 Most viewed - OKINAWA 沖縄県 |
Flame of Peace in the world map. Japan can be seen in the map. 平和の火 21 views
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Monument for medical staff who died in the Battle of Okinawa.21 views
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Himeyuri Peace Museum courtyard.21 views
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We anchored to watch the sunrise.21 views
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Iriomote sunrise at Maira River.21 views
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Mouth of Maira River at high tide. The brackish water is quite shallow, no more than 1 or 2 feet deep.21 views
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On the way to Mt. Nosoko, spotted a nice beach.21 views
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Lots of sugar cane in Yaeyama.21 views
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Stargazing at Nosokodake Lookout Point. Photo by National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.21 views
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Stargazing near Nosokodake. Photo by National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.21 views
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Makishi Residence privacy wall. 旧牧志邸21 views
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Fisherman's boat house.21 views
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Bats on Iriomote.21 views
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Outside Ishigaki Airport terminal for ground transportation.21 views
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Giant clam decoration at Ishigaki Airport.21 views
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Runway traffic stop for an incoming plane.21 views
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Cleared for takeoff, Captain. Roger!21 views
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Floor plan of Ishigaki Port terminal building which opened in Jan. 2007 after moving from the old port 200 meters from here.21 views
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At the docks.21 views
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Tropical plant.21 views
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Old Ishigaki Port for tourist boats. This old port was in operation until 2006 before the new and current terminal was built for tourist boats. 旧石垣離島桟橋。21 views
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Old Ishigaki Port for tourist boats. Only one floating dock for the larger boats. This dock has been dismantled when the new Ishigaki Port was built.21 views
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Honeycomb pattern on the path.21 views
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Kyukeimon Gate21 views
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Ryuhi Spring near the gate. Water from this spring was used in the cuisine served to the royal family. 龍樋（りゅうひ）21 views
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About the Ryuhi dragon spring.21 views
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Seesaa at Zuisenmon Gate.21 views
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Sundial 日影台（にちえいだい）21 views
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Outside Kofukumon Gate, rear view of the Hokuden Hall before the fire.21 views
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Inside Keizuza and Yomotsuza. Now a free rest place for visitors. 系図座・用物座21 views
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Kofukumon Gate 広福門（こうふくもん）21 views
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Way to Hoshinmon Gate, the entrance to the paid area of Shuri Castle. 奉神門（ほうしんもん）21 views
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Hoshinmon Gate is the entrance to the paid area of Shuri Castle. Need to have a ticket to pass through here. 奉神門（ほうしんもん）21 views
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Schedule of events for the Shuri Castle Matsuri Festival in early Nov. 2020.21 views
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We can now only see the white stone foundation where the building once stood and some pillar foundations.21 viewsThe fire was detected quite early by fire alarms and security personnel, but it quickly spread. The building had no sprinkler system and firemen had difficulty reaching the building with fire hoses. The heat was also extremely intense, probably due to the lacquer paint, forcing firefighters to retreat and watch helplessly. No one was seriously hurt in the fire.
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Nanden Hall's foundation, including the steps.21 views
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Pillar foundations. Lumber researchers are conducting strength tests on various wood samples.21 viewsAlthough the Japanese government has stated that hinoki cypress (considered to be top-quality wood) would be used, Okinawan researchers have found that local oak wood is stronger than hinoki.
