 Last additions - Nanjo 南城市 |
Some sugar cane in Nanjo, Okinawa.Jan 16, 2022
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Buses in Naha look almost the same on the inside as buses in Tokyo. However, in Naha you board and exit through the front door. The back door doesn't work. In most cases, you pay the fare when you get off. Jan 16, 2022
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Bus came on time. No. 83 back to Naha.Jan 16, 2022
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Gyokusendo-mae bus stop back to Naha. Buses are infrequent. Typical bus stop sign on Okinawa. Simple, metal panel with a grunge look. Must be like this to withstand frequent typhoons.Jan 16, 2022
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In the gift shop, bought this kariyushi shirt. Kariyushi is an Okinawan-style Aloha shirt. Most designs are muted in color, similar to showing the reverse side of the material. This design shows the deigo, Okinawa's official flower or tiger's claw (デイゴ). I made sure that it was made in Okinawa. Cheaper shirts are made elsewhere. かりゆしウェアJan 16, 2022
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Laughing shisa in the gift shop.Jan 16, 2022
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Happy shisa giftsJan 16, 2022
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Okinawa World's gift shop.Jan 16, 2022
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Okinawan red roof tilesJan 16, 2022
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Okinawan red roof tilesJan 16, 2022
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Shisa (シーサー) guardian lion dog statue on the roof.Jan 16, 2022
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Shisa (シーサー) guardian lion dog statue on the roof to ward off evil spirits at Okinawa World.Jan 16, 2022
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Orange hibiscusJan 16, 2022
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Stone wallJan 16, 2022
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Stone wallJan 16, 2022
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Chinese banyan or gajumaru tree (ガジュマル) at Okinawa World.Jan 16, 2022
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Tropical Orchard has pineapple. 熱帯フルーツ園Jan 16, 2022
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Tropical Orchard is what you see after exiting the Gyokusendo Cavern. 熱帯フルーツ園Jan 16, 2022
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Glassware you can make at Ryukyu Glass Kingdom Studio.Jan 16, 2022
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How to make glassware at Ryukyu Glass Kingdom Studio.Jan 16, 2022
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Ryukyu Glass Kingdom StudioJan 16, 2022
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Ryukyu Glass Kingdom StudioJan 16, 2022
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Ryukyu Glass Kingdom StudioJan 16, 2022
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Ryukyu Glass Kingdom Studio is where you can make your own glassware. 琉球ガラス王国工房Jan 16, 2022
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Pottery workshop in Okinawa World.Jan 16, 2022
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Pottery workshop in Okinawa World.Jan 16, 2022
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Pottery workshop in Okinawa World.Jan 16, 2022
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Pottery workshop in Okinawa World. 陶器工房Jan 16, 2022
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About the noborigama sloping kiln.Jan 16, 2022
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Side of the noborigama sloping kilnJan 16, 2022
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Botom end of the noborigama sloping kiln where the fire starts and the heat climbs up the kiln.Jan 16, 2022
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Kingdom Village also has a noborigama sloping kiln for pottery. 登り窯Jan 16, 2022
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Red hibiscus in Okinawa World.Jan 16, 2022
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Red hibiscusJan 16, 2022
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Small shisa for sale.Jan 16, 2022
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Bingata Okinawan kimono.Jan 16, 2022
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Little fish clean off your skin on your feet.Jan 16, 2022
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Diverse fabric dyeing in Okinawa.Jan 16, 2022
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Weaving Okinawan fabrics.Jan 16, 2022
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How bingata kimono is made.Jan 16, 2022
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Different shapes of the sanshin.Jan 16, 2022
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Parts of the sanshin.Jan 16, 2022
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Tin can sanshin.Jan 16, 2022
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Different sanshinJan 16, 2022
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Sugar Cane Hall also has a Sanshin exhibit.Jan 16, 2022
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About the Sanshin, Okinawa's shamisen string instrument famous for snakeskin (not habu).Jan 16, 2022
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Masks, handkerchiefs, neckties dyed green with sugar cane leaves. Very nice green color.Jan 16, 2022
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Sugar Cane Hall is mainly an exhibition space. No sugar cane. It's also the entrance/exit for the Kingdom Village. サトウキビ館Jan 16, 2022
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Okinawan children babysitting in the old days. It was a common sight on mainland Japan too.Jan 16, 2022
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Okinawan children at work.Jan 16, 2022
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Okinawan children's toys.Jan 16, 2022
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Okinawan children's toys.Jan 16, 2022
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Scale model of one shisa in front of Okinawa World's main gate.Jan 16, 2022
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In Okinawa Culture Museum, Shisa made of coral.Jan 16, 2022
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Another room of exhibits.Jan 16, 2022
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About shisa in Okinawa.Jan 16, 2022
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Lots of different shisa displayed in the museum.Jan 16, 2022
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Shisa made of ivory.Jan 16, 2022
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Inside Okinawa Culture Center. Two rooms with glass cases of artifacts.Jan 16, 2022
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Okinawa Culture Center is a small history museum in Okinawa World. 王国歴史博物館Jan 16, 2022
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Indigo fabric goods.Jan 16, 2022
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Indigo fabric goods.Jan 16, 2022
