White Beach

Shuri Temple.

Shopping in Heiwa Dori, Naha.

WES-PAC Tours to Japan

Okinawa, Japan.

Okinawa was once a kingdom of its own called the "Ryukyu" regime. During this regal period, the island thrived as a great trading center through active interrelations with neighbor nations.

White Beach Area, which is located near the tip of Katsuren peninsula, has two piers. Nuclear powered warships and submarines frequently make port calls to this area.

Shuri Castle is said to date back to the 12th century or earlier. After several hundred years of rivalry between warlords, Okinawa islands were unified as the Ryukyu Kingdom in the early 15th century. Reflecting Okinawa's active exchange with China in the 14th century, Chinese influence can be seen in the construction techniques of the castle. From the 18th century when the region came to have relationships with Japan, Korea, and other neighboring countries, some buildings were built reflecting the architectural styles of these countries.

Heiwa Dori is a bustling indoor, shopping arcade where you will find tourists and Okinawan residents alike shopping for everything from souvenir Shisa (lion) figurines to dried sea snakes. This area used to be known as black market alley after the war, similar to those markets currently found in Southeast Asia. Now Heiwa-dori has developed into a market with a more modern atmosphere which never fails to attract visitors from mainland Japan and foreign countries.