I tried to go Okinawa with my wife by joining a JTB tour program instead that
we had stopped our 4-brother's travel abroad this year. I participated in the
travel to Okinawa with exotic atmoshere and I could enjoy enough for 4 days
from November 22th to 25th of 2017.
☆The 1st day(Haneda to Okinawa)
I left my house with times enough so that we could have enough times to take lunch at
Haneda airprt. However, we came to take our flight at the last moment because of my
baggage inspection trouble inspite of departure time delayed for 30 minutes. We arrived at
Naha airport after two and a half hour flight. When our airframe landed on the runway
safely, I could feel easy because our airflame was shaken by air turbulence on the way. Our
tour conductor was waiting at the exit and we got into the bus. I felt hot and moist because
of about 10℃temperature difference with Tokyo. At first we visited a restaurant named as "
Steak House"where we enjoyed tasting steaks and seafoods cooked by a cook in our
presence and toasted with Orion beer. After then our bus headed toward the north via
Route 58 and arrived at the hotel "Okinawa Granmail Resort" built on the hill in the east of
Okinawa. There were many "See-Sah"figures on the entrance wall of the hotel. Night view
was seen from the window of our room.
☆The 2nd day(Sightseeing to Northern district)
We left the hotel at 8:15. Our bus headed toward the north, arrived at "Fruit Land"
(subtropical orchard) in Nago city, enjoyed seeing colorful flowers,plants and such trees as
pineapple, mango, star-fruit etc. and I realized the difference of climate and temperature
between Okinawa and mainland. After then our bus went up to the north through Yagachi
island in the northwest of Nago city heading toward the top of Kouri island. We could see
the sea said to have the most beautiful surface in Okinawa via Kouri bridge (1960m long).
We approached the nice place to take a photograph at the seaside of the island and I was
impatient of pushing button of my camera. After getting on the bus, we went down to the
south along coast line and got off the bus at Ryukyu castle including "Butterfly garden"
where we took lunch and went around the garden to see curious plants and large butterfly "
Ogomadara"(about 7-8cm long) largest in Japan. I was surprised to see the chrysalis of the
butterfly colored with gold hanged from branches. How mysterious is it ! In the after noon
we moved to "Ocean Expo Park" adjacent to the Ryukyu castle. This national park was
established in August, 1976, in commemoration of Okinawa International Ocean Exposition in
1975, at the site of the Exposition. The park located near the beach included Okinawa
aquarium largest in Japan and the pool called "Okichan theater"where we could see dolphin'
s shows. We visited first the aquarium where we excited to see whale shark, manta and
other various kind of fishes. Next we walked in a strong wind to the dolphin theater and
enjoyed seeing dolphins performance which was amazing. After leaving there, we dropped at
the "Cake palace" in Nago city and then we headed toward the hotel staying tonight in On-
na village through the coastline. The hotel had a large stairwell in the center and a tropical
specific deluxe feeling. After taking dinner I went to the large bathroom with a view of the
ocean and relaxed in the warm water.
☆The 3rd day(Sightseeing to central district)
We left from our hotel at 8 o'clock, headed toward the south along coastline and arrived
at "Ryukyu-mura" in Yomitan village in 30 minutes. Traditional old houses were arranged in
the "Ryukyu-mura" and we could enjoy seeing Acer dance in the central plaza under the
gajumal trees. Next we visited the black sugar factory and knew the manufacturing process
made from sugarcanes. After then our bus ran further to the south through both Ginowan
and Urazoe city and arrived at Naha city. We reached world heritage"Shuri Palace"built on
the top of the east hill and went up to the central palace via "Shureimon". Ryukyu Dynasty
governed Okinawa for about 500 years from 1429 as the center of politics and culture. The
palace colored with red was registered as the world cultural heritage in 2000. However it
was burnt down in the Okinawa war in 1945, nevertheless about 60 percent of the ruined
castle was restored and still under construction. We visited inside and was able to know the
specific Ryukyu culture. After getting on the bus, then we stopped at "Cake palace"located
in the Kokusai Street for shopping and lunch. In the afternoon we participated in the
optional trip to visit the south east of Chinen peninsula. From the east coast we took a
glass boat and could see corals and tropical fish in the bottom of the sea through the boat's
bottom of the glass. After then we went to "Okinawa World"(Theme park) where we could
visit "Gyokusen-do"one of the largest limestone cave in Japan which was discovered by
the research team from Ehime University in March,1967. I heard the number of stalactites
is more than one million with 5,000m length out of which 890m is open to public now. I was
amazed at seeing the natural beauty created in 300,000 years. When I went out of the
ground from the sultry underground, I could feel cool at last and enjoyed seeing Super Acer
Dance. The hotel stayed tonight was "Hotel Gland View Garden Okinawa" near the Naha
airport in Tomishiro City.
☆The 4th day（Sightseeing to Southern district）
The bus waited us at 8:10 in front of the hotel. I also joined the optional trip today. We
started for "Himeyuri Memorial Mouniment"in the southern district of Itoman city. We
praied to the victims killed in Okinawa war in front of the monument. There was a hole
following the cave where Okinawa army's 3rd surgery department was located there in
those days. In feelings such as my chest pain, we visited "Himeyuri Peace Museum"in
adjacent to the monument and I was shocked to see such miserable records as victim's
relics, photograph and survivor's testmony collection. I returned to the bus in feeling like
running away. After then we visited Ryukyu glass factory and I was attracted to the Ryukyu
glass. We made the final trip to visit to Awamori factory, learned manufacturing process of
Awamori and enjoyed tasting them. After finishing all schedule, we headed to the Naha
airport and we parted from everyone there. And we got in our way back by JAL 906
departed at 12:50.
mainland that I felt is as follows. ①The road is almost constructed well but winding and
sloping up and down. ②Most houses are constructed from concrete to protect from
typhoon.③Cooler is using even in winter. ④The grave is as large as house as compared with
mainland.⑤People including sales women are likely to be kind.⑥Beautiful women to be seen.
⑦Jungle is lush to the top of hill, not high mountain.⑧It is different obviously climate and
natural features.⑨The structure of the building is likely to be weak as compared with
mainland.⑩Good growth of plants with large leaves and trunks.⑪The weather is changeable.
(The End)
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