 Most viewed - OKINAWA 沖縄県 |
At the castle wall, go right and walk along the stone wall.18 views
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During World War II, the Japanese Army's HQ was in underground bunkers under Shuri Castle. One entrance was right near Shureimon Gate.18 views
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After Kankaimon is Zuisenmon Gate near a spring. Restored in 1992. 瑞泉門18 views
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Going through Zuisenmon Gate. 瑞泉門18 views
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About the stone dragon pillars.18 views
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One thing that they're all saying is, "We shall rebuild it and make it EVEN BETTER than ever before."18 views
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Path to Agari-no Azana lookout point.18 views
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Agari-no Azana lookout point on the eastern end of Shurijo. "Agari" means "east" in Okinawan. 東のアザナ18 views
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View from Agari-no Azana lookout point.18 views
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Iri-no Azana lookout deck. 西のアザナ（いりのあざな）18 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）18 views
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Seesaa at Suimuikan entrance.18 views
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Costume worn by actress Nakama Yukie.18 views
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Next to Shuri Castle is Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts.18 views
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We started driving around the island.18 views
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Map of Kouri Ocean Tower.18 views
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Approaching Kouri Ocean Tower.18 views
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Beautiful ocean views from Kouri Ocean Tower's top lookout deck.18 views
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Some natural formations on Kouri Island.18 views
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Main side of the island near the bridge.18 views
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Intersection in front of Kokusai-dori.18 views
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Entrance to Kokusai-dori.18 views
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Entrance to Kokusai-dori.18 views
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Shisa guardian lion-dog.18 views
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Gift shop modeled after Shuri Castle.18 views
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Beni-imo tarts are Okinawa's most famous confection and omiyage gift. Made of Okinawan sweet potato (purple yam) in a boat-like crust.18 views
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This new tart flavor is also good.18 views
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Kariyushi shirts, Okinawan-style Aloha shirts. Make sure the shirt is made in Okinawa. Cheaper ones are made elsewhere in Asia.18 views
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Taiko drums for sale on Kokusai-dori.18 views
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Haisai Okinawa Building on Kokusai-dori. ハイサイおきなわビル18 views
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Haisai Okinawa Building on Kokusai-dori. ハイサイおきなわビル18 views
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Not so many people during a pandemic.18 views
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Most cheap clothing not made in Okinawa. The cheap ones especially.18 views
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Colorful neon signs at Kokusai-dori, Naha.18 views
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Sam's Maui on Kokusai-dori, Naha.18 views
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Lots of Okinawan restaurants on Kokusai-dori.18 views
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Lizard on Kokusai-dori.18 views
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Go to Travel discounts were great in autumn 2020 in Naha, Okinawa.18 views
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Washita Shop sells CDs besides food and drink.18 views
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Blue Seal ice cream, another brand associated with Okinawa.18 views
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Beni-imo soft service ice cream cone from Blue Seal.18 views
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At Pallet Kumoji mall, there was this Shuri Castle illumination monument complemented by paper lanterns. (首里城うむいの燈(あかり)モニュメント)18 views
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Boat dock at Tomari Port , Naha.18 views
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"Ceiling of Spears" 槍天井18 views
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Freshwater goby, one of the creatures that live in the cavern. ヨシノボリ18 views
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Stone walls in front of Uezu residence.18 views
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At Okinawa World, studio to try on Okinawan bingata kimono and pose for photos.18 views
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Lots of different shisa displayed in the museum.18 views
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Buses in Naha look almost the same on the inside as buses in Tokyo. However, in Naha you board and exit through the front door. The back door doesn't work. In most cases, you pay the fare when you get off. 18 views
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Some sugar cane in Nanjo, Okinawa.18 views
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Walking to the Cornerstone of Peace.17 views
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Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum (沖縄県平和祈念資料館)17 views
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Flame of Peace in the world map. 平和の火17 views
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About the Cornerstone of Peace.17 views
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Cape Ogansaki 御神埼17 views
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Anei Kanko high-speed boat named "Paijima" for 181 passengers. We rode this boat from Ohara, Iriomote back to Ishigaki Port. ぱいじま17 views
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When you walk toward Kankaimon Gate to enter Shuri Castle, you'll see Shureimon Gate right across. However, this is the back side, so go through the gate and see it from the front side.17 views
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About Roukokumon Gate.17 views
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On the left side of the Seiden site, remains of rooftop dragon head sculptures are displayed.17 views
