The right journey to Okinawa World – You Might Journey

Okinawa World is a cultural theme park situated within the southern a part of Okinawa Island, showcasing the island’s wealthy historical past, tradition, and pure magnificence.

Throughout our journey to Okinawa, my husband and I made a decision to incorporate this park in our must-visit attraction listing, intrigued by its promise of a deep dive into Okinawan heritage. Our go to turned out to be a captivating journey by way of conventional Ryukyu Kingdom crafts, vibrant dance performances, and the beautiful pure marvel of Gyokusendo Cave.

Throughout your go to to Okinawa World, you’ll be able to anticipate numerous experiences and actions, together with cultural workshops (which I very a lot suggest). Okinawa World is a must-visit for anybody trying to expertise the essence of Okinawa.

Attending to Okinawa World

To achieve Okinawa World, situated within the southern a part of Okinawa Island close to Nanjo metropolis, you may have a number of choices relying on the place you keep in Okinawa.

From Naha Airport

• By Automobile: The quickest means is by automobile, taking roughly half-hour by way of the Okinawa Expressway. Exit at Haebaru South and observe the indicators to Okinawa World.
• By Bus: Take bus quantity 54 from Naha Bus Terminal to Gyokusendo-mae Bus Cease. The journey takes round 60 minutes.

From Naha Metropolis Middle

• By Automobile: Drive south in the direction of Nanjo metropolis, following the indicators to Okinawa World. The journey ought to take about half-hour relying on visitors.
• By Bus: Catch bus quantity 54 from Naha Bus Terminal, which is able to take you on to Gyokusendo-mae Bus Cease, proper outdoors Okinawa World.

Different Issues

Renting a automobile affords flexibility and comfort for exploring Okinawa, together with Okinawa World and different points of interest. We rented a automobile to journey across the island, and it enabled us to see much more points of interest and maximise our time on the island.

Taxis can be found however could be costly for longer distances like from Naha to Okinawa World.

Information to Okinawa World

Okinawa World is full of completely different points of interest, every displaying off a particular a part of Okinawa’s tradition and pure magnificence. Right here’s a have a look at the primary highlights you’ll find within the park.

The entry ticket to Okinawa World gives you with entry to all points of interest, however please be aware that for collaborating in sure actions and workshops, you will want to pay an additional charge.

Gyokusendo Cave

This spectacular cave is one in all Japan’s longest and is stuffed with stunning formations of stalactites and stalagmites, all lit as much as improve their magnificence. Strolling by way of this cave, you’ll see the wonderful pure artwork that took over 300,000 years to type. Okinawa is house to greater than 600 limestone caves, however the Gyokusendo Cave is the most important and extra phenomenal. In the summertime months, you’ll be able to join a particular tour in areas of the cave not usually open to the general public.

Gyokusendo Cave was the spotlight of Okinawa World for us and even when come particularly for this cave it’s properly well worth the entrance charge and the time spent right here. It takes round 30-40 minutes to discover the cave, and there are a lot of photograph spots alongside the best way. Some elements are lit up in numerous colors like blue and purple, which make the entire path so atmospheric and enjoyable.

Kingdom Village

This a part of the park takes you again in time to a conventional Ryukyu village. Right here, you’ll be able to watch and even take part on making conventional Okinawan crafts like pottery, glass-blowing, and weaving. It’s a hands-on approach to join with the island’s craft traditions.

I put collectively the listing of all experiences and their worth to make it simpler to plan your journey.

Extract actual pearls from Akoya oysters and have them reworked into stunning jewelry like necklaces, earrings, or straps. Whilst you look forward to the grasp to put the pearl into your chosen jewelry, you’ll be given colouring pencils to create a gorgeous reminiscence on the oyster shell.

Length: 5-10 minutes
Price: From ¥800

Bingata Dyeing Expertise

Dive into the world of Bingata, famend for its vivid colours and complex patterns. This workshop lets you attempt your hand at conventional dyeing strategies, together with colour layering and gradient results, to create your individual distinctive piece.

Length: 20 minutes
Price: From ¥1,300

Plaster Shisa Coloring Expertise

Create your individual Shisa, the long-lasting guardian deity of Okinawa, on this simple and satisfying workshop. Select your favorite colors to personalize a one-of-a-kind Shisa to take house.

