tourism・experience・eat・shopping 2023.12.14

Visit “Okinawa World” where you can experience Okinawa’s nature, culture, and traditions

Writer

三木 愛美

List of articles

Photographer

小橋川 恵里奈

A photographer from Okinawa Prefecture. He moved to Tokyo in 2006 to study under Tomohiko Tagawa, and became independent in 2008.
He mainly shoots magazines, advertisements, portraits, etc.

List of articles

”Okinawa World” is a place where you can experience Okinawa’s nature, culture, and traditions.
Because Okinawa is an island nation, it has developed uniquely.
What is different from the places you grew up in and what are its characteristics? Okinawa World, located in the southern part of the main island, will answer your questions.

Okinawa World is divided into seven areas.

Gyokusendo is one of the more than 600 limestone caves in Okinawa. The 890m course is open to the public and you can take your time to view the stalactites.

The “Tropical Fruit Garden” is an area where many rare fruits are grown. You can observe flowers and fruits that change with the seasons.

In the “Traditional Crafts Experience,” you can experience glass crafts such as Ryukyu glass and pottery making. This is a popular area where you can try your hand at traditional crafts.

“Ryukyu Kingdom Castle Town” is an area lined with old houses with red tiles. There are many photo spots, making it a recommended place for commemorative photos.

At the “Super Eisa Show,” you can enjoy “Eisa”, an arrangement of Okinawan traditional performing arts. The dynamic movement will captivate your heart.

At the “Habu and Mongoose Show”, Habu, said to be the most venomous snake in Okinawa, appears. There will also be a swimming showdown between an exotic mongoose and a sea snake.

The Hab Museum exhibits live habu and sea snakes.

Speaking of Okinawa World, it is “Gyokusendo”. A limestone cave where you can feel the mystery of nature

Gyokusendo is a limestone cave with a total length of 5,000m. Of this, 890m is open to the public.

The beauty of the stalactites, which took about 300,000 years to create, is breathtaking! There are many sights to see. There are also stalactites that extend onto the well-maintained walkway, and being able to see them up close is one of the attractions.

Also, stalactites are not the only thing you can enjoy inside the cave. Small fish, shrimp, crabs, etc. that make their home in the rich underground water may also be seen. You may also see bats near the ceiling. There are some places where fossils are exposed, so be sure not to miss them.

As you walk through the cave, listen carefully for the sounds of underground water flowing and water dripping from stalactites. The dimly lit cave can be slippery. Proceed carefully and follow the route.

You can only see it at Okinawa World! Beauty created by stalactites

As soon as you enter the cave, you can see “Toyo Ichi Cave.” This is the only place where you can see the inside of the cave from a high place. The view of the stalactites hanging from the ceiling and the stalactites growing from the ground like bamboo shoots is breathtaking.

We also recommend the “Blue Fountain” which is beautifully lit up. The stalactites that appear in the pale light are very mysterious. This is a place where you can see a variety of stalactites.

The Gin Takibashira, where the ceiling and ground are connected, is a place where you can feel the splendor of nature. How many years did it take to become what it is now? And what kind of growth will it show in the future? Increased interest in stalactites.

Stroll around Okinawa World and visit the Ryukyu Kingdom Castle Town

Okinawa was once a country called Ryukyu. Ryukyu Kingdom Castle Town is a place where you can feel as if you have traveled back in time. You can also purchase folk crafts and other items here.

Some of the old houses with red tiled roofs are 100 years old and are registered tangible cultural properties.

There are so many things to see, such as the structure of the building, the stonework surrounding the house, and the colorful flowers! Many people also take commemorative photos with the red-tiled roofs of the houses in the background. Let’s make memories of the typical Okinawan scenery.

Some locations have QR codes. By loading it, you can check the multilingual introduction text.

There is a lot of content that you can experience only at Okinawa World!

Okinawa World is a facility that condenses the charm of Okinawa. There are not many places where you can see, enjoy, experience, and learn about Okinawa. That’s why we hope you make lots of memories of your trip that can only be experienced here.

A recommended event that will make your trip even more memorable is the “Super Eisa Show”!

The Super Eisa Show is a show that incorporates various traditional performing arts of Okinawa. There are three performances a day (10:30, 12:30, and 2:30 p.m.), each lasting approximately 30 minutes.

What is being performed is Eisa, which is a combination of the light tones of the sanshin, the powerful sound of the drums, and the brave dance that excites the venue. There are also dynamic lion dances and beautiful dances by women dressed in Ryusou costumes. Please take a look at the heart-touching voices of the singers, the unique sound of the sanshin, and the energetic performance.

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