History / Culture / Tour Spots in Naha / Shuri Area
Area
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Okinawa
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Okinawa
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- Naminoue-gu Shrine
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4.0784 Reviews - Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Nahashi Wakasa 1-25-11
- This temple located on a cliff edge above the waves has a long history. Naha Port was a base for trade with China, Southeast Asia, Korea and ancient Japan long ago, and it is said that shipping leaving the port would pray for a safe voyage, and shipping entering the port would give thanks for their safety. Various events such as the Shinkosai, Okinawan sumo tournaments, Ryukyu dancing and Enbu Taikai tournaments are held during and around the annual festival on May 17.
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We visited on New Years Day. Arrived about 9am and not too crowded, but lines were long when we left. We walked from our hotel near Asahibashi station - about 10-15 minutes. Could buy amulets and...
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- Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum
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4.0711 Reviews - Leisure / Hobbies
- Okinawa Pref. Nahashi Omoromachi 3-1-1
- The Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum, which is the largest museum of its kind in Okinawa Prefecture, is located approximately 10 minutes’ walk from Omoromachi Station on the Okinawa Urban Monorail (Yuirail) line. Besides the Museum’s permanent exhibitions—which comprise general exhibitions relating to Okinawa’s natural environments, history and culture, as well as five sub-exhibitions on natural history etc.—special exhibitions are also held. The outdoor display area, with its reconstructions of a traditional Ryukyuan farmhouse and storehouse, is particularly popular with visitors. The Art Museum’s collections are focused on the work of artists with a connection to Okinawa island or Okinawa Prefecture, as well as modern and contemporary art; exhibits include contemporary artworks from Japan, other Asian countries, and the U.S.A., etc.
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A nice museum with lots to show. I specifically liked the natural history sections a lot. In some sections, there is no English translation on the info cards, so you may get lost a little if you do...
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- Shurijo Castle Park (Shurijo Castle)
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4.0205 Reviews - Leisure / Hobbies
- Okinawa Pref. Nahashi Shurikinjouchou 1-2
- Shuri Castle, built in the early 15th century, was the residence of the kings beginning with King Shobashi, who unified the Ryukyu Islands. Along with the restored buildings, some of the walls still retain the stone masonry from those days.
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Beautiful castle, lucky to be still standing after multiple fires over the centuries. There were dancers/entertainment in the grounds when we were there. A couple of gift shops and a cafe...
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- The Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters
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4.5418 Reviews - Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Tomigusukushi Tomigusuku 236
- The Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters is an underground bunker complex constructed in 1944. There were around 450 meters of tunnels in total; the aim was to enable the defense of Okinawa to be carried on for as long as possible. The underground complex held a total of around 4,000 personnel; many lives were lost here. In 1970, 300 meters of the tunnels (including the command center) were restored, and opened to the public. There is a museum with a display of items recovered from the underground bunker complex, including weapons, uniforms, letters written to family members, etc.
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Was o.k., but (my opinion) painted a horrible picture of the U.S. during the war when in fact mainland Japan didnt exactly treat the Okinwans as equals during this time.
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- Tamaudun Royal Mausoleum
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4.0417 Reviews - Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Nahashi Shurikinjouchou 1-3
- This is a mausoleum which was built in 1501 by King Sho Shin for the purpose of reburying the remains of his father, King Sho En, and thereafter successive generations from the dynasty were buried here. The grave chambers are divided into three rooms: the middle chamber is a room where remains are enshrined before the bones of the dead are cleansed, and the bones of the king and the queen are in the eastern chamber while the bones of other family members are buried in the western chamber. The whole mausoleum is a stone-built structure representing a palace with a shingle roof of that time, and the area of the cemetery is 2,442 square meters. It was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2000 as “Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu”.
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Built in 1501, the mausoleum was built to re-entomb King Sho En and is the Royal Mausoleum. I recommend visiting the mausoleum while touring the Shuri Castle as it is right down the street and part...
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- Tsushima-maru Memorial Museum
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4.0171 Reviews - Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Nahashi Wakasa 1-25-37
- This museum opened in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture 60 years after the sinking for the Tsushima-maru in order to convey to children about the important of peace and life and to put the souls of the victims to rest, and to properly portray the event for future generations. The tour route starts on the second floor, where there is also an exhibit about the voyage and hit and sinking of the Tsushima-maru. The names and portraits of the Okinawan schoolchildren evacuees and victims are displayed on the first floor.
