Okinawa - Kata photo
1. The island is strikingly different from other parts of Japan
2. The view from the airplane: the magical colors of the sea and the small, round islands
3. The landscape is much greener than elsewhere in Japan
4. Funny to see high-speed luxury cars on the roads of an island where the speed limit is generally 50-80km/h (31-37m/h)
5. Amusing to see Japanese people wearing Hawaii-type (palm-tree prints, etc.) shirts and shorts (you see nothing like that elsewhere in Japan)
6. If you are well informed and adventurous, you may discover beautiful beaches without lifeguards blowing their whistle all the time
7. The Kokusai (international street), in the center of Naha, with its endless shops and cafés, and the American soldiers visibly enjoying their short leaves
8. The cozy Tsuboya Pottery Street in Naha
9. The Gyokusendo Cave is astonishing
10. The stunning lighthouse you get to see if you drive along the scenic road up to the northern part of the island
11. The island of Zamami with its small, peaceful fishing village
1. The US military presence may be geopolitically justifiable, but the American warships are far from attractive from a tourist’s point of view (not speaking what the locals think)
2. The Shuri Castle is a UNESCO Cultural Heritage site, but it is actually not the original, but a new version built in the 1990s (the original having been destroyed in the Second World War)
3. Naha and many other towns on the island are full of dull concrete buildings (yes, we did understand that it is more important for them to be resistant to typhoons then to be pretty, but still)
4. There are many unexceptional beaches (like the Emerald Beach) and the designated swimming areas are too small and shallow
5. They easily call castle what are actually just ruins – the old walls are usually restored, but that’s about it
6. The Second World War memorial sites (like that of the Battle of Okinawa) are interesting, but it’s so sad to hear how many people had to die so senselessly
7.
Too many stray cats and (equally non-domesticated) mosquitos
8. The long-distance bus network is sparse, so it’s challenging to discover the island without a rental car
9. All souvenir shops in Kokusai street basically sell the same stuff
10. Naha, the capital is not particularly interesting or even pleasant
11. That weird local Habu liqueur which has a dead snake inside the bottle.