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Shinbyoden is a sacred spot where a deceased Ryukyu king laid in state. 寝廟殿（しんびょうでん）17 views
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Walking back down from Agari-no Azana lookout. Straight ahead is the Nyokan Kyoshitsu.17 views
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Rest area inside Suimuikan 1st floor. There's also a cafe in the corner. Basement has lockers and underground parking lots. 首里杜館17 views
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Panel exhibition of Shuri Castle treasures.17 views
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Caps worn by actress Nakama Yukie in Tempest.17 views
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About Kouri Island.17 views
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Event calendar on Kouri Island.17 views
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Island's main neighborhood has a few cafes.17 views
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Had lunch here at Airando FIJI Restaurant & Cafe. It had a view of the bridge and ocean on the roof too.17 views
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Map of Kokusai-dori.17 views
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Okinawan dolls for sale on Kokusai-dori.17 views
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Doesn't feel like I'm in Okinawa until I see and hear Okinawan music. Well-known Okinawan female quartet since the 1990s.17 viewsThey played their original hit songs like "Kogane no Hana" (黄金の花), Okinawan folk favorites like "Tinsagu no Hana" (てぃんさぐの花) and tracks from their latest CD.
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They've lasted this long thanks to occasional personnel changes. The current members are the sixth incarnation of the group.17 views
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Rubber slippers17 views
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Another Okinawan live house on Kokusai-dori.17 views
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A&W restaurant (Kokusai-dori branch) is another Okinawa favorite from the US. Took only a few root beer sips to relish teenage memories. Too much sugar for me now.17 views
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Washita Shop's Kokusai-dori branch. Well-known chain selling Okinawan products. They also have branches in Tokyo (near Yurakucho) and major cities in Japan. https://www.washita.co.jp/info/shop/ginza/17 views
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Pallet Kumoji steps.17 views
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Bleachers at Naminoue Beach.17 views
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Naha Airport Domestic Terminal.17 views
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The part of the cavern open to the public is 890 meters long. Takes about 30 min. to walk through it. Diverse features and stalactites everywhere with colored lighting.17 views
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The cavern basically follows an underground stream. Tourists can walk on this walkway. It's always wet and water dripping.17 views
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"Ceiling of Spears" 槍天井17 views
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Habu zoo.17 views
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The trainer mentioned that in the past, they had a mongoose and habu snake fight each other in the show. But due to animal rights concerns, it was discontinued. These are only stuffed animals on display in the Habu Museum.17 viewsThe mongoose was introduced to Okinawa in 1910 to control the habu population. But the mongoose instead preyed on other native species.
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Where habu bites occur. Most common (31.8%) on the fingers, then the calf of your leg. Ouch!17 views
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Brewing Habu liquor or habu-shu (ハブ酒) made with awamori or brandy.17 views
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Stone wall for privacy in front of Uezu residence.17 views
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Inside Uezu Residence.17 views
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Okinawan bingata kimono17 views
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Indigo dyeing workshop.17 views
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Scale model of one shisa in front of Okinawa World's main gate.17 views
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Stone wall17 views
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Stone slabs inscribed with over 240,000 names of people who died in the battle. Civilians and military, Japanese and foreign.16 views
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Stone slabs are like folding screens in a slight zig-zag pattern.16 views
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View from Nosokodake Lookout Point in northern Ishigaki. 16 views
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Inside Ishigaki Yaeyama Museum. Exhibits Yaeyama's archaeology, history, art, and folk customs. 石垣市立八重山博物館16 views
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In front of Ishigaki Port is Hotel Miyahira. Went there for lunch.16 views
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Sonohyan-Utaki Ishimon, place of worship. 園比屋武御嶽石門（そのひゃんうたきいしもん）16 views
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Sonohyan-Utaki Ishimon is a World Heritage Site. 園比屋武御嶽石門（そのひゃんうたきいしもん）16 views
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Thanks for posing, Ryukyu King and Queen!16 views
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What to see from Agari-no Azana lookout point.16 views
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The western end of Shurijo is this entrance to Iri-no Azana lookout deck. 西のアザナ（いりのあざな）16 views
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Kouri Ocean Tower has three lookout decks and the top deck on the 4th floor is outdoors.16 views
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Entrance to Kokusai-dori is flanked by two shisa guardian lion-dogs.16 views
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In central Naha, Kokusai-dori (国際通り), main drag of tourist shops and restaurants. Lined with palm trees.16 views
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The show is great with colorful costumes and singing. There's also audience participation. Not allowed to go up and dance though.16 views
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In recent years, they've been spelling their name in English as "Nenez." However, the original spelling is "Nenes" which is how I still spell their name. 16 viewsNot to be confused with the Hawaiian goose. "Nene" means "sister" in Okinawan, equivalent to "ne-chan" in Japanese.
