Naha City［那覇］

Naha City

Located on the southern part of Okinawa's main island, Naha City is the prefectural capital of Okinawa. It is the biggest city in Okinawa Prefecture with a population of approximately 300,000, playing the role of the center of economy and politics of Okinawa. Since the Naha Airport and Naha Port are located in Naha City, it is also referred to as the gateway of Okinawa Prefecture.
The district around Kokusai Dori Street is the downtown of Naha City. In the vicinity of Kokusai Dori Street, there is Makishi Public Market, also known as the kitchen of Naha, and Yachimun Street famous for Okinawan traditional handmade Tsuboya pottery that originated in the period of the Kingdom of "Ryukyu". In the area in front of Yui Rail Omoromachi Station, going north for about 1 km from Kokusai Dori Street, the duty-free shopping mall and the sightseeing attraction of the Okinawa Prefectural Museum are located.
The Shuri Castle, a world cultural heritage site, is located on a hill in northeast of Naha City where you can feel the prosperity of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
As for specialties of Okinawa, Tsuboya pottery and "Awamori" (distilled liquor) are famous.