Naha (Okinawa), Japan – Highlights of Okinawa

February 26

Today we were joined by Jim & Pam and Linda & Brad.  Our guide today was Yukihiro, and he goes by Hero, and he is a retired army paratrooper. Awesome guide! We had a great group today. Hero had messaged me that he couldn’t rent the vehicle until 8:00 and so needed to bump our tour a half hour later. Then he ran into traffic and was running a bit later. No worries, we had plenty of time.

Another sunny day! Photos from the balcony.

Today we visited significant sightseeing spots on the main island of Okinawa. When we return in a week or so we will visit the war sites with Hero.

Shikinaen Royal Garden was closed today so we had to miss that. It features meticulously landscaped gardens, ponds, bridges, and various architectural structures. The layout follows the principles of traditional Chinese garden design, incorporating elements such as winding paths, artificial hills, and carefully placed vegetation to create a harmonious and peaceful atmosphere.

Our first stop was Nakagusuku Castle which is one of several castles, which were built across Okinawa during the era of the Ryukyu Kingdom which is now in ruins.

vehicle to take us to the site

views from the walls

we walked along the walls

Hero said it looked like they had an event last weekend - lots of disco balls and speakers

yes, because Greg IS that tall....

Shuri-jo Castle which was the court of the Ryukyu dynasty, which ruled over what is now Okinawa for 450 years, more reminiscent of Beijing's Forbidden City than Kyoto's Imperial Palace. After reconstruction in 1992, Shurijo was named a UNESCO World Heritage site. The original 15th-century castle was once part of an even more extensive property but was mostly leveled during World War II when the Japanese Imperial Army made the complex its local headquarters. It was very interesting to see the reconstruction process.

The Tama-udun mausoleum is the final resting place of the royal family of the second Sho Dynasty of the Ryukyu Kingdom. They had a small museum there.

inside the museum

It was now lunch time, and we stopped at a food court of sorts and Hero took us to Torigokoro Chicken Heart on Kokusai Street. We never expected to eat Taco Rice but that is what Hero recommended. It was taco meat on rice topped with lettuce and tomato. Very good. We also had a couple orders of fried purple yams. All good! One couple won’t eat anything not “American”, so they went next door to McDonalds.

the food court

Torigokoro Chicken Heart - food stall

more of the food court

Taco Rice

tempura purple yams

Kokusai Street is known as the face of Naha. It’s a vibrant, 1.6-kilometer-long street which is a Traditional Craft Pavilion.

We had some free time here for shopping and I got a pair of the Blue Hotaru Glass Beads (Blue Firefly Ball) earrings that I saw at the peal place only they were half the price here. I also found my token magnet. Of course, we stopped for ice cream. I ordered the purple yam and the Okinawan salted cookie flavors, but she gave me another kind that also was potato base. Both were very good.

Hero took us to the fish market which was interesting. 

Then on to Pottery Street.

We still had time left so he took us back through some narrow alleys in the market. We stopped at one place where we had a tasting of a few different things. Tofu with sweet sauce that tasted like peanut butter, sea grass pearls, seaweed, fried chicken skin and a few other things. All were tasty. (to my surprise)

tasting

parking garage - the lifts take the car to the second level

We still had time left so he took us to a Shinto Naminoue Shrine. Here he showed us how to worship.

Linda, Bran and Hero at cleansing area

bowing

clapping

final bow

me doing the same

with some time still left he took us down to the beach

Noordam in port

that's what I do at the beach....

Hero

walking back to the car

from the car window

magnet

We then went back to the ship, and they had a few tables set up and we tasted Saki and some chocolate goo. (both were a hard no)

Tonight was the Orange Party. Most wore orange as it is the national color of Holland. 

The entertainment tonight was Rebecca Kelly: My Tapestry: The Songs of Carole King.

Hero will be our guide when we return to see the War Sites in a few days. 

Naha, (Okinawa) Japan https://photos.app.goo.gl/XGGzgbCeWUf5ktei9

Tomorrow is a Sea Day.

February 28

Typical Sea Day for us. Lectures and Bingo. Greg won $100. Yay! I was one away from winning a free cruise. Two people actually called Bingo at the same time and they had to do a quick 4 corners game to determine which won get the free cruise.

It was another Dressy Night, and we are loving the escargot. Prime rib is featured about twice a week. The food has been very good every night.

Tomorrow, we visit Osaka, Japan.