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Okinawa Mart16 views
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Naminoue Shrine roof.16 views
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Statue of ?? at Naminoue Shrine.16 views
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On Naha's waterfront, Commodore Perry Landing Monument. Perry first landed in Naha in May 1853 and was finally able to visit Shuri Castle on June 6, 1853 after insisting on it. Meanwhile, his crew explored the island and saw interesting things.16 views
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Orchids inside Naha Airport. 胡蝶蘭16 views
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Helicopter landing in Naha.16 views
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Okinawa World front gate.16 views
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Chinese-style tri-color shisa with glazed finish. Made in China and originally decorated the Chinese Pavilion at the Tsukuba Expo '85 in Ibaraki Prefecture.16 views
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Where the stalactites are too long, they had to be cut to make way for tourists.16 views
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Golden rock16 views
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Platform for a higher shot/view.16 views
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Habu's nostril, eyes, and pit.16 views
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It was to see which would reach the other end of the tube first. The tubes were about 5 meters long.16 views
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Great show! Saw it twice.16 views
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Paper craft workshop. 紙漉き16 views
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About shisa in Okinawa.16 views
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How bingata kimono is made.16 views
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About the former site of the Aikoku Chiso Memorial Monument.16 views
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Map of Cornerstone of Peace witin the Okinawa Peace Prayer Park.15 views
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Cape Ogansaki 御神埼15 views
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Inside the Ishigaki Port terminal building. This building opened on Jan. 31, 2007 after the terminal and boat docks were moved here from the old port only 200 meters east. On the right is a planetarium.15 views
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Statue of Gushiken Yoko at Ishigaki Port, former pro boxer and local hero from Ishigaki. This statue was unveiled in Dec. 2013.15 views
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Japan Coast Guard boat. They have the hard job of patrolling and protecting the nearby Senkaku Islands, part of Ishigaki.15 views
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Walking back down from Agari-no Azana lookout. On the left is the back of the Yohokoriden.15 views
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Suimuikan is another rest house for visitors. Basement has underground parking lots. 首里杜館15 views
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The cart path is lined with Okinawan plants and flowers.15 views
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Views from Kouri Ocean Tower's top lookout deck.15 views
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Kouri Ocean Tower's top lookout deck.15 views
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Beni-imo tart is sold everywhere in Okinawa. Like macadamia nut chocolates in Hawaii, there are many Beni-imo tart brands in Okinawa. I'm told the most famous brand is Okashi Goten (御菓子御殿), the confection's inventor. 15 views
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Inside the Okashi Goten (御菓子御殿) tart shop.15 views
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Beni-imo tart shop.15 views
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Habu liquor or habu-shu with a dead habu snake inside. Made with awamori or brandy. The extract from the snake supposed to be good for you. The snake's venom is somehow neutralized by the alcohol, so it's not poisonous when you drink it.15 viewsNever tried it. What do people do with the snake after drinking the sake? Would a bird of prey eat an alcohol-soaked snake? ハブ酒
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Sanshin for sale on Kokusai-dori.15 views
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Haisai Okinawa Building entrance on Kokusai-dori. ハイサイおきなわビル15 views
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Heiwa-dori shopping arcade, a side street off Kokusai-dori.15 views
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Naha Bus on Kokusai-dori. There are larger buses too.15 views
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Naminoue Beach in central Naha is convenient for a quick swim or sunbathing. 波の上ビーチ15 views
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Naminoue Beach Park.15 views
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Naminoue Shrine torii.15 views
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Naminoue Shrine's ema prayer tablet. (For the Year of the Mouse in 2020.)15 views
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Hibiscus15 views
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Dragon bridge across Tomari Port.15 views
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Boat dock at Tomari Port.15 views
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Yellow hibiscus15 views
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Yui Rail Naha Airport Station platform.15 views
