Moopon

1. Once visitors exit immigration and customs at Kansai Airport, visitors will be on the 1st floor. Follow the signs for “Railways”, taking one of the 4 escalators or 3 elevators to arrive at the 2nd floor.

2. Once on the 2nd floor, follow the signs to one of several walkways and walk across the road to Kansai-airport Station. Visitors need to exit the air terminal building to arrive at the JR Station (two separate buildings connected by a walkway). Two train companies use Kansai-airport Station: JR (blue/green) and Nankai (orange). Only JR can take visitor to the platform Haruka departing from. DO NOT use Nankai.

3. Before entering tickets gate, find JR Ticket Office where visitors can purchase ticket or reserved ticket for JR train.(there is a huge sign in English above their head).JR ticket office staff may or may not speak English, but they can read place names and train types written in the Roman alphabet. 

4. With one’s tickets, go through JR ticket gate and take an escalator to get to Platform 4.

The Zakimi Castle Ruins are located on a hill in central Okinawa Island.
Only the stone walls remain, which visitors can ascend for nice views over the ruins and
the surrounding area and as far as Shuri Castle in the distance.
The castle is included as one of the UNESCO World Heritage designated Castles of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Zakimi Castle was built between 1416 and 1422 by the Chuzan Kingdom which ruled over central Okinawa Island.
The castle served as a safeguard against rebels in the north.
After the Chuzan Kingdom defeated the Hokuzan Kingdom in the north and eventually united the island into the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Next to the parking lot, there is a small museum with displays on local art, folkcraft, and history.
The museum exhibits archaeological relics, dwellings, funerary customs and the war.

Castle Ruins
Hours: Always open
Closed: Opened All Year Round
Admission: Free

Museum
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:30)
Closed: Mondays, national holidays, Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday
June 23, December 29th to January 3rd
Admission: 200 yen
Level of English: Moderate

Access Information:
The Zakimi Castle Ruins are located in central Okinawa Island, about 25 kilometers north of Naha.

Via bus
1.From Naha Bus Terminal , board bus number 28 to Takashiho Iriguchi
(高志保入口, 80 minutes, 1060 yen, 2-4 buses per hour),
from where the castle ruins can be reached in a 20-30 minute walk. 
2. There are infrequent 2.buses along line 29 that stop at Zakimi bus top
(座喜味, 80 minutes, 1020 yen, 5-6 buses per day),
a ten minute walk from the castle ruins.

Katsuren Castle (勝連城 Katsuren jō) is a Ryūkyūan gusuku in Uruma, Okinawa.
In the Okinawan language the castle is known as Kacchin Gushiku.
It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000
as part of one of the nine Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

The Katsuren Castle Ruins sit on a steep hill close to the coast and offer attractive views over the landscape below.
Just a few stone walls and foundations remain of the former castle. 

Facility Information:
Hours: Always open
Closed: Opened All Year Round
Admission: Free

Access Information:
The Katsuren Castle Ruins are located in central Okinawa Honto in the middle of the Yokatsu Peninsula
that juts out to the east of the island, about 25 kilometers northeast of Naha.

Via bus
1.From Naha Bus Terminal, board bus number 52 to Katsuren Danchi-mae
(勝連団地前, 100 minutes, 1240 yen, 1-2 buses/hour),
from where the castle ruins can be reached in a five minute walk.
2. Board bus number 27 to Nishihara bus stop
(西原, 1-2 buses/hour),
but the bus ride takes 20 minutes longer and the bus stop is a ten minute walk from the castle ruins.

 

Nakamurake is a traditional Okinawan style house and it has been designated a major cultural asset by the Japanese government.
This house believed to have been built in early 19 th  century as the home of ａ wealthy  farmer. 

The method of construction is strongly reminiscent of the architectural style of the Kamakura and Muromachi periods (1185-1568).
Special details were added everywhere, with farmhouse annexes to the samurai-style main house,
such as a high-floored warehouse, a storage shed, and animal pens.
All structures show the unique features of Okinawa's residential building style

Facility Information:
Hours: 9:00 to 17:30
Closed: Opened All Year Round
Admission: 500 yen

Access Information: 
The Nakamurake Residence is located in central Okinawa island,
about 15 kilometers northeast of Naha and just 500 meters from the Nakagusuku Castle Ruins.