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On the left side of the Seiden site, remains of the rooftop dragon head sculptures.21 views
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Remains of the rooftop dragon head sculptures. See the curly whiskers. 龍頭棟飾の破片21 views
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On the Seiden foundation, pillar foundation stones and an outdoor display of the remains of the rooftop dragon head sculptures. 21 viewsThe curly-cue metal pieces were the dragon's whiskers. 龍頭棟飾 ryutomuna-kazari
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Rear part of the Seiden Hall.21 views
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Nyokan Kyoshitsu's right corner scorched from the burning Seiden. 女官居室（にょかんきょしつ）21 views
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Yohokoriden21 views
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Remains of a lion head sculpture that was on the Seiden's roof. 21 views
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Well connected to an underground water reservoir.21 views
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About Hakuginmon Gate. 白銀門（はくぎんもん）21 views
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View from Agari-no Azana lookout point.21 views
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Mamo-no-uchi Utaki sacred site in the Ouchibara. 御内原ノマモノ内ノ御嶽21 views
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Back of Keizuza and Yomotsuza. 系図座・用物座21 views
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About the Kyo-no-uchi area of the castle. Didn't go there though. 京の内21 views
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From Shuri Castle's Iri-no Azana western lookout deck, view of Naha looking toward the ocean. 西のアザナ（いりのあざな）21 views
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Exhibition of the "Tempest" TV series set in Okinawa.21 views
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Site of Enkakuji Temple. 円覚寺21 views
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Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts.21 views
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Shuri Station on the Yui Rail Line. Closest station to Shuri Castle. About a 15-min. walk. 首里駅21 views
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Shuri Station platform on the Yui Rail Line. Closest station to Shuri Castle. 首里駅21 views
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The cart drives by itself along this path up the hill.21 views
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There's the tower.21 views
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The cart path has a few scenic views.21 views
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The top deck also has this "Happiness Bell," but the rope to ring it has been removed to prevent Covid infections.21 views
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Beautiful ocean views from Kouri Ocean Tower's top lookout deck.21 views
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Shisa guardian lion-dog at the entrance of Kokusai-dori.21 views
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Okinawan dolls for sale on Kokusai-dori.21 views
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Haisai Okinawa Building on Kokusai-dori. ハイサイおきなわビル21 views
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Haisai Okinawa Building on Kokusai-dori. ハイサイおきなわビル21 views
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Kohama Rin (小濱凜) wears a bingata kimono. 紅型 They wear different Okinawan costumes for each set. Colorful eye candy. Wish they also explained the Okinawan design of their gorgeous kimono. Crowd-pleasing entertainment.21 views
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Still photography is allowed, but no videos.21 views
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Rin also plays the ʻukulele as a hobby.21 views
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The sanshin is a modest instrument, used to complement the singing. Okinawan folk songs focus on the singing, not the instruments. 21 viewsThis is opposite from the Tsugaru-jamisen (shamisen) in Aomori Prefecture which uses the showy jamisen as the main focus with long jamisen instrumentals.
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Surprised to see Don Quijote on Kokusai-dori. One of the few shops that's not Okinawan, but I was glad to see Kokusai-dori not overrun by non-Okinawan businesses. Hopefully we'll never see Gucci, etc., here either.21 views
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Shuri Castle illumination monument at Pallet Kumoji in Nov. 2020. (首里城うむいの燈(あかり)モニュメント)21 views
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Map of Okinawa World. Many attractions above the cavern. When you buy your ticket, find out when the next habu snake show will be. See it first if it will start soon. 21 viewsSee the habu show or cavern first which are near the front gate. Also find out the Eisa drum show time. Largest building is the shopping mall and restaurant complex which you can see last.
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Also showed a cobra and tried to provoke it to show its expanded neck.21 views
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Short walk from the station, but you need to know where to turn right and go up this slope. It's not clearly marked from the road.21 views
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About the Cornerstone of Peace. http://www.peace-museum.pref.okinawa.jp/20 views
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Names of 14,000+ Americans who died in Okinawa.20 views
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Himeyuri Peace Museum courtyard.20 views
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Sunrise kayaking on Iriomote, Yaeyama, Okinawa.20 views
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Fisherman's home.20 views
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First floor of Ishigaki Airport terminal has a restaurant and gift shops.20 views
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There are four floating boat docks where boats can dock on both sides. They have red roof tiles.20 views
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Dinner at the hotel's restaurant. 20 views
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In front of Ishigaki City Hall, a tree planted to reaffirm sister-city relations in 1999 between Ishigaki and Kauai, Hawaii. Planted by then Kauai Mayor Maryanne Kusaka. Ishigaki and Kauai have been sister cities since May 1963.20 views
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Floating dock at the old Ishigaki Port. 離島桟橋20 views
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Ryukyu pine trees on the way to Shuri Castle.20 views
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Shureimon Gate (守礼門), one of the castle's main gates. This gate was reconstructed in 1958 since most castle structures got destroyed during World War II. 20 views
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Sappo poetry monuments along the steps. 冊封七碑（さっぽうしちひ）20 views
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Roukokumon Gate follows Zuisenmon. 漏刻門（ろうこくもん）20 views
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Kyukeimon Gate 久慶門（きゅうけいもん）20 views
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In the Shicha-nu Una is this small prefab workshop where the stone dragon pillars that stood in front of the Seiden main hall are being repaired.20 views
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Also in the Shicha-nu Una lower courtyard is the Keizuza and Yomotsuza, now a rest house for tourists. 系図座・用物座20 views
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View of the Una from the Seiden site. These photos were taken in early Nov. 2020.20 views
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Pieces from the Seiden's stone railings.20 views
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A lot of red roof tiles have been salvaged. They had volunteers painstakingly scrape off the white plaster adhering to the roof tiles. The old roof tiles cannot be reused as is.20 viewsBut roof tile experts are investigating ways to recycle the salvaged roof tiles. They will likely crush them into powder and mix it with new clay to make new roof tiles.