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Urinal with a view at the men's restroom at Naha's departure gates. This photo was taken on a previous trip to Okinawa. The window was transparent.15 views
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Pair of shisa after entering the Okinawa World gate.15 views
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Lots of blue lighting.15 views
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At the end of the Gyokusendo Cavern is a long escalator going back up to ground level for the exit.15 views
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The trainer explained about the habu while handling it with a hooked pole.15 views
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The habu's rear pair of fangs excrete the venom.15 views
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The mongoose immediately and hilariously swam through the tube, winning the race hands down.15 views
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Hooked poles for catching habu. Habu are caught for making Habu-shu liquor.15 views
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The extract from the snake supposed to be good for you. The snake's venom is somehow neutralized by the alcohol, so it's not poisonous when you drink it.15 viewsSo what do they do with the snake after drinking the habu-shu? Would a bird of prey eat an alcohol-soaked snake?
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Eisa Plaza is where they perform the eisa drum show. エイサー広場15 views
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Rear view of stone walls.15 views
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Okinawa World's Kingdom Village also has other traditional Okinawan homes converted into gift shops and craft workshops.15 views
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Okinawan bingata kimono15 views
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Shisa (シーサー) guardian lion dog statue on the roof to ward off evil spirits. 15 views
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Indigo fabric goods.15 views
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Inside Okinawa Culture Center. Two rooms with glass cases of artifacts.15 views
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Shisa made of ivory.15 views
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Masks, handkerchiefs, neckties dyed green with sugar cane leaves. Very nice green color.15 views
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Side of the noborigama sloping kiln15 views
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About the noborigama sloping kiln.15 views
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Pottery workshop in Okinawa World.15 views
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Glassware you can make at Ryukyu Glass Kingdom Studio.15 views
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Okinawa World's gift shop.15 views
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Cape Manzamo elephant trunk (rock).14 views
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About the Kouri Bridge.14 views
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About the Naha-Fuzhou Friendship City Exchange Monuments (Ryuchu dragon pillars) in Naha, Okinawa.14 views
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Naminoue Shrine torii. 波上宮 14 views
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Naminoue Shrine's main hall. 波上宮 14 views
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Seesaa at Naminoue Shrine.14 views
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William Board, a sailor from Commodore Perry's crew, is also buried here after he was caught assaulting a local female and was stoned by villagers in 1854. He was drunk and fell into the water and drowned.14 viewsThis occurred while Perry went to Uraga. He had left a few crew in Naha, to be picked up on his return trip. A trial was held for the men who stoned Board. They were punished by being exiled to remote islands including Yaeyama. There's a small gravestone for Board in the cemetery.
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About a month later, he and his Black Ships shocked mainland Japan off Uraga in Kanagawa Prefecture. In the following year, after the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Peace and Amity was signed in Yokohama, 14 viewsPerry visited Naha again and signed the Ryukyu-U.S. Treaty of Amity on July 11, 1854. ペリー提督上陸記念碑
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About Captain Basil Hall.14 views
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SIgns at Tomari Port.14 views
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Floor map of Tomarin.14 views
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Dragon bridge across Tomari Port.14 views
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Orchids inside Naha Airport. 胡蝶蘭14 views
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Orchids on the concourse to the gates.14 views
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Naha Airport departure gates.14 views
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The Yaeyama Islands (Ishigaki) are a one-hour flight from Naha. Japan's most remote islands, but easy to get to on flights from Naha or Tokyo. We simply call them "Yaeyama."14 views
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Pink whale shark Japan Transocean Air (JTA) Boeing 737-800 plane at Naha Airport.14 views
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Ryukyu Air Commuter DHC8-Q400CC (DH4) propeller plane taking off from Naha Airport.14 views
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Landing in Naha Airport. The new international terminal was not built yet.14 views
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