Via bus
The closest bus stops are about two kilometers or around 40 minute walk away.
The most convenient among them is Kishaba (喜舎場),
served by highway bus number 111 and 113
(30 minutes, 800 yen from Naha Bus Center, 45 minutes, 920 yen from Naha Airport)
with 1-3 connections per hour.

 

Nakagusuku Castle is one of several castles, which were built across Okinawa during the era of the Ryukyu Kingdom,
which had been in existence for several centuries before Okinawa became a Japanese prefecture in 1879.

Only ruins remain of the castle today, but these are well preserved, and the castle's division into multiple citadels can still clearly be recognized.
There are also nice views of the surrounding area and Nakagusuku Bay from the castle ruins.

Nakagusuku Castle is among the Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu,
which were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the year 2000.
It is recommended to COMBINE a visit to Nakagusuku Castle with a visit to nearby Nakamurake,
a beautiful, traditional Okinawan style residence from the 18th century.

Nakagusuku Castle is located in central Okinawa Honto, about 15 kilometers northeast of Naha.

By bus
Take bus number 30 from Naha Bus Terminal to Nakagusuku Shogakko-mae
(60 minutes, 750 yen, 2-4 buses per hour),
from where it is a 30 minute walk uphill to the castle.

By car
Take the Okinawa Expressway to the Kita-Nakagusuku Exit
(about 20 minutes from central Naha; more during rush hours),
from where signs will lead you in about five minutes to the nearby castle.

Hours: 8:30 to 17:00
(until 18:00 from May to September)
Closed: No closing days
Admission: 400 yen

 

Ryukyu Mura (Ryukyu Village) is a small theme park featuring of traditional
Okinawan culture in the form of a recreated village from the times of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

The village shows a traditional residence with a red tiled roof and surrounding stone walls against typhoons,
a shrine and various workshops where visitors may participate in hands-on experiences such as playing the
sanshin guitar, pottery, weaving a coaster or painting a small shisa statue.

A variety of performances are held at the village, including eisa taiko drumming, dances, parades ,
concerts and reenacted historical ceremonies.
Visitors also have the opportunity to eat some popular Okinawan dishes and purchase a wide range of local souvenirs.

Access Information:
Ryukyu Mura is located in central Okinawa Honto, about 30 kilometers north of Naha.

Via bus
From Naha, board bus number 120 to Ryukyu Mura-mae bus stop
(琉球村前; 80 minutes, 1070 yen from Naha Bus Terminal or 90 minutes,
1160 yen from Naha Airport; 2 buses/hour)

Facility Information:
Hours: 8:30 to 17:30
( From July.1 to Sep30. 9:00 to 18:00)
Closed: No closing days
Admission: 1200 yen


 

Nago Pineapple Park is a theme park full of Southern Fruits and Colorful Plants.
Pineapples have been cultivated on Okinawa as an agricultural product for around a century.

The admission ticket to the park includes a ride on an automatic vehicle which runs through pineapple fields and a tropical garden,
and all-you-can-sample pineapple products in the adjacent souvenir shop.
It sells various products like pineapple wines, juices, cakes, chocolates, as well as dried and fresh pineapple. 

Facility Information:
Hours: 9:00 to 18:00
Closed: Opened All Year Round
Admission: 600 yen

Access Information: 
The Nago Pineapple Park is located just outside downtown Nago City on the
Motobu Peninsula in northern Okinawa island, about 75 km from Naha.

Via bus
 From Naha, board highway bus number 111 to Nago Bus Terminal
(90 minutes, 2100 yen from Naha Bus Center; 105 minutes, 2190 yen from Naha Airport; 1-2 buses/hour)
and transfer to infrequently departing bus number 70 to Meio Daigaku Iriguchi
(名桜大学入口, 20 minutes, 390 yen, 5 buses/day).

 

Nakijin Castle (今帰仁城) is a Ryukyuan castle or fortress (gusuku) located in Nakijin,
the main island of Okinawa and one of the UNESCO World Heritage designated Castles of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

The Nakijin Castle Ruins are located on the Motobu Peninsula of northern Okinawa Island
and In contrast to other castles on Okinawa, Nakijin Castle stands in an area of low population
density with verdant forests that give the ruins with a unique atmosphere.

