Obvious i know. Everyone Knows about Shuri Castle and goes to see it, but if you haven't been here before then it is a must see both for karate people and everyone else that visits the island.
There is a lot more to it than just the castle itself, the entire park is worth exploring; even though the castle is not the original, because it was burned down in the war- this is the restored, rebuilt replica version.
For me personally, the park is more exciting than the castle.
2- Zuisen Awamori Distillery:
This one is a little off the beaten track.
However, should you decide to take the long route up to the castle along a few beautiful little back roads you will come across this little gem.
It's a tiny little place but very interesting. Awamori is unique and indigenous to Okinawa and they do a tour where you get to learn all about how it is made, you can even do a taste test!
3- Sueyoshi Park:
I love this place.
Before i ended up with so many other commitments i spent a lot of time exploring this incredible place. There's karate pillars and pine trees to remember Funakoshi Gichin Sensei and his Son, a river, a forest and a shrine.
You could easily spend the day here enjoying the outdoors and quiet of nature.
Even though, this park is just off the main road and in the centre of Naha, once you get right into the park, you could be forgiven for thinking you are in the middle of the mountains in Nago.
It's what i imagine old Okinawa would have been like before everything was built and industrialised.
I guess, it still is a small part of mostly untouched natural Okinawa.
I love it for that.
4- The Ramen Shack:
we found this place because when i get hungry, i get hangry. I'm not even Joking. Ask Steve Sensei. A hungry Becka is not a fun one. After a busy morning of exploring Shuri, i was getting hungry, which means angry too. Steve sensei made us stop at the nearest place he could find to eat and what an excellent little place this is.
It reminds me of something out of Kung fu panda. A tiny little wooden shack, that is painted black with seating for maybe 10 people maximum.
The kitchen is just big enough for the chef and his pots and pans, but there isn't much wiggle room. Nevertheless, this place produces probably one of the best Ramen and Giyoza that i've eaten in Japan-yet. It's very reasonably priced too.
5- Makabi Cemetery:
If you aren't interested in Karate, then you won't be interested in this one.
In fact, if you aren't interested in Karate history, then you won't be interested in this one.
it is a cemetery. Where dead people are laid to rest.
However, to karate enthusiasts this place is pretty incredible.
Here, there are the Haka (Grave Sites) of Itosu Anko Sensei, Matsumura Sokon Sensei and Hanashiro Chomo Sensei.
To me, it feels as though Karate and it's history books just became very real.
All those time when your sensei would be explaining karate lineage and history to you by pointing to the pictures on the wall and giving you dates. Well, this brings all that to life.
It turns these legends that you only read about in books into actual people, like you and me. Except cooler.
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