Okinawa

Gyokusendo

Gyokusendo is one of the largest caverns in Japan; located 20 minutes ride from "Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum". Total length of the cave is 5 km (or 3.1 miles), and 890m are open to the public. You can see a many types of stalactite in the cave.

Huge limestone cup filled clean water is called "Cup of gold"

Awamori cellar in Gyokusendo

Limestone cave in the precinct is use of Awamori cellar.

Awamori is clear liquor that distilled from rice. It was first distilled in the 15th Century following methods introduced from Siam during the heyday of trade with SE Asia.

Today, awamori is indispensable drink in Okinawans life.

Opening hours : 09:00-17:30
( during January-March , admission until 17:00 )
Open throughout the year

Admission Fee : Adult 600 yen , Child ( 4-15 years ) 300 yen
Including Gyokusendo : Adult 1200 yen , Child 600 yen

Nakabaru Historic Site

This area located in the east part of Okinawa. "Kaicyu-doro" is 4.7km (3 miles) long that connects Yokatu peninsula and Henza Island. As this road construct on the shallows, you can enjoy to take drive on the sea when the tide is in. But when on the ebb tide, sea leaves the road !

Nakabaru Historic Site

Nakabaru Vestige is located in the middle part of Henza Island that is the remains of a village approximately 2500 to 2000 years old. Excavation revealed ruins of 23 wall entry dwellings, earthen bowls, jars, stone axes, bone needles and gimlets. Several food remains of the people of the time such as animal and fish bones and shells were also excavated.

Reconstruction
The buildings have been restored with reference to folklore to a height sufficient for a person to enter.

Red clay has been mixed to fill the spaces in the surrounding stonewall. YARABU a material used in old times has been used as pillars and roofs.

Rope made of ADAN roots has been used to bind the pillars bamboo and thatch. For the roof material CHIGAYA a native plant of Ikei Island is being used.

Tomb of Amamichu

Tradition has it that Goddess Amamichu created Ryukyu Islands.
According to a legend from ancient time she sleeps in this small Island.

Tomb of Amamichu

Products of the sea : Sea urchin

Nakijin Castle

Nakijin Castle is a mountain castle, 100m heights above sea level, dates back to the 14-16 centuries.

Castle wall

Starting in the Three Kingdoms Period in the early 14th century, Nakijin Castle was the residence of the northern Hokuzan kings for three generations. During that period, the kingdom of Hokuzan ruled the northern part of the Okinawa mainland and the adjacent island.

Conducting trade with China, the kingdom flourished. In 1416, the kingdom was invaded by Sho Hashi and the Hokuzan dynasty was destroyed.

Opening hours : 09:00-17:30
Open throughout the year

Admission Fee : Adult 150 yen , Student ( High School ) 100 yen ,
Child ( Grades 1-9 ) 50 yen

Nakijin Histrical Museum

Nakijin Village History and Culture Center located 5minutes walk from the castle ruins.

Opening hours : 09:00-17:00 ( Admission until 16:30 )
Closed : Mondays , National holidays ( except May 5th and November 3th)

Admission Fee : Adult 200 yen , Student ( High School ) 150 yen ,
Child ( Grades 1 - 9 ) 100 yen

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