Okinawa – a Japanese prefecture, located on the Ryukyu Islands is one of the largest attractions in Japan, and with a population of over 1.4 million, is home to many.
The prefecture is full of history, formerly known as the Ryukyu Kingdom that strived for hundreds of years from 1429 to 1879, later formally annexed and dissolved by Japan to form Okinawa Prefecture, the region that has now become world-famous and has many wonders to discover.
Live Webcam View of East China Sea From Okinawa in Japan shows you a stretch of Naha Airport
When it comes to Japan, the greatest wonders of any prefecture have to be the local foods and Okinawa is a great example of a world of absolutely tasty and breathtaking regional dishes. Okinawa Soba is as simple, yet as exemplary as it gets. It is a regional dish that exemplifies the Okinawan culture.
It is a noodle dish originating in the cuisine of the Ryukyu Kingdom’s imperial court, featuring a light salt-flavored broth with noodles made out of wheat flour, salt, and alkaline water, upon which boneless pork ribs and fish cake are placed. This dish is also a great outlet to showcase all the different corners of the prefecture as the dish can vary based on the area of the region.
Goya Champuru is another great dish and perhaps even the most famous of Okinawa’s homemade cuisine. Vegetables, tofu, meat, and more are used to stir-fry together and flavor with bonito broth and other flavors. Once again, different corners of the prefecture have slight to moderate variations that give their own spin on the home-made dish.
The islands have plenty to offer when it comes to activities as well. May it be the Okinawa World, a theme park that is located in the Gyokusendo Cave, or the underwater ruins of the Yonaguni. There is pretty much anything for everyone. The region even has whales!
Itoman is a town that is known for its history and is a place where you can visit spots such as the Okinawa Peace Park that commemorates the legendary Battle of Okinawa. The Peace Park is made up of several areas including a memorial called the Cornerstone of Peace that has engravings of the names of the men and women who died there during the battle.
You can also check out the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum, which will fill you in on some of the history of the battle.
Finally, there is also the Okinawa Peace Memorial Hall which has a tower and artwork that commemorates the battle.
If you’re interested in doing some shopping, that might be a bit more interesting than your weekly grocery shop visit, the Makishi Market is located on Okinawa Honto and has the nickname of “The Kitchen of Okinawa” which tells you all you need to know about the array of produce on sale there.
The market dates all the way back to the Second World War and now hosts around 400 shops where you can browse and pick up some of the most famous products in Okinawa, anything from seaweed to preserved sea snake. There are also a number of cafes and restaurants there that serve traditional Okinawan dishes made with local ingredients not found in other parts of Japan, so it might as well be worth a visit for that alone.
You might be happy to find out that the weather in the region is great as well, ranging from a humid subtropical climate to a tropical rainforest climate. It is also home to many great beaches and water-based locations, like the Nagannu Island, which is a popular place for ocean walking.
But the beauty of the ocean becomes obvious once you jump in, with whale, shark, and even ray sightings, you are bound to have an underwater adventure in Okinawa. There are many other activities you can partake in the water, such as sailing, fishing, surfing, and much more.
As mentioned already, the weather is wonderful too, reaching temperatures of the around high 20s to low 30s (degrees of Celsius) during the summer months, you’re sure to have pleasant weather that never gets too overbearing.
And with so many activities, culture, amazing food, and adventures to have, the Okinawa Prefecture is a wonderful place to travel to. But if you still want some proof, feel free to take a look using one of the free webcams that you can find on this page!
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