Okinawa World: The Ryūkyū Islands Theme Park

The entrance of Okinawa World features a traditional red-tiled roof and the Shishiku-no-Tō monument displaying Okinawa’s lion-like shīsa.

A large stone marks the entrance to the Gyokusendō limestone cave.

Stalactites and stalagmites jut from the walls of Gyokusendō’s cavernous Tōyōichidō chamber.

The iridescent blue Ao no Izumi is one of the many underground pools in the cave.

Colored lights enhance the mystical underground atmosphere.

A wide variety of fruiting plants grow in the tropical orchard, including many local specialties.

Visitors can enjoy treats like fresh juice at the Fruit Parlor refreshment stand.

A yachimun ceramics workshop inside a traditional house.

Traditional houses with red-tiled roofs in the Kingdom Village.

The former Taba family residence is registered an important cultural property. It houses a workshop for traditional paper making.

A fūru at the former residence of the Chinen family dates from the nineteenth century. The stone structure served as a latrine and pen, with the human excrement used to feed pigs. Fūru were used until fairly recently, but were banned in the postwar period as unsanitary.

A performer plays a sanshin, a traditional Okinawan three-string instrument similar to a shamisen. Visitors are welcome to give it a try.

The Okinawa Culture Center. Like many other buildings in the park, it has a red-tiled roof in the traditional Okinawan style.

Dancers perform in the Super Eisā Show, which lasts around 30 minutes.

A performance of the Okinawan dance yuchidaki. There are also shows of the Okinawan version of the shishimai lion dance and the angama from the Yaeyama Islands.

The spacious, open-air performance pavilion.

The Habu Museum Park has exhibits on different species of lizards and other animals found in Okinawa.

A snake-filled vat of habushu.

Souvenir shopping at the park’s shop is the perfect way to finish a visit.