A special tropical adventure by street kart begins on Okinawa’s
beautiful islands. The experience of racing through the Ryukyu lands
surrounded by emerald green seas and blue skies while feeling refreshing
sea breezes brings a sense of liberation and healing that can never be
experienced in urban areas. From the historical dignity of Shuri Castle
to the oceanic romance of Churaumi Aquarium and the pristine nature of
Ishigaki Island, this will be an emotional journey experiencing
Okinawa’s pride in its archipelago beauty and unique culture with your
whole body.
From tranquil morning coastlines to magical twilight sunsets. By
touring the city in sync with the daily flow of this tropical island
called Okinawa, you can deeply understand the unique sense of time this
place possesses and the gentle, warm hearts of the people living here.
This is a soul-cleansing Okinawan experience where you’ll feel the
cultural pride cultivated by the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom and the
islanders’ hearts that cherish beautiful nature.
Naha
City – Fusion of Ryukyu Kingdom History and Modernity
On Naha’s Kokusai Street, you can experience the vitality of
commercial culture developed as Okinawa’s gateway. The journey of
Okinawa from post-war reconstruction through mainland reversion to the
present is inscribed in the shops and buildings lining both sides of the
street. The warm Okinawan dialect greeting “Mensore!” expresses the
islanders’ broad-heartedness in welcoming visitors like family.
At Daiichi Makishi Public Market, as the center of Okinawa’s rich
food culture, you can fully taste subtropical blessings. Goya,
shikuwasa, purple sweet potatoes and other island vegetables and fruits
rare on the mainland are precious ingredients nurtured by Okinawa’s
climate and soil. The market people’s words “Eat this and you’ll feel
energetic!” contain love for ingredients and kindness wishing for
health.
On Tsuboya Pottery Street, you can touch Okinawa’s ceramic culture
continuing over 300 years. Pottery techniques inherited from the Ryukyu
Dynasty era are passed down by modern artists with new expressions. From
potters’ words “Each piece is handmade with heart,” you can feel deep
respect and pride for traditional crafts.
Shuri
Castle Area – Dignity and Culture of the Ryukyu Kingdom
At Shuri Castle’s main hall, you can experience the prosperity of the
Ryukyu Kingdom and its unique cultural development. The distinctive
Ryukyu architectural style fusing Chinese, Japanese, and Southeast Asian
cultures tells of the kingdom’s internationality that prospered as a
maritime nation. The beautiful vermillion buildings shine even more
vividly in the intense tropical sunlight, expressing the dignity and
high aesthetic sense of the Ryukyu Dynasty.
At Shureimon Gate, you can touch the Ryukyu Kingdom’s ideal of “a
nation that values courtesy.” Passing through this gate, you’ll feel
Ryukyu’s spirituality that loves peace and cherishes courtesy. This is
the origin of the beautiful thoughtfulness that continues to be
inherited by Okinawan people today.
Learning about Ryukyu Kingdom history through exhibits, you’ll be
moved by the wisdom of ancestors who maintained peace and prosperity
through unique diplomatic policies despite being a small island nation.
The words inscribed on the “Bell of Nations Bridge” express Okinawa’s
mission to become a bridge to the world – a peaceful ideal that
resonates even today.
Churaumi
Aquarium – Mysteries of Marine Culture
At Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, you can observe the rich marine
ecosystem around Okinawa up close. The sight of whale sharks swimming
leisurely in the huge Kuroshio Sea tank continues to evoke visitors’
exclamations of “Ocean Dream!” This is a moving experience where you can
feel the richness of Okinawan seas and the fruits of people’s efforts to
carefully protect them.
Dolphin shows let you see beautiful cooperation between humans and
marine animals. The trusting relationship between trainers and dolphins
tells of the depth of bonds built through years of training and
affection. From staff words “We cherish marine creatures,” you can feel
sincere commitment to ocean conservation.
At Ocean Expo Park around the aquarium, you can enjoy the natural
harmony woven by subtropical plants and beautiful coastlines. Local
people’s words “We want to preserve this beauty for the next generation”
contain deep love and responsibility for the natural environment. You
can understand Okinawa’s unique approach to the contemporary challenge
of balancing tourism and environmental protection.
Ishigaki
Island – Primitive Beauty of the Yaeyama Islands
On Ishigaki Island, you can experience particularly beautiful natural
environments within Okinawa Prefecture. Kabira Bay’s emerald green sea
is truly paradise on earth worthy of foreign tourists’ evaluation
“Paradise on Earth.” The coral reef beauty seen from glass boats is
natural artwork formed over long years.
In villages where Yaeyama folk songs can be heard, you can touch the
island’s unique cultural traditions. Folk songs sung to the sound of
sanshin are cultural heritage that has shared both joy and sorrow as
spiritual support for island people. From elders’ words “Songs are
medicine for the heart,” you can feel music’s spiritual healing
power.
