Moopon

Within Japan’s tropical paradise of Okinawa, visitors can enjoy water sports,
nature and wildlife that can only be observed here.
Within the Yaeyama Islands of Okinawa is the 90% jungle/mangrove island of Iriomote.
And here, visitors may be able to see the endangered species of the Iriomote Yamaneko,
a type of “wild cat” which resides only on this island.

It is thought only 100 Yamaneko remain on the island. As such,
the Yamaneko Museum or Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center is both a wildlife/eco museum as well as a refugee center for Iriomote
Yamaneko that have been rescued after being injured in a traffic accident. 

Visitors to the museum are able to learn about the ecology of the animals found on the island,including the Iriomote Yamaneko.
Explanations are provided in English throughout the museum.
As far as the rescued Iriomote Yamaneko, they can only be viewed via a live video feed.

Shuri Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in Okinawa served an important role in Okinawa’s history.
Though presently a district of Naha, Shuri was the former capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom.  
Until Okinawa became a Japanese Prefecture in 1879, Shuri Castle was both the administrative center
as well as residence for the Ryukyu kings for several centuries.

The castle was originally constructed in the late 1300s.  
Destroyed many times through war and fires, the current buildings are a result of the reconstruction efforts from 1992.
To approach the castle, located on the top of hill, visitors need to pass through many gates, including the well known Shureimon Gate.

The castle’s main hall, the Seiden was the former venue for many governmental events. A landmark of Okinawa, the Seiden’s flamboyant decoration,
architecture and vermillion color shows the difference in castle style between Okinawa and mainland Japan. 

Visitors will find the Una Plaza in front of the Seiden.
Here many ceremonies were held. The Una Plaza is enclosed by the Hokuden (North Hall), Nanden (South Hall) and the Hoshinmon (Hoshin Gate).
The Hokuden and Nanden were administrative buildings which were also used as venues to welcome visitors from China and mainland Japan.

Visitors are welcomed to view the interior of these historic halls.
 The interiors of the Hokuden and Nanden are like modern museums with informative displays about Ryukyu Kingdom as well as
the Okinawa’s history with the Japanese mainland and China. Visitors can also view local historic artifact as well as cultural replicas received during foreign trade.

The Seiden has been reconstructed in its original style.
The richness and fine furnishing the Ryukyu kings were accustomed to are displayed in the Seiden.
Visitors can even view a replica of the king's throne and crown are among the exhibits.

Facility Information:
Hours: 8:30 to 19:00 (until 18:00 from December to March, until 20:00 from July to September) 
**Last Entry is 30 minutes before closing time.
Closed: First Wednesday and Thursday of July
Admission: 820 yen
Level of English: Good

Shikinaen, located in Okinawa, was the second residence of the Ryukyu kings.
It was constructed in the 18th century.
The building were relatively simple, wooden palace buildings incorporating the Chinese red tile roofs
with a spacious Japanese garden and its a central pond.
The garden is meant to be viewed as visitors stroll around.
With both the Chinese and Japanese influence, visitors can appreciate Shikinaen’s truly unique Okinawa style.

Shikinaen was completely destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa of 1945.
However, a 20 year restoration plan began in 1975.
 In 2000, it was among the sited registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the title Gusuku Sites
and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

From the forest, visitors walk along a stone-paved road, made from Ryukyu limestones to the main entrance.
From here, visitors will stroll along a 300 meter circular path to view the garden.
There are many interesting parts of the garden, not limited to…
**Ikutokusen—the spring filled with clear water.
 It is designated as a national monument as it is the birthplace of the red alga
**Stone Bridge: There are two stone bridges which connect to the palace as well a small islet in the middle of the water.
**Udun Palace:  built in the 17th century, before the garden and pond, this spacious palace has 15 rooms
**Rokkaku-do: a Chinese-style hexagonal pavilion located on a nearby island

Facility Information:
Hours: 9:00 to 18:00 (until 17:30 from October to March) 
**Last Entry is 30 minutes before closing
Closed: Wednesdays (or following day if Wednesday is a national holiday or falls on June 23) 
Admission: 400 yen

Japan’s southern island paradise has a rich and unique history which can learned here,
at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum.  Relocated in 2007,
the museum is housed in a contemporary building in central Naha.
There are two separate museums: a history museum and an art museum.

The history museum covers a wide time span:
from before the time of the Ryukyu Kingdom to the modern times of today.
The museum includes collections of natural history, folklore, crafts and archaeology.
Due to the cast amount of Okinawa cultural information presented, visitors could spend a few hours exploring the facility.

The art museum is a bit smaller compared to the history museum.
However the collections are displayed in multiple galleries, in art forms including sculptures, paintings,
sketches and videos.
There is a focus on local artists and themes.
The art is rather modern.  And there are special exhibitions which require additional fee for viewing.

Facility information:
Hours: 9:00 to 18:00 (until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays)
Last Entry is 30 minutes before closing time
Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday) as well as December 29th to 31st
Admission: 410 yen (history museum), 310 yen (art museum),
　　　　　 separate fees for special exhibitions
Level of English: Good (history museum)

Naha's Tsuboya district has been an Okinawan pottery center since the era of the Ryukyu Kingdom,
and where many pottery workshops are still located.
The Tsuboya Pottery Museum illustrates the history and the techniques of Tsuboya pottery.

Facility Information:
Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (last entry at 17:30)
Closed: Mondays and December 28 to January 4
Admission: 315 yen

Gokaisho 【碁会所】
Artwork by Suda Yoshihiro

Gokaisho (literally "a meeting place to play go") was built on the site of a gathering place where people came to play go, a type of Japanese chess. A traditionally designed building holds hand carved wooden camellia flowers arranged on the tatami mat floors. The rooms overlook a small garden with real camellia flowers to contrast with the wooden creations.
There is an intriguing contrast between this sculpture and the real camellia outside in the garden.