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The dragon whiskers, teeth, etc., on display in broken pieces. 20 views
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The dragon eyes, scales, etc., also on display in broken pieces. 20 views
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Red roof tile pieces salvaged from the fire.20 views
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Walking back down from Agari-no Azana lookout.20 views
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Agari-no Azana lookout point. Opposite side of the ocean. 東のアザナ20 views
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About Mamo-no-uchi Utaki sacred site.20 views
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Kyo-no-uchi wall.20 views
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Map of Shurijo Castle Park.20 views
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In Okinawa, tree roots are always exposed because of frequent typhoons eroding the soil with winds and rains.20 views
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From Shuri Castle's Iri-no Azana western lookout deck, view of Naha looking toward the ocean. 西のアザナ（いりのあざな）20 views
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Kobikimon Gate is the exit. Also the entrance for wheelchair users. 木曳門20 views
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Stone marker for Shurijo Castle. Near Kobikimon.20 views
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Gift shops near Suimuikan.20 views
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Suimuikan lower entrance. 首里杜館20 views
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In this corner of Shuri Castle, Benzaiten-do Hall to worship the goddess Benzaiten surrounded by Enkanchi Pond. 弁財天堂と円鑑池20 views
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Tennyobashi Bridge to Benzaiten-do Hall. The railings have lotus engravings. 弁財天堂と円鑑池20 views
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Benzaiten-do Hall at Shuri Castle. 弁財天堂20 views
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Tennyobashi Bridge20 views
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Koban police box in Shuri.20 views
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Another rooftop seesaa.20 views
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The road going around the island doesn't go along the coast, so there's almost nothing to see.20 views
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Impressive how the cart is automated. One-way only. Return path is different and much shorter.20 views
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Pink coral.20 views
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Kouri Ohashi Bridge as seen from Kouri Ocean Tower's top deck.20 views
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Lots of T-shirt shops on Kokusai-dori, but most are not made in Okinawa.20 views
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Famous Nenes/Nenez perform at Live House Shima-uta on most nights. Third floor of Haisai Okinawa Building on Kokusai-dori.20 viewshttp://livehousesimauta.com/
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She plays the sanshin (三線), another icon of Okinawa. The three-stringed sanshin came to Okinawa (Ryukyu Kingdom) from China in the 16th century. It later evolved into the shamisen on mainland Japan.20 views
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Heiwa-dori shopping arcade20 views
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Nice Okinawan shop signs here and there on Kokusai-dori.20 views
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Tenbusu Naha てんぶす那覇 20 views
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Noren-gai restaurant complex.20 views
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A&W restaurant's Kokusai-dori branch is at the entrance to Kokusai-dori on the 2nd floor.20 views
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Okinawa World is a fairly large theme park centering on a large underground cavern called Gyokusendo. Above ground, there are attractions featuring Okinawan culture including traditional architecture, traditional crafts, habu snake show, 20 viewsand Eisa drum show. Major tourist attraction in the southern part of Okinawa island.