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This museum is very meaningful, and the video they show brought me to tears. The museum staff can provide a brochure in English if you ask for one, which helps to understand the general story the...
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- Naha Municipal Tsuboya Pottery Museum
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4.0155 Reviews - Leisure / Hobbies
- Okinawa Pref. Nahashi Tsuboya 1-9-32
- This museum dedicated to the subject of Tsuboya ware and other Okinawan pottery (known as yachimun in the Okinawan language) is about a 10-minute walk from Makishi Station on the Okinawa Urban Monorail. It is located on Tsuboya Yachimun Street, which is lined with many Okinawan yachimun potteries. The museum's first floor provides exposition on the history of Tsuboya ware and the role it played in everyday life in Okinawa. The second floor presents characteristic works of Tsuboya ware as well as the production process. The museum also exhibits the works of potters including the Living National Treasure Jiro Kinjo.
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I really appreciated the availability of the iPad tour and used it to learn more about the items on display and the culture and processes of pottery making. It made a good facility a great...
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- Naha City Historical Museum
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3.588 Reviews - Leisure / Hobbies
- Okinawa Naha-shi Kumoji 1-1-1 Palette Kumoji 4F
- "This museum is located within ""RYUBO Department Store,"" in front of Kencho-mae Station, along Kokusai-dori Avenue in Kumoji 1-Chome, Naha City. It displays materials stored by Naha City, primarily materials related to the Sho family, the royal family of Ryukyu Kingdom, but also historical materials and works of art related to Ryukyu as it built its own unique culture while trading with China and Japan. You can experience Ryukyuan (also known as Okinawan) history and culture through temporary exhibits and special exhibits centered on various themes."
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...on a long day of sightseeing was kinda disappointing. Just a few screens and displays with little to none English descriptions. Thank God it was only ¥350 so I didnt feel cheated that much. I...
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- Naha City Traditional Arts and Crafts Center
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3.549 Reviews - Leisure / Hobbies
- Okinawa Pref. Nahashi Makishi 3-2-10 Sturgeon Naha 2F
- The Naha City Traditional Arts and Crafts Center is located on the second floor of the Tenbusu Naha Building on Kokusai Street, around four minutes’ walk from Makishi Station on the Okinawa Urban Monorail (Yuirail) line. The Center boasts an impressive selection of works by Living National Treasures and examples of Naha’s traditional handicrafts. Monitors display video footage which shows the creation processes for different items in an easy-to-understand way. Visitors can also try their hand at five traditional crafts—Ryukyuan glass-blowing, Ryukyuan Bingata dyed cloth-making, Shuri cloth-making, Tsuboya-ware making, and Ryukyuan lacquerware-making. Visitors can also purchase works by leading Ryukyuan handicraft designers.
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At the Naha City Traditional Craft Centre you can choose from a variety of craft experiences. Under the guidance of craftspeople I helped create a beautiful drinking glass - a beautiful souvenir of...
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- Gokokuji Temple
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3.540 Reviews - Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Naha-shi Wakasa 1-25-5
- "This temple is located on Naminoue-dori Avenue in Wakasa, Naha City. Constructed in 1368, it is Okinawa's oldest temple and still exists today. The Shokanzeon bodhisattva-a work said to be from the Kamakura period-is venerated as the main deity. Adjacent to the grounds there stands a memorial tower ""Kozakura no To"" for the schoolchildren who were sacrificed with the evacuation vessel ""Tsushimamaru,"" which was sunk by the American army in 1944."
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波上宮のすぐ隣にあります。ぱっと見の外観はそれなりに近代的でそんなに特徴ないですが、沖縄に現存する一番古い寺院らしいです。現状では檀家さん向けなかんじであまり観光客にとって見どころ感はあまりない感じです。
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- Shuri Kannon-do Temple
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4.021 Reviews - Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Nahashi Shuriyamagawachou 3-1
- Shuri Kannon-do Temple, one of the 12 temples in Shuri, is a temple for the Rinzai sect Myoshinji school. The temple is officially called Jigen-in. In the Ryukyu Kingdom period, King Sho Kyu erected a goddess of mercy temple to celebrate the return of Prince Sashiki who was held hostage by the Satsuma Domain and built the Jigen-in to the south in 1618. It is a holy site for the worship of the goddess of mercy in Okinawa and the principal image is a Thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara.