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Indigo dyeing workshop.Jan 16, 2022
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Shisa (シーサー) guardian lion dog statue on the roof to ward off evil spirits. Jan 16, 2022
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Pricing for renting Okinawan bingata kimono.Jan 16, 2022
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Okinawan bingata kimonoJan 16, 2022
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Okinawan bingata kimonoJan 16, 2022
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At Okinawa World, studio to try on Okinawan bingata kimono and pose for photos.Jan 16, 2022
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Leather crafts.Jan 16, 2022
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Paper craft workshop. 紙漉きJan 16, 2022
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Weaving workshop.Jan 16, 2022
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Okinawa World's Kingdom Village also has other traditional Okinawan homes converted into gift shops and craft workshops.Jan 16, 2022
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Uezu ResidenceJan 16, 2022
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Inside Uezu Residence.Jan 16, 2022
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Inside Uezu Residence. Sanshin also displayed.Jan 16, 2022
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Rear view of stone walls.Jan 16, 2022
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Stone wall for privacy in front of Uezu residence.Jan 16, 2022
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About the stone walls.Jan 16, 2022
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About Uezu Residence. 上州家Jan 16, 2022
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Shisa on the roof.Jan 16, 2022
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Stone walls in front of Uezu residence.Jan 16, 2022
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Uezu Residence is the grandest home in the park. Many of the homes are National Tangible Cultural Properties.上州家Jan 16, 2022
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Okinawa World also has an architectural park called "Kingdom Village" with a few traditional Okinawan homes which were moved here. This is the grandest home, called the Uezu Residence 上州家Jan 16, 2022
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Great show! Saw it twice.Jan 16, 2022
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Okinawan shishi-mai lion drinking awamori.Jan 16, 2022
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Okinawan shishi-mai lion dance.Jan 16, 2022
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Okinawan shishi-mai lion dance.Jan 16, 2022
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Okinawan Eisa drummers.Jan 16, 2022
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Large taiko drum.Jan 16, 2022
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Confusing signage, but still photos are okay, but video prohibited.Jan 16, 2022
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Super Eisa Show is performed three times a day for 30 min. スーパーエイサーショーJan 16, 2022
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Eisa Plaza is where they perform the eisa drum show. エイサー広場Jan 16, 2022
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Red hibiscus.Jan 16, 2022
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Bats sleeping.Jan 16, 2022
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Old tortoise.Jan 16, 2022
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The extract from the snake supposed to be good for you. The snake's venom is somehow neutralized by the alcohol, so it's not poisonous when you drink it.So what do they do with the snake after drinking the habu-shu? Would a bird of prey eat an alcohol-soaked snake?Jan 16, 2022
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Brewing Habu liquor or habu-shu (ハブ酒) made with awamori or brandy.Jan 16, 2022
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Inside Nanto Brewery producing habu-shu liquor. 南都酒造所Jan 16, 2022
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Boa constrictor.Jan 16, 2022
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Habu viper from Kumejima.Jan 16, 2022
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Exhibits of different species of habu. This one is from Kumejima island.Jan 16, 2022
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Hooked poles for catching habu. Habu are caught for making Habu-shu liquor.Jan 16, 2022
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First-aid for a habu bite. Suck out the venom and spit it out.Jan 16, 2022
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Where habu bites occur. Most common (31.8%) on the fingers, then the calf of your leg. Ouch!Jan 16, 2022
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Striking reach of the habu is much wider compared to a cobra. It's 360˚ all around. Watch out for it.Jan 16, 2022
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Habu Museum has many interesting exhibits about the habu. There's also some English.Jan 16, 2022
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Also showed a cobra and tried to provoke it to show its expanded neck.Jan 16, 2022
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The snake didn't understand it was a race and wandered back and forth in the tube until it finally reached the other end after correctly thinking that it was the way out. So that was the main highlight of the show...Jan 16, 2022
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The mongoose immediately and hilariously swam through the tube, winning the race hands down.Jan 16, 2022
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It was to see which would reach the other end of the tube first. The tubes were about 5 meters long.Jan 16, 2022
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In the tubes, it was a swimming race between a mongoose (upper tube) and habu (lower tube). They were both released into their tubes at the same time.Jan 16, 2022
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The stage also had two partially filled water tubes for the show's climax (?). This is the Snake and Mongoose Show. Instead of fighting each other, they race in the water.Jan 16, 2022
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The habu didn't care for the white balloon, but went for the green one in a split second. Very dramatic...Jan 16, 2022
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Two balloons to irritate the habu. Jan 16, 2022
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The trainer mentioned that in the past, they had a mongoose and habu snake fight each other in the show. But due to animal rights concerns, it was discontinued. These are only stuffed animals on display in the Habu Museum.The mongoose was introduced to Okinawa in 1910 to control the habu population. But the mongoose instead preyed on other native species.Jan 16, 2022
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Habu ready to attack. If you see this pose, run away quick.Jan 16, 2022