Nakijin Castle was constructed in the late 1200s.
During the Sanzan Period (1322-1429),
Okinawa Island was divided into three kingdoms: the Hokuzan in the north, the Chuzan in the middle and the Nanzan in the south.
Nakijin was used as the castle of the Hokuzan king until it was taken over
by the Chuzan on their way to unifying the island and forming the Ryukyu Kingdom.

In the ground, there is also History and Culture Center with a small
museum displaying items unearthed on the castle grounds, such as Chinese pottery,
coins and documents besides exhibiting about everyday life and culture of Nakijin Village.

Facility Information: 
Hours: 8:00 to 18:00 (extended hours in summer)
Closed: Opened All Year Round
Admission: 400 yen (castle and museum), 150 yen (museum only)
Level of English: Minimal

Access Information:
The Nakijin Castle Ruins are located on the Motobu Peninsula in northern the main island of Okinawa,
about 90 kilometers from Naha, and about a ten minute car ride from the Ocean Expo Park.

Via Yanbaru Express Bus
The Yanbaru Express Bus directly connects the airport and city center of Naha with Nakijin Castle.
Get off at Nakijin Joseki Iriguchi (今帰仁城跡入口), from where it is a 15-20 minute walk uphill to the castle ruins.
The one way journey takes about 2.5 hours with a cost of around 2000 yen.
There are six round trips per day. In central Naha, the bus stops at the Prefectural Office (県庁北口),
Tomari Port and Furujima Station along the Yurail monorail among other locations.

Via regular buses
From Naha to Nago Bus Terminal, board highway bus number 111.
 (90 minutes, 2040 yen from Naha Bus Center; 105 minutes, 2190 yen from Naha Airport; 1-2 buses/hour)
and transfer to bus number 65 or 66.
Get off at Nakijin Joseki Iriguchi
(今帰仁城跡入口, 45-60 minutes, 790-1000 yen, 1-2 buses per hour),
from where it is a 15-20 minute walk uphill to the castle ruins.

 

Okinawa, Japan’s favorite beach vacation destination, offers many experiences for its visitors.
 Visitors heading to Hedo Misaki or Cape Hedo, north of Nago in Honto (Okinawa Main Island),
will see spectacular views.

The main road to Hedo Misaki leads along the western coast.
 Halfway between Nago and the cap is a hiking trail, taking hikers to the Hiji Waterfall—another beautiful sight.

The less direct approach to Hedo Misaki is along the more scenic but less developed eastern coast.  
This route is recommended as visitors can experience spectacular coastal scenery.  
However, as there is no bus service along the eastern coast,
visitors will have to rent a car or arrange private transportation to explore this route.

Access Information
Cape Hedo is the northernmost point of Okinawa Honto, about 115 km from Naha.
Via bus
1.  From Naha, take highway bus number 11 to Nago Bus Terminal.
 From Naha Bus Center, the one-way journey will 90 minutes with a cost of 2100 yen.
From Naha Airport, the one-way journey will take 105 minutes with a cost of 2190 yen.
 There are one to two buses per hour.
2.  At Nago Bus Terminal, transfer to bus number 67 for Hentona Bus Terminal.
The one-way journey will take 60 minutes with a cost of 1050 yen.
There are one to two buses per hour.
3.  At Hentona Bus Terminal, transfer to a municipal bus line to Hedo Misaki.
The one-way journey will take 35 minutes with a cost of 500 yen.  
There are 3 buses per day.

Via car
From Naha to Hedo Cape, the journey via Okinawa Expressway
will take 2 and a half hours with a cost of 1000 yen (one way).


 

The Ocean Expo Park, in Okinawa is fun for the whole family!!
Located on the tip of the Motobu Peninsula in northern Okinawa Honto,
this park was built in 1976 in commemoration of the Okinawa International Ocean Expo 1975. 

The park is quite large at about three kilometers along the coast.
Though there are walkways between the facilities, visitors have the option of using
shuttle buses which operate between the park's attractions.
 There are at least two buses per hour.
The shuttle buses are not free so visitors may choose to spend 200 yen for a one-day unlimited rides pass. 