Yoshihiro Suda
Born in Yamanashi, Japan, Suda lives and works in Tokyo. In 1992, he received his BA in Graphic Design and has exhibited internationally in numerous solo and group shows. Recent museum shows include the Chiba City Museum of Art in 2012, The Manghha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology, Krakow, in 2011, Asia Society Museum, New York, and the Contemporary Museum, Honolulu. In 2008 his work was included in Out of the Ordinary at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. His work has been exhibited extensively in group shows in the USA, Japan, Germany, Australia and Quebec

Closed: Mondays  Open on Mondays for national holidays but closed the next day
Hours: 10a.m-4:30p.m
Admission: 410yen

 Haisha【はいしゃ】
Architecture and Artwork by Otake Shinro
Haisha (literally "dentist"), once the home and office of a local dentist, has been completely transformed by artist Shinro Ohtake into a sculptural or graphic artwork some of which can be viewed from different floors of the two storied house. The artworks include a replica of the Statue of Liberty. Otake also designed the I Love You bath house. Dreaming Tongue, the title of the artwork, represents the process of calling to mind a dream from the tastes and aromas of a morsel in one's mouth.

Shinro Ohtake
He is a Japanese artist who was born in Tokyo and lives in Uwajima, Japan. He paints, creates installations and designs record covers and book covers. He has published dozens of books, such as a dream diary, a picture book, essays and art books.

Closed: Mondays  Open on Mondays for national holidays but closed the next day
Hours: 10a.m-4:30p.m
Admission: 410yen

The Chichu Art Museum (地中美術館, Chichū Bijutsukan) is a unusual modern art museum built into a hillside overlooking the southern coast of Naoshima. The museum building, designed by Ando Tadao and itself a work of art, is mostly located underground and solely utilizes natural light to illuminate the artwork. This creates a viewing experience that is deeply influenced by the surrounding natural environment.

The museum has been built around quite a small collection of art. The first gallery shows large murals from Claude Monet's "Water Lilies" series. This is followed by a few works by James Turrell, who uses light as a medium. They include the "Open Sky" room from his "Skyspaces" series which has sister exhibits around the world including the 21st Century Museum in Kanazawa. Finally, the deepest part of the Chichu Museum houses the "Time/Timeless/No Time" installation by Walter De Maria.

Tickets are purchased at the museum's ticket center which is located a short walk downhill from the museum entrance. The ticket center has a small cafe and waiting area as only a limited number of visitors are allowed to the museum at one time. There are also coin lockers available since bags and cameras are not allowed in the museum and must be stowed before entering.    
Access info                                                                        
There are one or two buses per hour from Miyanoura Ferry Terminal via Honmura to the Tsutsujiso bus stop at the east gate of the Benesse House (15 minutes, 100 yen), from where it is possible to walk (30 minutes) or take a free shuttle bus to the Chichu Art Museum (10 minutes). Or the museum is about a two kilometer bicycle ride (10 minutes) or walk (30-40 minutes) from the Miyanoura ferry terminal.

From the Chichu Art Museum it is just a few minutes on the free shuttle bus to either the Lee Ufan Museum or the Benesse House. It is also possible to walk between the museums (5 and 15 minutes respectively).                                                      

Chichu Art Museum
Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 from October to February) 
Admission ends one hour prior to closing time
Closed: Mondays (or Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday)
Infrequent irregular closures for maintenance
Admission: 2060 yen

The Benesse House is a modern art museum and resort hotel located the southern coast of Naoshima Island. The complex is the centerpiece of the Benesse Corporation's art facilities on the island. It consists of four buildings: the Museum, Oval, Park and Beach, all designed by well-known architect Ando Tadao. Each building features its own unique artwork and guest rooms.

The main attraction of the Benesse House is its modern art museum, built on a hill overlooking the sea. This museum shows work created by many different artists from both Japan and abroad, that was inspired by the natural surroundings of Naoshima and the architecture on the island. Hotel guest staying at the Museum and Oval buildings can enjoy 24 hour access to the museum.

In addition to the art displayed in the museum and in the guest rooms, there are nearly twenty art pieces placed on the lawns and beaches around the Benesse House, including the famous pumpkin. Many of these can be found along the cliffs and shore below the museum, and have been specially designed to integrate into the natural surroundings in which they are placed.

The Benesse House has other facilities including restaurants, cafes, shops and a spa that are open to staying guests as well as day visitors. Hotel guests have the added privileges of exclusive restaurants and after-hours access to the museum. The Benesse House is the top level accommodation on the island, and room rates start from about 25,000 yen per night.

Access info
There are one or two buses per hour from Miyanoura Ferry Terminal via Honmura to the Tsutsujiso bus stop at the east gate of the Benesse House (15 minutes, 100 yen), where you can walk (10-15 minutes) or take a free shuttle bus to the Benesse House (5 minutes). Alternatively, the museum is about a three kilometer bicycle ride (15-25 minute) or walk (45-60 minutes) from the ferry terminal.
From the Benesse House it is just a few minutes on the free shuttle bus to either the Lee Ufan Museum or the Chichu Art Museum. It is also possible to walk between the museums (10 and 15 minutes respectively).

Schedule & cost for the museum
Hours: 8:00 to 21:00 (last entry 20:00)
Closed: Infrequent, irregular closures for maintenance
Admission: 1030 yen