Stargazing lets you enjoy full starry skies impossible to see in
urban areas. Ishigaki Island is certified as Japan’s first Dark Sky
Sanctuary, with beauty recognized worldwide. Voices of wonder saying “I
never knew there were so many stars” remind us of nature’s magnificence
and beauty through precious experiences.
Miyako
Island – Paradise of Blue Seas and White Sandy Beaches
At Miyako Island’s Yonaha Maehama Beach, you can experience white
sandy beaches called Japan’s most beautiful and seas with outstanding
transparency. The feel of powder sand and views of endless blue seas
continue to evoke visitors’ admiration: “This is perfection.” Before
ultimate beauty created by nature, you can feel refreshing clarity as if
your heart is being cleansed.
Irabu Ohashi Bridge offers driving pleasure as a scenic bridge
connecting Miyako Island and Irabu Island. Color changes in the sea
viewed from the bridge express the beauty of seafloor topography
continuing from shallows to deep sea. This bridge, also called “Rainbow
Bridge,” symbolically connects not just islands but people’s hearts.
Through Miyako Island’s traditional craft Miyako-ori weaving, you can
touch beautiful textile culture using plants indigenous to the island as
dyes. From weavers’ words “We weave the natural colors of the island,”
you can feel islanders’ aesthetic sense that cherishes harmony with
nature. Each carefully woven piece is artwork expressing the island’s
cultural identity.
Taketomi
Island – Red-Tile Villages and Water Buffalo Cart Charm
On Taketomi Island, you can experience beautiful villages woven by
red-tile houses retaining Okinawa’s original landscapes and white coral
sand roads. This island, designated as an Important Preservation
District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, is precious cultural
heritage conveying traditional Okinawan life to the present. From
islanders’ words “We carefully preserve traditional Okinawa,” you can
feel strong responsibility for cultural inheritance.
The experience of touring the island swaying in water buffalo carts
is Taketomi Island’s unique transportation symbolizing “leisurely island
time.” Island songs and sanshin melodies sung by guides provide healing
time that makes you forget urban noise. The gentle expressions of water
buffalo represent peaceful island life where humans and animals
coexist.
At Kondoi Beach, you can enjoy paradise-like scenery of shallow
beautiful seas and continuing white sandy beaches. True to tourists’
impressions that “you can spend time forgetting time,” here you can
spend blissful time completely liberated from urban stress. This is a
special place where you can feel the comfort of entrusting yourself to
nature’s rhythm.
Kume Island –
Island of Profound Maritime Culture
On Kume Island, you can experience natural beauty with a history
praised as “the most beautiful island in Ryukyu.” The pure white sandbar
of Hatenohama is heavenly beauty floating in emerald green seas,
perfectly described as “Heaven on earth.” Environmental protection
activities to preserve this beauty are supported by islanders’ pride and
responsibility.
Through ancient awamori brewing, you can learn about Kume Island’s
abundant water and traditional brewing techniques. From brewers’ words
“We carefully brew island blessings,” you can feel gratitude to nature
and pride in techniques. Ancient sake aged over decades has cultural
value created by the weight of time and craftsmen’s skills.
Through Kume Island tsumugi, you can touch beautiful textile culture
using natural dyeing with plants and mud indigenous to the island. From
dyers’ words “Natural colors are most beautiful,” you can understand the
richness of natural colors impossible to express with chemical dyes. The
island’s nature and craftsmen’s techniques woven into each piece of
tsumugi play important roles in communicating Okinawan cultural value to
the world.
Okinawan Music and Dance
Culture
The powerful drum resonance of Eisa is traditional performing arts
where Okinawan youth express gratitude to ancestors and love for
community. From performers’ words “We dance with heart,” you can feel
the depth of spiritual expression through performing arts. Eisa circles
where audiences and performers enjoy together express the strength of
Okinawan community spirit.
In Ryukyu dance, you can see the refined culture of the Ryukyu
Dynasty era within graceful, beautiful movements. From dancers’
explanations that “Each movement has meaning,” you can understand
artistic value beyond mere entertainment. The beauty of kimono and fan
usage expresses distinctive Ryukyu aesthetic sense different from
Japanese dance.
The simple, heart-touching voices of island songs express islanders’
life emotions, naturally expressing both joy and sadness in this musical
culture. From singers’ words “We sing the island’s heart,” you can feel
cultural characteristics where music is closely connected to life.
Street Kart Okinawa is a special activity where you can experience
the beauty of tropical nature and the depth of Ryukyu culture. Emerald
green seas, white sandy beaches, red-tile houses, and the warm hearts of
islanders. By racing through Okinawan islands where all these elements
merge, you can deeply understand the true charm of tropical resorts and
the beautiful harmony between nature and humans. Come on, with heartfelt
welcome of “Mensore!” let’s begin a grand island adventure in Okinawa
filled with healing and emotion.