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首里城の近くにある臨済宗のお寺です。広い駐車場があります。1600年代に建てられたお寺で、本尊は千手観音です。
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- Shureimon Gate
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa prefecture Naha city Shuri Shuri Castle Park
- “Shurei” means “observing manners” and “a nation which observes manners” is written on the horizontal frame at the center of Shureimon Gate. It means “Ryukyu is a nation which respects manners”. It is a beautiful gate representing Shuri Castle which is a World Heritage site and was built around 1527 to 1555. It was destroyed during the Pacific War but restored later in 1958.
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- Kankaimon Gate
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa prefecture Naha city Shuri Shuri Castle Park
- Kankaimon Gate was the main entrance to Shuri-jo Castle (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). This was the entrance through which “Sakuhoshi”, (Chinese envoys, also known as “Sapposhi”) would pass when granted an audience with the Ryukyuan King; the name “Kankaimon” (“Gate of Welcome”) reflects this. The Gate was destroyed by fire during the Second World War, but was rebuilt in 1974. Shisa statues stand on either side of the Gate to ward off evil spirits.
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- Ruins of Enkakuji Temple
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Nahashi Shurikinjouchou 1-2 In Shuri Castle Park
- Enkakuji Temple was a temple belonging to the Rinzai School of Buddhism, located just to the north of Shuri Castle. King Sho Shin (who laid the foundations for the Golden Age of the Ryukuan kingdom) ordered the temple built in imitation of the Enkakuji Temple in Kamakura. In 1933, the Temple’s Main Hall and Main Entrance were designated as National Treasures. The Temple was completely destroyed during the Second World War. The Main Gate and Hoshochi Pond have since been recreated.
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- Sonohyan Utaki Stone Gate
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa prefecture Naha city Shuri Shuri Castle Park
- Sonohyan Utaki Stone Gate made from Ryukyu limestone is a place of worship where the emperor used to pray for his safety when going out. During the Pacific War, a part of the building was destroyed, but it was restored in 1957. In 2000, it was designated as a World Heritage Site. Though it is in the shape of a gate, it is not for people to walk through but is more of a “gate for worship” to God.
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- Benzaitendo House and Enkanchi Pond
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa prefecture Naha city Shuri Shuri Castle Park
- Benzaitendo House and Enkanchi Pond are cultural properties located inside the Shuri Castle Park in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture. Enkanchi Pond is a manmade pond which was built in 1502 to collect spring water and rainwater within Shuri Castle. Benzaitendo is a red-roofed shrine located in the middle of Enkanchi Pond which enshrines Benzaiten, a water goddess controlling safe sea voyages.
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- Okinawa Gokoku Shrine
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Nahashi Ounoyamachou 44
- This shrine is dedicated to the souls of Okinawan soldiers who sacrificed themselves from Sino-Japanese War, Russo-Japanese War and the Pacific War, the civilians who died in the battle for Okinawa, and mainland Japanese. Besides various ceremonies to commemorate them, prayers and dispatch services can also be requested.
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- Old Sogen-ji Temple, Stone Wall
- Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Naha-shi Tomari 1-9-1
- This historical structure is located in Tomari 1-Chome, Naha City. It is an arched stone gate remaining in the ruins of Sogen-ji Temple, which was a national mausoleum where the spirits of each generation of Ryukyu Kingdom were venerated. It is designated as a National Important Cultural Property. During the Ryukyu Kingdom period, the ceremony for venerating the previous king before a new king was coronated was performed at Sogen-ji Temple.
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- Shikina Miya
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4.012 Reviews - Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Naha-shi Hantagawa 4-chome 1-43
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那覇一日自由行動で、識名園と首里城に行ってきました。地図上は近いようでも、高低差があって歩いて移動するのに難儀しました。途中に、識名宮という神社がありました。琉球王家と関係があるのでしょうが、詳しい由来などを知りたいものです。
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- Izumotaisha Okinawa Bunsha
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4.016 Reviews - Travel / Tourism
- Okinawa Pref. Nahashi Furujima 1-16-13
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ゆいレールの古島駅のすぐ近く、ビルの裏手へまわったところにありました。出雲大社の分社です。境内は狭く、社殿も小さいですが、厳かな雰囲気はありました。
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