Naha

 
Overview

Naha is the capital of Okinawa Prefecture, the tropical island group south of mainland Japan. It's known for Shuri Castle, the restored royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom, which flourished from the 1400s–1800s and invented the martial art karate.

Description

Flattened during WWII, the prefectural capital of Naha is now a thriving urban center that looks like most other tidy, small-to-medium Japanese cities, except for the frequent splashes of leafy green, rows of palm trees, or glimpses of azure waters from between the modern high-rises, which make up Naha's rapidly expanding skyline. Tsuboya district is associated with traditional ceramics like Chiesa (lion-dog figures). Lined with shops, bars, and restaurants, Kokusaidori is Naha's main street.