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Uezu Residence is the grandest home in the park. Many of the homes are National Tangible Cultural Properties.上州家20 views
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On another part of Kabira Bay, typical low-tide beach in Yaeyama. Ahead is the main part of Kabira Bay with the glass bottom boats and former Kabira Village.19 views
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Mabuni Cliff19 views
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Names of 14,000+ Americans who died in Okinawa.19 views
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Mouth of Maira River at low tide when we passed by the day before.19 views
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Some pineapple on Ishigaki. No fruit in autumn though.19 views
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They hold traditional music performances in Makishi Residence. 旧牧志邸19 views
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Sugar cane processing factory.19 views
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Looking toward Taketomi island in the distance.19 views
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Cape Ogansaki 御神埼19 views
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Cape Ogansaki 御神埼19 views
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Cape Ogansaki 御神埼19 views
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Tour agency office near the port terminal.19 views
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Car ferry named "Kariyushi" which is an Okinawan tropical shirt.19 views
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Painting of Okinawan dancers in the hotel.19 views
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Yaeyama Post Office Ishigaki Port in central Ishigaki.19 views
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Entrance to Ishigaki Yaeyama Museum that opened in 1972 to mark the reversion of Okinawa to Japan. It's right near Ishigaki Port. 石垣市立八重山博物館19 views
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Major structures at Shuri Castle. The Seiden main hall was sadly destroyed by an electrical fire in Oct. 2019. I visited in Nov. 2020, a year after the fire. The castle grounds were closed afterthe fire, but it gradually opened up.19 viewsThe remains of the Seiden can be toured.
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Nice long path along the castle wall leading to the entrance of Shuri Castle.19 views
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"Shurei no Kuni"19 views
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Back of Roukokumon Gate. The building is not open to the public. 漏刻門（ろうこくもん）19 views
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Kofukumon Gate to Shicha-nu Una courtyard. 広福門（こうふくもん）19 views
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Shuri Castle ticket office at Kofukumon Gate.19 views
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Repairing the Seiden's stone dragon pillars.19 views
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Shuri Suimui Utaki sacred site. 首里森御嶽（すいむいうたき）19 views
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The building was only 27 years old. If you've never saw it, you missed out. The black bags contain red roof tiles salvaged from the fire.19 views
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Left side of the Seiden site.19 views
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Explanation of the rooftop dragonhead ornaments. 火災前の龍頭棟飾19 views
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Rear pillar stones of the Seiden, looking toward the Ouchibara. The Yohokoriden is seen directly ahead.19 views
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The Japanese government has declared that the castle is to be rebuilt by 2026. The reconstruction committee is now working on the building's design and blueprints. 19 viewsConstruction will start within two years. We can be sure that they will also install a sprinkler system this time.
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Nyokan Kyoshitsu's right corner scorched from the burning Seiden.19 views
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They were also last year's king and queen. They are reprising their roles this year because this year's contest in September 2020 to select a king and queen was canceled.19 viewsAbout the king and queen: http://english.ryukyushimpo.jp/2020/11/06/32933/
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Prefab building displaying some ornamental remains salvaged from the fire.19 views
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About the well.19 views
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Hakuginmon Gate (restored) to the sacred Shinbyoden. 白銀門（はくぎんもん）19 views
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Way to Agari-no Azana lookout point.19 views
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View of castle buildings from Agari-no Azana lookout point.19 views
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The other side is the way up to Agari-no Azana lookout.19 views
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Back to the Shicha-nu Una plaza, I noticed people resting inside the Keizuza and Yomotsuza. 系図座・用物座19 views
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Way to Kyo-no-uchi.19 views
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From Shuri Castle's Iri-no Azana western lookout deck, view of central Naha looking toward the ocean. 西のアザナ（いりのあざな）19 views
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Exhibition of the "Tempest" TV series set in Okinawa.19 views
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Benzaiten-do Hall wall.19 views
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About Enkakuji Temple.19 views
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Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts.19 views
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Hibiscus19 views
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On the 1st anniversary of the Shurijo Castle fire in late Oct. 2020, Okinawa held a few events to give hope. We attended an evening reception at Shuri Castle for tourism professionals.19 viewsThis was outdoors in front of the reconstructed Keizuza/Yomotsuza. It had a makeshift stage for Okinawan entertainment.
