Silversea Luxury Cruises A Naha Okinawa

Explore the sites of one of the deadliest battles of World War II during this memorable, half-day excursion to Okinawa, its battlefield sites, and monuments.

Battle of Okinawa

Some of the deadliest fighting of World War II took place on Okinawa, the only place where a battle was fought on Japanese soil. U.S. troops landed here on April 1, 1945 and it took 82 nightmarish days for the island to be captured. Discover the major points of interest that memorialise the fighting on Okinawa during World War II.

Depart the pier for the approximately 15-minute drive to the former Japanese Navy's Underground Headquarters.

Former Japanese Navy's Underground Headquarters

The former underground headquarters of the Japanese Navy is located where Rear Admiral Ota and his men desperately fought to the end on June 13, 1945. Upon arrival, walk down the 101 steps into the narrow tunnels of the headquarters to see the commanding officer's room, staff room, generator rooms, and more. Along the way, gain a unique insight into the experiences of the Japanese soldiers and officers inside the headquarters.

Himeyuri Monument

Next, re-board your coach and drive to the Himeyuri Monument. This monument and small museum symbolises the severity of the Battle of Okinawa and is dedicated to over 200 female students and their teachers who died as volunteer nurses in the Himeyuri Corps. Visit the small museum to learn more of the lives of these civilians. While most of the displays are in Japanese, the message of the value of peace is evident.

Peace Memorial Park & Cornerstone of Peace

Your tour continues with a visit to Peace Memorial Park, which offers beautiful vistas overlooking the ocean and features several open-air memorials. From here, proceed for a visit to the Cornerstone of Peace. Located in the hills of Mabuni where the fiercest battles took place, the Cornerstone of Peace stands as a symbol of the tragic loss of life for both the Okinawan and Allied forces.

At the conclusion of your tour, commence the approximately 45-minute drive back to the pier.

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 45-minute drive to Okinawa Peace Memorial Museum. Located in Peace Memorial Park, the museum displays images of war and model exhibits, constituting an appeal for everlasting peace. Five separate areas cover the history of Okinawa leading up to WWII, the Battle of Okinawa and the post-war period.

Then, a short drive will take you to Gyokusen-do Cave. Discovered in 1967 by a university research group, the underground maze encompasses a length of about five miles, with an accessible walkway introducing visitors to a portion of its vast size. It is the longest of the many caves in the south of Okinawa Island and the second longest cave in the entire country. 850 meters of the cave is open to the public and feature spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. The inside of the cave is well maintained and the walking paths are comfortable and well lit. The temperature inside is around 21C throughout the year making it very pleasant for visitors.

Following your visit, commence the approximately 40-minute drive back to the pier.

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 20-minute drive to Okinawa Prefectural Museum. The Okinawa Prefectural Museum is a great place to learn more about Okinawa's unique history and culture. The museum was previously located near Shuri Castle, but was relocated and reopend in a modern building in 2007. The history museum covers the entire history of Okinawa from before the time of the Ryukyu Kingdom to modern times. It mainly intends to research, study, collect, preserve and to exhibit the materials related to the nature, history, folklore culture and arts and crafts of Okinawa. The permanent exhibition consists of "general exhibition" and "sub exhibition." You approach to the general exhibition room as if they are coming ashore to an island looking at the extended coral reefs in "Ino (lagoon)" at their feet. You can learn about life with nature on the islands of Okinawa with the large-scale diorama. At the sub exhibition, the collection of materials is displayed by the following categories: natural history, archeology, arts and crafts, history and folklore culture.

Next, re-board your coach for the short drive to Shikina-en Garden, the Ryukyu royal family's largest country retreat. The royal family used it as a getaway and also to entertain dignitaries from China. Shikina garden now covers about 23,000 square meters centering on a pond in the shape of the Chinese character "kokoro" (heart), with a six-sided gazebo in the middle and an "udun" (villa) with its red tiled roof. The park was totally destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa, but family members began restoration since then.

Your final destination is Kokusai Street, the main entertainment strip in Naha, running for about 1 mile (1.6 km). There are many souvenir shops as well as food and drink establishments lining both sides of the street. A stop will be made at "Okinawa's kitchen," a market where a wide variety of foods are sold, such as large chunks of pork, colourful tropical fish, and vegetables are grown on the island. It is the best place to learn about Okinawa's food culture.

After, visiting this interesting street re-board your coach and commence the short transfer back to the pier and your awaiting ship.

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 45-minute drive to Okinawa Peace Memorial Museum. Located in Peace Memorial Park, the museum displays images of war and model exhibits, constituting an appeal for everlasting peace. Five separate areas cover the history of Okinawa leading up to WWII, the Battle of Okinawa and the post-war period.

From here, a 30-minute drive will take you to a local restaurant for a Japanese Set-Menu lunch. After lunch, re-board your coach for the short drive to Shikina-en Garden, the Ryukyu royal family's largest country retreat. The royal family used it as a getaway and also to entertain dignitaries from China. Shikina garden now covers about 23,000 square meters centring on a pond in the shape of the Chinese character "kokoro" (heart), with a six-sided gazebo in the middle and an "udun" (villa) with its red tiled roof. The park was totally destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa, but family members began restoration since then.

Your final destination is Kokusai Street, the main entertainment strip in Naha, running for about 1 mile (1.6 km). There are many souvenir shops as well as food and drink establishments lining both sides of the street. A stop will be made at "Okinawa's kitchen," a market where a wide variety of foods are sold, such as large chunks of pork, colourful tropical fish, and vegetables grown on the island. It is the best place to learn about Okinawa's food culture.

After the market visit re-board your coach and a short drive will take you back to the pier.

Enjoy a lovely panoramic drive past some important local landmarks. Okinawa-Honto, the main island, is the largest and most important in the Nansei-Shoto Islands. Its cultural differences with mainland Japan were once evident in its architecture, of which almost all traces were obliterated during World War II. The USA retained control of Okinawa after the war, eventually handing it back to Japan in 1972. Naha is the capital of Okinawa, where little remains of the old Ryukyu culture. Today, Naha is chiefly a gateway to other islands, but there are a number of interesting things to see on your drive, including Kokusai Street-the main street of Naha-Shurijo Park, and the local landscapes before returning to the port and your awaiting ship.

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 60-minute drive to Sefa Utaki. It is an important sacred site of the indigenous Okinawan religion, which, similar to Shinto, places emphasis on the worship of nature. The site is located on a densely forested hillside along the ocean and features several rock formations, which are connected with each other by walking trails. Sefa Utaki is included as one of Okinawa's World Heritage sites. Although regarded as a powerful spiritual site beforehand, it was in the early 16th century that Sefa Utaki came into prominence. During this period the Okinawan religion underwent reorganization and centralization under the royal government, and Sefa Utaki became one of the main locations for religious ceremonies and rituals.

Next, re-board your coach and an approximately 40-minute drive will take you to the Valley of Gangala for a 90-minute walking tour with a local guide. A dramatic cave entrance sets the scene for your nature walk that reveals unusual foliage and dramatic views. You'll want to have a camera with you to capture some exceptional nature photography. Don't miss the Ufushu Gajimaru tree, estimated to be more than 150 years old.

After the walk commences the approximately 50-minute journey back to the port.

Explore Naha at your leisure during your full-day (8-hour) sightseeing tour via private car. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your driver English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned car and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore Naha at your leisure during your half-day (4-hour) sightseeing tour via private car. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your driver and English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned car and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore Naha at your leisure during your full-day (8-hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your driver and English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore Naha at your leisure during your half-day (4-hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your driver and English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.