Naha

Naha is the capital of Osaka and its mascot is the shisa, a type of guardian lion dog. 

They looked a little different in the past.

This guy was a mascot in a neighboring town.

Pokemon shisas?

We stayed in a hotel next to an excellent lobster.

The Okinawa Prefectural Museum was constructed in an intimidating architectural style.

Traditional Ryukyu structures were built outside.

A Naha temple bell cast in the 15th century

A model of a Ryukyuan Trade Ship used to pay tribute and trade with China in the 15th century

The ships also traded with Japan, Vietnam, and some of the Indonesian islands.

The Ryukyu Kingdom ruled the Ryukyu Islands from Okinawa Island from 1429-1879, when they were conquered by by the Japanese.

The sanshin, the Okinawan banjo traditionally made of snake skin.

Okinawans disposed of their dead through fuso, or exposure, before cremation caught on. After several years of exposure, the bones were put in urns called zushi-game.

Bone washing was known as senkotsu.

Pinwheels presented when someone turns 97

All great tradition roofs have shisa.

The Kokuo Shotoku-hi, a monument commemorating the king's virtue, was erected in 1543 outside Shuri Castle. The front is written in Japanese script, the back in Chinese script.

Shuri Castle was built in 1429 and was the residence of the king of the newly unified Ryukyu Kingdom.

Sho Hashi was recognized by the Ming Emperor as the legitimate king, and the Ryukyu court was based on the Chinese system.

A dragon pillar that used to be located in front of Shuri Castle

Shuri Castle was decimated during the Battle of Okinawa in WWII, rebuilt in the 1990s, and burned down in a fire in 2019.

From Shuri Castle you can see most of Naha to the ocean. 

Tamaudun is one of the royal Ryukyu mausoleums and was built in 1501.

Another hill in Naha contains the former Japanese Imperial Navy underground headquarters.

Improvised Nikudan, or human bullet, weapons used against tanks by the Japanese to halt the U.S. advance. Explosives were attached to the end of the spears.

Memorials to peace surround the entrance.

"Wall riddled with a hand-grenade when committed suicide"

While in the tunnels, we saw a local man and his daughter mocking the death of the Japanese admiral. His legacy is still controversial, as it is asserted he attempted to mitigate the harsh and racist treatment of the Okinawans by the Japanese.

A shrine near Asahigaoka Park

Naminoue Shrine overlooks the coast and was frequented by fishermen.

Fukushuen is a traditional Chinese garden

It was built in 1992 to celebrate the sister city relationship between Naha and Fuzhou.

It has and excellent koi pond where you can feed the fish.

Naha is famous for its yearly tug of war festival

Thousands of people participate using the world's largest rice-straw rope

I guess Garfield playing sports in popular in Japan?

Naha is famous in Japan for having A&W restaurants.

It's American!

No no Budo Okinawa CARGOES is the best breakfast buffet in Naha. Come early; the beer tap is only open from 6-8 A.M.

Conveyer belt sushi has changed since COVID.

A robot waiter

Sea grapes, a traditional Naha food

Sakaba Namihei was an excellent Izakaya restaurant in Naha.

Naha cat

American Village is a tourist attraction located close to the largest American military base on Okinawa.

Its mostly a mall with an "American" theme

It was well decorated for Christmas.

Not sure what the theme is here.

Are the women battleships or the battleships women?

A Pikachu donut from Mister Donut

You have to win your Pringles. 

Chatan Steam Seafood was the best deal around.

Kushiyaki skewers

Habu Sake is awamori rice liquor with a pit viper in it. Its venom dissolves in the alcohol and eliminates the poison. Most small restaurants have a bell you can ring to pour Habu shots.

Hopefully this isn't the impression Americans give off.