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Habu's nostril, eyes, and pit.Jan 16, 2022
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The habu's rear pair of fangs excrete the venom.Jan 16, 2022
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The trainer explained about the habu while handling it with a hooked pole.Jan 16, 2022
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Okinawa World's Habu show was interesting, but not particularly thrilling. The viper is not like a trained monkey doing tricks for a treat each time. The snake doesn't understand such a concept. Jan 16, 2022
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Also popular in Okinawa World is the Habu Museum Park and Habu Show. Habu is Okinawa's venomous snake. Habu Theater for the 20-min. habu show a few times/day.Jan 16, 2022
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The Habu Museum has live habu on display. Nocturnal, so they were sleeping. Habu are venomous vipers in Okinawa.Jan 16, 2022
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Habu zoo.Jan 16, 2022
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Habu Museum Park has an educational museum about the habu, a zoo of habu and other snakes, and a small hall for the habu snake show. First find out what time the next habu show will be.Jan 16, 2022
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Habu Museum Park is another major attraction of Okinawa World. Habu is a venomous pit viper endemic to the Okinawan and Amami islands. There are a number of species.Jan 16, 2022
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At the end of the Gyokusendo Cavern is a long escalator going back up to ground level for the exit.Jan 16, 2022
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Nearing the cavern exit.Jan 16, 2022
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Freshwater goby, one of the creatures that live in the cavern. ヨシノボリJan 16, 2022
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Japanese mitten crab, one of the creatures that live in the cavern. モクズガニJan 16, 2022
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Banyan tree formationJan 16, 2022
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Platform for a higher shot/view.Jan 16, 2022
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Take a selfie here.Jan 16, 2022
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Golden rockJan 16, 2022
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Blue Spring limestone dam.Jan 16, 2022
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Not sure if this is the natural color or the color of the lights.Jan 16, 2022
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Blue Spring is also a limestone dam.Jan 16, 2022
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Inside Okinawa World's Gyokusendo Cavern, this is called the Blue Spring. Perhaps the prettiest spot of all. 青の泉Jan 16, 2022
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Where the stalactites are too long, they had to be cut to make way for tourists.Jan 16, 2022
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Deer bone fossils.Jan 16, 2022
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Deer bone fossils.Jan 16, 2022
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Rest house in a cavern.Jan 16, 2022
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Ice on the walkway.Jan 16, 2022
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"Ceiling of Spears" 槍天井Jan 16, 2022
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"Ceiling of Spears" 槍天井Jan 16, 2022
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The cavern basically follows an underground stream. Tourists can walk on this walkway. It's always wet and water dripping.Jan 16, 2022
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"Buddha statues"Jan 16, 2022
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Lots of blue lighting.Jan 16, 2022
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The part of the cavern open to the public is 890 meters long. Takes about 30 min. to walk through it. Diverse features and stalactites everywhere with colored lighting.Jan 16, 2022
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The main attraction of Okinawa World is Gyokusendo (玉泉洞), one of the largest limestone caverns in Japan. It's cooler in here (21˚C), so it's great in summer.This section is called Toyo Ichido. 東洋一洞Jan 16, 2022
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Steps down to Gyokusendo Cavern.Jan 16, 2022
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Entrance to Gyokusendo Cavern or Cave. 玉泉洞Jan 16, 2022
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Red hibiscus at Okinawa World.Jan 16, 2022
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Map of Gyokusendo Cavern. Many natural features have names. After getting out of the cavern, you can go across the park toward the main gate and see the Kingdom Village.Jan 16, 2022
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Map of Okinawa World. Many attractions above the cavern. When you buy your ticket, find out when the next habu snake show will be. See it first if it will start soon. See the habu show or cavern first which are near the front gate. Also find out the Eisa drum show time. Largest building is the shopping mall and restaurant complex which you can see last. Jan 16, 2022
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Pair of shisa after entering the Okinawa World gate.Jan 16, 2022
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Okinawa World charges ¥2,000 admission. Open 9 am to 5 pm. Note that the park might be closed if there is a surge of Covid cases on Okinawa.Jan 16, 2022
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Chinese-style tri-color shisa with glazed finish. Made in China and originally decorated the Chinese Pavilion at the Tsukuba Expo '85 in Ibaraki Prefecture.Jan 16, 2022
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Okinawa World's front gate is decorated by five seesaa/shisa to ward off evil and bring in good fortune.Jan 16, 2022
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Okinawa World front gate.Jan 16, 2022
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Okinawa World is a fairly large theme park centering on a large underground cavern called Gyokusendo. Above ground, there are attractions featuring Okinawan culture including traditional architecture, traditional crafts, habu snake show, and Eisa drum show. Major tourist attraction in the southern part of Okinawa island. Jan 16, 2022
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Seesaa at the entrance of Okinawa World. Jan 16, 2022
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To get to Okinawa World, I took a bus from Naha Bus Terminal. There are many buses and bus stops, so ask the bus information booth inside the bus terminal. Say where you want to go, and she will tell you which bus to take and where to get off.Jan 16, 2022
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For Okinawa World, take the No. 83 bus. The bus leaves only once or twice an hour and takes about 45 min.Jan 16, 2022
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