand kilometers, from the island of Kyushu to Taiwan. Its name - "rope on the seaside" - reflects how Okinawa looks on the map: the archipelago consists of several large islands, including the largest - Okinawa, as well as hundreds of smaller ones. Okinawa's climate is hot and humid, even in winter the temperature does not drop below 15 degrees Celsius.

History

In the Middle Ages, the Ryukyu Kingdom was an independent state, while being a vassal of the Chinese Empire. At the beginning of the seventeenth century, Ryukyu also fell under the vassalage of the Japanese principality of Shimazu, located on the island of Kyushu; since then, Japanese influence has only increased, and Chinese influence has weakened. As a result, at the end of the nineteenth century, Okinawa was annexed by Japan and became one of its prefectures. After World War II, Okinawa was administered by American authorities and then, in 1972, was returned to Japan.

Culture, attractions
and entertainment

Okinawa has always been “not quite” Japan, this is due to the fact that these territories have long been under the political and cultural influence of China. This is reflected in the local temple architecture with an abundance of traditional Chinese colors - red and gold, and in ceramics, and in cuisine. In addition, there is a local dialect of the Japanese language, and the Okinawans themselves differ in appearance from the inhabitants of the main islands of Japan. Shuri Castle, located on the main island of the archipelago, Okinawa, was the residence of the Ryukyu kings for centuries. The Tamaudun Mausoleum and the gates of Sonohanuchiake Castle are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A number of other Okinawa attractions also belong to the UNESCO heritage, for example, the picturesque ruins of another castle, Nakijin, as well as the Shikina-en landscape garden, located on a small island and combining Okinawan architecture of buildings and typical Japanese landscape solutions. In the capital, Naha, the most popular among tourists is the local main thoroughfare - Kokusai-dori, which translates as “International Street”. There are many hotels, restaurants, department stores and boutiques here, including souvenir shops where you can buy Okinawan pearl products. In addition, the famous Okinawa Churaumi Suizokukan aquarium is worth highlighting. It is located on the outskirts of the city, where many representatives of marine fauna are represented. Okinawa is also a very prestigious seaside resort among the Japanese themselves, with many coral reefs, beaches and hotels to suit every taste, from ultra-modern to traditional ryukan. Thanks to the picturesque corals, diving is very developed on the islands. Separately, it is worth highlighting the westernmost island of Japan, Yonaguni, located near Taiwan and administratively also belonging to Okinawa Prefecture. There are some very unusual underwater rock formations here. A number of marine archaeologists and geologists believe that these are ancient ruins of buildings from the Jomon period, dating back at least ten thousand years! Tokyo and the prefectural capital, Naha, are connected by direct flights, the flight duration is two and a half hours. There is also a ferry from Kagoshima city that goes to Okinawa exactly 24 hours.
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