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Kouri Bridge at Kouri Beach.19 views
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We didn't see any signs to turn into side roads to see local sights like the heart-shaped rocks on the beach. We missed it.19 views
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Kouri Ocean Tower's admission fee includes a cart ride up the hill to the tower.19 views
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Here's a cart going up to Kouri Ocean Tower. The cart is also narrated with scenic points. This was after our cart.19 views
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Kouri Island's best lookout point is here, Kouri Ocean Tower's top deck which is outdoors on the 4th floor.19 views
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View of Yagaji Island.19 views
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Shisa guardian lion-dog at the entrance of Kokusai-dori.19 views
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Gift shop modeled after Shuri Castle.19 views
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Haisai T-shirt. "Haisai" is a "hello" greeting for men.19 views
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Haisai Okinawa Building on Kokusai-dori is where the Nenes/Nenez perform at Live House Shima-uta on the 3rd floor.19 views
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Live House Shima-uta. About 50 people can fit into the club. Entirely non-smoking. Reservations recommended.19 views
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Yonaha Ruon (与那覇琉音) is the youngest member and plays this Okinawan instrument called the "sanba" (三板). It's three small pieces of wood strung together to make clacking sounds. Love the sanba. 19 views
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The food and drinks at Live House Shima-uta are good. This is goya-chanpuru (¥700), my Okinawan favorite. You can eat during the two intermissions.19 views
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Live House Shima-uta menu. Reasonable prices. Official website usually has a coupon for a free side dish.19 views
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The club had their CDs on sale, but they weren't autographed.19 views
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Pedestrain paradise on Kokusai-dori on Sunday.19 views
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Rubber slippers19 views
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Ichiba-Hondori shopping arcade. 19 views
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Goya chips.19 views
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Naha Bus stop on Kokusai-dori.19 views
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Rawhide on Kokusai-dori.19 views
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Not so many tourists in Okinawa during the coronavirus pandemic.19 views
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Kencho-mae Station on the Yui Rail, the closest station to Kokusai-dori. 県庁前駅19 views
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For Okinawa World, take the No. 83 bus. The bus leaves only once or twice an hour and takes about 45 min.19 views
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To get to Okinawa World, I took a bus from Naha Bus Terminal. There are many buses and bus stops, so ask the bus information booth inside the bus terminal. Say where you want to go, and she will tell you which bus to take and where to get off.19 views
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Seesaa at the entrance of Okinawa World. 19 views
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Map of Gyokusendo Cavern. Many natural features have names. After getting out of the cavern, you can go across the park toward the main gate and see the Kingdom Village.19 views
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Blue Spring limestone dam.19 views
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First-aid for a habu bite. Suck out the venom and spit it out.19 views
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Okinawan shishi-mai lion dance.19 views
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Pricing for renting Okinawan bingata kimono.19 views
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Weaving Okinawan fabrics.19 views
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Kingdom Village also has a noborigama sloping kiln for pottery. 登り窯19 views
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Bus came on time. No. 83 back to Naha.19 views
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Urasoe Castle (浦添城) is on a low hill near Urasoe-Maeda Station on Yui Rail.19 views
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ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort as seen from Manzamo. 18 views
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Japanese victims are inscribed by prefecture. Foreign nationals are inscribed by country.18 views
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Some pineapple on Ishigaki.18 views
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Squirrel Monkey Garden entrance. You need to leave your bags at the entrance. リスザルの森18 views
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Ishigaki Port boat dock.18 views
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Our Anei Kanko high-speed boat to Iriomote. 第12あんえい号18 views総トン数19t 旅客定員89名 航海速力38.0ノット 2003年12月進水・2004年1月就航
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Euglena Mall years ago. A small shopping arcade very near Ishigaki Port.18 views
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Hirugi Restaurant in Hotel Miyahira, Ishigaki. Notice the chopstick rest made of a shell.18 views
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