Things to do in Okinawa Prefecture, Okinawa Prefecture: The Best Historic Walking Areas

October 20, 2021 Phylicia Berquist

Discover the best top things to do in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan including Okinawa Peace Memorial Park, Aha Village, Island Countryside Settlement, Zakimi Castle Ruins, Shurijo Castle, Hijigabira, Naminoue-gu Shrine, Okushuraku, Tsuboya Yamuchin Dori, Shurijo Castle Park.
Restaurants in Okinawa Prefecture

1. Okinawa Peace Memorial Park

Mabuni, Itoman 901-0333 Okinawa Prefecture +81 98-997-2765 http://kouen.heiwa-irei-okinawa.jp/
Excellent
52%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 589 reviews

Okinawa Peace Memorial Park

Reviewed By PangL103

About 200,000 names on the head stones. Soldiers from both sides and about 100,000 civilians. Casualties of war. This should be the second site to visit after the Former Navy Underground HQ. It is situated near cliffs overlooking the ocean. Lets you reflect the cruelty of mankind and what war brings.

2. Aha Village

Aha, Kunigami-son, Kunigami-gun Okinawa Prefecture
Excellent
60%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 5 reviews

Aha Village

3. Island Countryside Settlement

Taketomi-jima, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun 907-1101 Okinawa Prefecture http://www.painusima.com/taketomijima
Excellent
49%
Good
45%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 151 reviews

Island Countryside Settlement

4. Zakimi Castle Ruins

708-6 Zakimi, Yomitan-son, Nakagami-gun 904-0301 Okinawa Prefecture +81 98-958-3141 http://www.yomitan-kankou.jp/detail.jsp?id=74759&menuid=11949&funcid=3
Excellent
33%
Good
52%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 457 reviews

Zakimi Castle Ruins

Reviewed By RockieHazel - Sydney, Australia

This castle ruin is located in central Okinawa near the Cape Zampa lighthouse. Unlike so many other attractions there was free parking and no admission fee! The castle itself is located with a well maintained park which is quite peaceful to walk through. It was great to be able to climb up on top of the castle walls and get a great view of the ocean. There is a museum located next to the park that had an admission fee that we didn't enter. Would definitely recommend this detour if you're driving through the area.

5. Shurijo Castle

1-2 Kinjo-cho, Shuri, Naha 903-0815 Okinawa Prefecture +81 98-886-2020 http://oki-park.jp/shurijo/en/
Excellent
34%
Good
47%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 5,164 reviews

Shurijo Castle

Reviewed By BYamamoto - Kapaa, United States

It is well worth your time to visit Shuri castle again even if you have visited before on previous trips. I travel to Okinawa annually and fins something new at the castle complex each year. This year a new pathway through the Japanese portion of the casle takes you outside onto the castle wall back of the main building for a large panoramic view of the city. There is also new history an area will be planted in chrysanthemums as was in the past. There are new exhibits and performances and you should check on the events calendar because there are night visitation of the area lite in candle light.

6. Hijigabira

Shurisakiyamacho, Naha 903-0814 Okinawa Prefecture
Excellent
0%
Good
100%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 1 reviews

Hijigabira

7. Naminoue-gu Shrine

1-25-11 Wakasa, Naha 900-0031 Okinawa Prefecture +81 98-868-3697 http://naminouegu.jp/
Excellent
29%
Good
46%
Satisfactory
24%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 774 reviews

Naminoue-gu Shrine

Reviewed By CaptainJWCourtney - Severn, United States

I first visited the Shrine back in 1966 and was taken by the simple, honesty in the Shinto religion practiced at this shrine. I had a favorite place nearby that I would go to watch the Okinawan dancers and listen to the native music. I returned in 1983 and saw how many improvements that had been made to the Shrine and It showed me the pride in the people that worshiped here. It was better painted, much wood work had been done and it was a secial place for me to visit when I was in the area and had time to stop and visit. I returned to Okinawa in 2001 and visited it only twice before I left with my wife in 2003. Once again it has changed a lot more but is still a beautiful, insprational place to visit. (The shrine is located at the top of a steep hill so please keep this in mind if visiting with elderly people or anyone with physical challenges like my wife and her breathing problems.) The shrine is has become a very beautiful shrine after all those years and continues to offer the usual charms to protect you and your driving and talismans for health, love, wealth harmony etc. I usually spend about 20 to 50 minutes here to walk around, let the memories come back, reabsorb the Okinawan culture and uniquely Okinawan architecture. I studied the Okinawan culture under Dr. Barbra Golden at the Maryland University in the mid 1980's and lived in Kosa (Okinawa City) at the time, shopped locally and went to all the old places that I used to go to back in the 1960's. Oh, and one more thing, this place has gotten much busier than it used to be, so go early to avoid the huge crowds of tourists from Mainland Japan and from China!!

8. Okushuraku

Oku, Kunigami-son, Kunigami-gun Okinawa Prefecture
Excellent
31%
Good
46%
Satisfactory
23%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 13 reviews

Okushuraku

9. Tsuboya Yamuchin Dori

1 Tsuboya, Naha 902-0065 Okinawa Prefecture https://tsuboya-yachimundori.com/
Excellent
27%
Good
53%
Satisfactory
18%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 55 reviews

Tsuboya Yamuchin Dori

10. Shurijo Castle Park

1-2 Shurikinjocho, Naha 903-0815 Okinawa Prefecture +81 98-886-2020 http://oki-park.jp/shurijo/
Excellent
36%
Good
46%
Satisfactory
18%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 194 reviews

Shurijo Castle Park

Reviewed By nocatnow - Melbourne, Australia

Why would you expect a castle in Japan to look like one in Europe of the UK? The Japanese have their own unique style and Shurijo Castle is a prime example of Ryukyu architecture. It's more colourful than castles in Tokyo or Nara, and less hectic than those in China. It's really lovely. We took the monorail to Shuri Station (at end of that line). We could see the castle complex was quite a distance away so paid 550 yen for a taxi. We noticed a few taxis waiting close to the monorail and, sure enough, others waited close to the exit track of the castle park. The 550 yen was a set fee. There was still a bit of a hike uphill to the gates of the castle. Because we gathered with a band of fellow passengers on the same cruise, we paid the group entry price of 660 yen per adult. You take your shoes off and carry them in a carry bag as you traverse the different rooms. Red and gold are the dominant colours. There are many exquisite objects to admire. It's easy to imagine palace officials doing their work and the lifestye of the wealthy. We spent a couple of hours inside the complex. Outside is the castle park. There were lovely beds of flowers and trees. The walk downhill to the park's exit was much easier than the climb up! We really enjoyed our time there.

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