The Churaumi Aquarium located in the Ocean Expo Park is said to be the best aquarium in Japan.
 In addition there are many fun and exciting facilities in the park! Some of the highlights include the following facilities: 

**Oceanic Culture Museum is located just beside the park's central gate.
There are displays of ship replicas as well ocean-related displays from other parts of Asia and the South Pacific.  
Visitors can see a giant replica of a Lakatoi canoe from Papua New Guinea as well as trade ship used for travel
between the Ryukyu Kingdom and other Asian countries. There is a planetarium here as well. 

**Native Okinawan Village is located next to the Oceanic Culture Museum.
 This small open air museum displays over twenty residences and other buildings from various time periods and regions of Okinawa.
There is no admission fee and visitors can freely wander between the structures.

**Tropical Dream Center is a beautiful botanical garden with an array of tropical trees and plants housed in multiple greenhouses.
The center also has a Tower of Babel--a 36 meter tall observatory tower.

**Emerald Beach is an attractive sand beach on the northern part of the park.
Emerald Beach is divided into three separate sections:  a beach for playing and swimming,
a beach for resting and a beach for viewing.
Each section is carefully maintained, keeping in mind safety and comfort and most of all, the conservation of nature.

Facility Information:
Hours: Park: 8:00 to 19:30
(until 18:00 from October to February)
Individual attractions typically open half an hour later and close half an hour earlier.
Closed: First Wednesday of December and the following day.
Admission: Entry into the park is free, but some attractions require admission:
1850 yen (Churaumi Aquarium)
690 yen (Tropical Dream Center)
170 yen (Oceanic Culture Museum)
Note:  There are some days where entry into some attractions is free.
(Tropical Dream Center/Oceanic Culture Museum is free for elementary school children
on May 5th and for those over 65 years of age on Sept 15th.
In addition there are various days throughout the year where entry into these two attractions is waived for everyone).  
For current information, please check the homepage of the park.

Access Information.
The Ocean Expo Park is located on the Motobu Peninsula in northern Okinawa Honto,
about 90 kilometers from Naha.
**Express Bus
*By Yanbaru Express Bus: 
Board from the following locations:  Naha Airport, Prefectural Office, Tomari Port and Furujima Station.  
There are 6 round trips per day.  The journey will take a little over 2 hours with a cost of 2000 yen.
**Regular buses
1.  From Naha Bus Center, board highway bus number 111 to Nago Bus Terminal.
The journey will take 90 minutes with a cost of 2100 yen.  
From Naha Airport, board the same highway bus number 111 to Nago Bus Terminal.
The journey will take 105 minutes with a cost of 2190 yen.
2.  At Nago Bus Terminal, transfer to bus number 70 to Kinen Koen Mae (記念公園前) bus stop in front of the Ocean Expo Park.
The buses are infrequent.  The journey will take 50 minutes with a cost of 880 yen.
*Note: there are a few buses on line 65 and 66 which also can take visitors to the Ocean Expo Park.
Please check the Ocean Expo Park’s homepage for more details.
**By car
From Naha, take the Okinawa Expressway to the northern end near Nago.
The toll is 1020 yen.
 From Nago, travel along the regular roads to cross the Motobu Peninsula to Ocean Expo Park.
The journey should take about two hours one way.
During rush hour, expect a longer journey.


 

Japan southernmost group of islands, Okinawa,has many sights of interests for its visitors.
Iriomote Island (西表島) is Okinawa’s second largest island.
Being undeveloped, natural lovers will be happy to learn 90% of the island is a jungle with its own mangrove forest.
The Iriomote Yamaneko, a type of wildcat, is found only on Iriomote Island.
However, it may be difficult to encounter this nocturnal animal as they are an endangered species with less than 100 yamaneko in existence.

The best way to explore the island is by its rivers.
The two longest rivers of the island are the Urachigawa (Uchigawa River) and the Nakamagawa (Nakama River).
Boat cruises are available among these two rivers.
Other options include a guided Kayak tours along these two rivers as well as some of the smaller rivers.

There are a number of Kayak tours visitors can select from.
From waterfalls to visiting one of the smaller islands, kayak tour participants need to paddle to their destination.
Safety vests and paddling instructions are provided.
Due to weather conditions, tours may be cancelled or destinations altered. 

The length and cost of the Kayak tour vary according to the tour agency.
Some packages include lunch whereas in other tours, participants need to provide their own refreshments.