Sail through Naha on your Cruise

September 23, 2019

Cruising Journal, the international portal for cruise ship reviews, takes you to Naha! Explore and experience Naha during a cruise stopover in the Cruising Journal tips.

Naha is a lively city with so much to do and experience that you’ll never have to worry about being bored during your trip. Whether you’re looking forward to learning about the culture, tasting the local food or going on an exciting adventure, there’s always something to do in Naha.

Naha is one of the best places to explore when in Okinawa. It has much to offer not only to tourists but also to locals. Rich in culture, history and entertainment opportunities, Naha will surely satisfy even the pickiest of travellers.

Naha

How to Get to Naha

You’ll find most of your cruise options through Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises, which provide various options depending upon the type of itinerary you want and the departure port that you choose.

For a more luxurious experience, you could also book through Oceania Cruises, which offers a more comfortable and dedicated experience.

Deep-Sea Experience

Churaumi Aquarium is not your typical aquarium. Its architectural construction and expositions were designed to reflect the structure of the sea. You start at the top with the great sea and its majestic creatures, such as sharks and sting-rays. Then, you make your way further down into the aquarium until you get to the deep-sea creatures, which are truly a rare sight to behold. While you marvel at the sea life around you, you can also enjoy a drink or a meal provided by one of the cafes or restaurants in the aquarium.

Cook It Up

Taste of Okinawa organises a food market tour and cooking class that take approximately three hours. At the food market, you will learn about the local products and ingredients, which you will select for your cooking class. Once you return to the cooking studio, you will be able to create your own menu, which usually consists of three or four courses. This course is led by professional Japanese instructors with a bilingual food enthusiast to help translate for international students. Working in teams, you will get a hands-on experience of traditional Japanese cuisine.

Naha

Above Sea Adventure

Activity Japan offers a parasailing and snorkelling experience around Nagannu Island, which is just off the West coast of Okinawa. You will begin with a snorkelling and swimming tour. For those who want to give snorkelling a try, a brief introductory course is given before the experience. The whole tour is assisted by a guide so that you can enjoy the sights without any worries. For those who cannot swim but don’t want to miss out on the experience, there are life jackets available and, as always, a guide will be with you to ensure a safe and fun experience.

After you’re done swimming, it’s time to get above the water, where you’ll be securely attached to the marine jet. Once the jet takes off, you’ll be lifted into the air to enjoy the magnificent views from above.

Pottery District

Naha has been known as a pottery town since the days of the Ryukyu Administration, particularly in the Tsuboya quarter, where the main street is filled with pottery shops. Pottery is a fascinating art that uses ancient techniques, as well as new, creative outlets. This is an art form that truly deserves to be appreciated.

In the Tsuboya Pottery District, you can always find a studio that showcases Japanese talent in this art form. Here, you will find the Tsuboya Pottery Museum, a small museum that houses some amazing examples of traditional Okinawa pottery, as well as some ancient pottery artefacts. Most of the displays are in Japanese, but you can easily understand and learn more about everything in the museum with the help of the English audio guides that are available for visitors.

Naha

The Castle Stands

Shuri Castle is one of the main cultural attractions in Naha. It was almost completely destroyed during the battle of Okinawa in 1945, and the efforts to rebuild it began only in 1992. Here, you can learn more about the history of Okinawa and the resilience of the Japanese people.

Fun fact: if you ever played Call of Duty: World at War or Deadly Dozen: Pacific Theater, you may recognise this castle, as it made an appearance in some of the scenes in these video games.

Misako’s Bar

When in Naha you can’t miss out on a traditional Okinawan musical performance. For this purpose, there’s a popular bar owned by Misako Oshiro, one of the legends of the folk scene in Okinawa. The bar, Shimaumui, serves up homecooked-style food and offers delicious beverages that you can enjoy while listening to Misako’s soulful voice. This is a great place to relax and enjoy the culture, the music and the food.

Naha

When in the Pottery District, don’t forget to stop by Kokusai-Dori, also known as the “International Street”, one of the busiest places in Naha. On this street, you’ll find souvenir and gift shops, restaurants and cafes that serve traditional Japanese cuisine, bars, street arcades and plenty of boutique-style shops that sell interesting artefacts.