Tuesday 13th March 2018
Okinawa is Japan's southernmost region, consisting of small islands in the southern half of the Nansei Shoto, the island chain which stretches from Kyushu to Taiwan. Okinawans retain their own language and culture. The key Naha cultural sight of is Shurijo Castle, a UNESCO Heritage site, the seat of power during the 500-year reign of the Ryukyuan Kingdom. Destroyed in World War II and rebuilt in 1992, the castle’s hilltop location provides gorgeous views over the city.
Seriously early start today, 05.30, well before dawn, and I thought this was a holiday.
During breakfast a bright red sun rose above the skyline of the city, very apt for the rising sun to show itself here in “the land of the rising sun”.
Short delays while we went through the formalities of Japanese immigration etc and then joined our tour bus.
Away through the city to Shurijo Castle. Hilltop position, multiple defensive walls and gates surrounding the central buildings.
Early morning visit and low sun angles made for difficult photography and blue skies only showed up when looking in the right direction. All day stayed warm and sunny.
Followed our guide up through the castle and into the main hall, the Seiden, and the two side halls
All an interesting museum full of art works, examples of traditionally constructed timber and rice paper screened rooms with tatami mats and all opening out onto calming gardens for the accommodation of the royals.
No shoes in the main halls and no photos for a large part of the interiors.
The beautifully decorated throne room and models showing the ceremonial use of the courtyard and halls when in use by the local kings.
All reconstructions as everything so badly damaged or destroyed in WW2. Imposing defensive walls and gates, plus shrines.
Back on the bus to get to our second stop at Kokusai Dori, the main shopping street, the adjacent Makishi Market and a local craft centre.
The street full of all sorts of shops, souvenir shops, restaurants, designer labels, etc.
The market a real mixture of shops/stalls selling pretty much everything imaginable plus all sorts of food stuffs, notably pork, they are famous for eating every part of the pig hereabouts, and a wide variety of fish, all sorts of colours and types.
The local crafts area contained very smart handmade glassware, pottery, etc.
Then back on the bus to return to the ship. The traditional homes along the way frequently had a pair of lions on their roofs. Believed to give protection to the home.
These represent a female and male lion
Once onboard time for a refreshing drink and a couple of quizzes, a win this afternoon when our usual good score was topped off with a win of the tiebreak, for once, then time to sit out on deck in the sun until sailaway.
At sailaway we were entertained by the locals on the quayside with a demonstration of traditional drumming, very good.
As usual the sailaway clashed with our dinner time in the main restaurant so it was the buffet again, lucky the buffet is so good.
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