Okinawa is Japan's tropical paradise: sun, sand and palm trees. It's also one of Japan's rainiest places. Tourists can easily find themselves caught in a cloudburst...or days of rain when there's a typhoon in the vicinity. But the intrepid tourist needn't to be deterred by a little precipitation (typhoons, of course, are another matter). When … Continue reading Shuri Castle on a rainy day
This article describes various lessons one can take while visiting Okinawa (including karate, glass blowing and pottery-making) to get a real taste of the culture of the islands. (Archived article originally published by Japan Today.)
Particularly after World War I (perhaps earlier and continuing even now), it was not unusual for military forces to build underground facilities. The principal reasons were doubtless concealment--their presence was harder to detect--and protection--they were harder to be destroyed by the enemy if they were detected. Examples include the facilities of France's Maginot Line, Singapore's … Continue reading War goes underground: Japan’s former Naval headquarters in Okinawa
This article introduces a number of ideas for things to do and see in the Sakishima Islands of Okinawa. (Archived article originally published by Japan Today.)
Semi-tropical Okinawa is famously the first place cherry blossoms are seen in Japan every year. And they’re blooming now! One of the most popular cherry blossom viewing spots on Okinawa’s main island is Nakijin Castle Ruins. The ruins are on the Motobu Peninsula in the northern part of the island. There has been a stone … Continue reading Nakijin Castle – blossoms among the ruins
This article identifies a number of non-beach sites and activities not to miss in Okinawa. (Archived article - originally published in the ACCJ Journal, November, 2013)