Length: 20 minutes
Price: From ¥1,300

Paper Making Expertise

Uncover the artwork of paper making utilizing native Okinawan vegetation. This workshop is standard for the light and pure really feel of the paper you’ll create.

Length: 20 minutes
Price: From ¥700

Weaving Expertise

Be taught the standard weaving strategies to create equipment that includes the “mincer” sample, symbolizing longevity and prosperity.

Length: 5-Quarter-hour
Price: From ¥900

Indigo Dyeing Expertise

Expertise the distinctive “Ryukyu Ai” indigo dyeing, utilizing native vegetation to realize a deep blue color paying homage to the Okinawan sea and sky.

Length: half-hour
Price: From¥1,300

Pottery Expertise

Attempt your hand at “Yachimun,” the Okinawan time period for pottery, and luxuriate in creating daring and distinctive textures. Choices embody making a Shisa canine or utilizing a potter’s wheel.

Length: 10 minutes
Price: From ¥2,000

Ryukyu Glass Expertise

Craft your individual glassware, selecting from a spread of colors and patterns, within the high-temperature glass-blowing workshop.

Length: 5-20 minutes
Price: From ¥2,200

Leather-based Work Expertise

Craft your individual leather-based items adorned with tropical motifs similar to Shisa and manta rays. Leather-based’s allure is in its capacity to realize character with use.

Length: Quarter-hour
Price: From ¥1,300

Eisa Dance Performances

Eisa dance is a vigorous conventional Okinawan efficiency that features drumming, dancing, and chanting. These performances are filled with vitality and color, showcasing the island’s vibrant tradition. Eisa Dance Performances are normally seen in each Okinawan village throughout the Obon competition in summer time. With their efficiency, they goal to ship off their ancestors to the subsequent world.

The dance is carried out by teams of dancers wearing vibrant Ryukyu costumes, shifting rhythmically to the beat of drums such because the Odaiko (giant drum), Shime-daiko (tightened drum), and Paranku (hand-held drum). The dancers use formations and choreography, incorporating components of martial arts and storytelling into their performances.

Nanto Brewery

This brewery contained in the park allows you to see how Awamori, Okinawa’s conventional distilled liquor, is made. Awamori is understood for its distinctive flavour and powerful alcoholic content material, and its manufacturing course of is steeped in centuries-old traditions distinctive to the Ryukyu Islands.

One of many highlights of a go to to Nanto Brewery is the tasting session, the place you’ll be able to pattern numerous forms of Awamori, together with these which have been aged for various lengths of time. Ageing Awamori in conventional clay pots, or kame, is a follow that may considerably alter the flavour profile of the spirit.

Habu Park

Devoted to Okinawa’s well-known habu snake, this space combines a museum and a park. It’s house to dwell habu snakes and different native animals, providing a better have a look at these creatures and their place in Okinawan tradition.

Habu Park goals to demystify these snakes by providing detailed reveals that cowl their biology, behaviour, and habitat. In the event you didn’t know, Habu continues to dwell in Okinawa particularly in fields, forests and rocky terrain.

For one thing out of the odd, take a commemorative photograph with the fortunate white snake believed to be the incarnation of Benzaiten (it prices 1000 yen per photograph).

Tropical Orchard

The tropical orchard is akin to a botanical backyard however nowhere close to as extraordinary because the Southeast Botanical Gardens in Okinawa.

The tropical orchard is a peaceable space is stuffed with tropical vegetation, fruits, and flowers, highlighting Okinawa’s numerous flowers. As you wander by way of the orchard, you’ll come throughout a spread of fruit timber, together with mango, papaya, ardour fruit, and the Okinawan speciality, shikuwasa (a sort of citrus). The Tropical Orchard additionally serves as a habitat for butterflies, birds, and different native wildlife. On the finish of the tropical orchard, you’ll come throughout a small Fruit Parlour the place you must get ice cream and mango smoothie.

For a scrumptious conventional Okinawan meal, don’t miss the Okinawa soba delight Nandanya. I like to recommend the Sea grape seafood bowl, which is slightly below 1900 yen. Tremendous scrumptious and stuffed to the rim with native substances together with umi-budo which is my favorite native snack.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions