by Paul Ranta
Okinawa was once a kingdom of its own called the "Ryukyu" regime. During this regal period, the island thrived as a trading center through active interrelations with neighbor nations. Okinawa is now a focus of attention with teh restoration of Shurijyo Castle reviving the glorious history of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
I don't remember all of the details of my trip to Okinawa last year but I do remember that the weather was great (went in November), the scenery was beautiful, and the people were friendly. Scheduled flight service is available between Naha (the capital city of Okinawa) and Tokyo [2 hrs. 30 min.], Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka and other major Japanese cities. Ferry service is also available.
A few things about the trip I do remember are:
1) Scuba Diving. Any hotel will have plenty of information about scuba diving and snorkeling. If you are not currently qualified to dive, it is a great place to get qualified and the water visibility is as good as that near the Great Barrier Reef. Unless of course you happen to go diving during typhoon season (a bad idea.)
2) The Monument of Himeyuri. The strongest lamentation over the Battle of Okinawa is induced here at "The Monument of Himeyuri." It was built to offer prayer for the 210 female students and teachers of the First Prefectural Girls' High School and Women's Normal School who killed themselves. They were devotedly working as war nurses in the Himeyuri (or Red Star Lily) Corps. Surrounded by US forces, they killed themselves in the dark cave.
3) Gyokusendo bunka-mura (Tamagusuku Village). The Gyokusendo stalactite cave, the largest of its kind in the Orient, was discovered in 1967. More than 900,000 stalactites, stalagmites and pillars form the magical architecture of this mysterious subterranean world. If you are a WWII history buff, you can also visit some other caves on the island that were used as hiding places for Japanese soldiers defending the island. Some of these caves have small museums with many interesting WWII relics and artifacts.
4) Traditional Arts and Crafts. Okinawa's balmy climate and unique history gave rise to traditional arts and crafts of superb quality in various parts of the prefecture. These include pottery, dyed textiles, lacquerware and glassware. Shoppers can also stop at workshops to watch craftwork or to enjoy hands-on experiences.
5) Okinawa Cuisine. When else will you ever get a chance to chew on real sugar cane or drink sugar cane juice? You can in Okinawa. You can also try some of the other fresh tropical fruits that Okinawa is famous for, particularly pineapple. There's also Okinawa soba, pig's ear, and irabu, a sea snake taht makes a uniquely flavored, delicious soup.
6) Shopping. I wasn't keen to shop but Okinawa is an excellent place for shopping. You can pick up anything from a colorful Jimbe to a vast array of army/navy surplus goods: Zippos, hats, jackets, and every assortment of American military insignia.
If you stay in Japan for any length of time then Okinawa should definitely be part of your travel itinerary. It's convenient, beautiful, and fun, and though the prices are comparable to mainland Japan, so is the level of safety. For gaijin living in Japan, it's like Hawaii just closer to home.