Begin your tour with a delightful lunch at Café Yabusachi in Nanjo City, southern Okinawa. Overlooking the stunning Pacific Ocean, this café embraces Nature, Culture, and Healthy Living. Named after the nearby sacred site Yabusatsu Utaki, the café’s logo features a crane and rice stalk, inspired by local legends. Enjoy delicious French-Italian cuisine while taking in breathtaking ocean views, connecting you to the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Okinawa.

Next, visit The Mabuni Peace Park, located in the Mabuni hills, the site of the final battle of Okinawa during World War II. This park stands as a cornerstone of remembrance and peace. The museum offers a comprehensive narrative of the war, featuring personal stories of victims and survivors, the history of the Ryukyu Islands, and the impact of U.S. military occupation. Highlights include a replica of an Okinawan cave and stones engraved with the names of American and Japanese soldiers who perished. The museum, with English translations, also showcases a post-war town exhibit depicting life in the 60s and 70s.

Proceed to the Himeyuri Peace Museum and Cenotaph, memorializing the Himeyuri Student Corps, schoolgirls conscripted as nurse assistants during the brutal Battle of Okinawa in 1945. Located in a tranquil park south of Naha, the site features a solemn cenotaph for visitors to pay their respects. The museum offers a deeply moving experience with exhibits of photographs, personal belongings, reconstructed wartime shelters, and powerful testimonies from survivors, providing a harrowing insight into the human cost of war and underscoring the importance of peace.

Conclude your tour at the Ryukyu Glass Craft Factory in Itoman. This major attraction allows visitors to admire and create unique glass items. Originating in the early 20th century, Ryukyu glassware gained popularity post-WWII when local craftsmen repurposed discarded American glass bottles. The factory features a museum, shops, and an outdoor workshop where guests can watch glassblowing and even make their own glass pieces starting at ¥1500. Known for its colorful glass mosaics, the factory offers a wide variety of glass products, including discounted pieces with minor imperfections, celebrating the ingenuity and artistry of Okinawan glassmaking.

Café Yabusachi

We start our tour with lunch at Café Yabusachi, perched above the stunning seas of Nanjo City in southern Okinawa, embraces Nature, Culture, and Healthy Living. Named after the nearby sacred site, Yabusatsu Utaki, the café’s logo features a crane and rice stalk, inspired by local legends of Ukinju Hainju. Guests can savor delicious French-Italian cuisine while enjoying breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. This unique location combines rich cultural heritage with a commitment to health and wellness, offering a serene dining experience that connects you to the natural beauty and history of Okinawa.

Peace Park

Our next stop is The Mabuni Peace Park, located in the Mabuni hills where the final battle of Okinawa took place during World War II, stands as a cornerstone of remembrance and peace in the prefecture. The park’s museum offers a comprehensive narrative of the war, featuring personal stories of victims and survivors. Exhibits cover the history of the Ryukyu Islands, the American invasion, and the impact of U.S. military occupation on Okinawan life.

A highlight is the replica of an Okinawan cave, allowing visitors to experience the harrowing conditions civilians endured. The park also features walkways, rest areas, and libraries for reflection amidst the serene natural beauty of Mabuni.

Central to the park are stones engraved with the names of American and Japanese soldiers who perished in the last battle. The museum is user-friendly, with English translations available, and offers a poignant post-war town exhibit depicting Okinawan life in the 60s and 70s.

Himeyuri Peace Museum

The Himeyuri Peace Museum and Cenotaph in Okinawa memorializes the Himeyuri Student Corps, a group of schoolgirls conscripted as nurse assistants during the brutal Battle of Okinawa in 1945. Located in a tranquil park south of Naha, the site features a solemn cenotaph where visitors can pay their respects. The museum offers a deeply moving experience with its exhibits of photographs, personal belongings, reconstructed wartime shelters, and powerful testimonies from survivors. These elements collectively provide a harrowing insight into the human cost of war and underscore the importance of peace.

Ryukyu Glass Factory

The Ryukyu Glass Craft Factory in Itoman, Okinawa, is a major attraction and our final stop where visitors can admire and create unique glass items. Originating in the early 20th century, Ryukyu glassware gained popularity after WWII when local craftsmen repurposed discarded American glass bottles. The factory features a museum, shops, and an outdoor workshop where guests can watch glassblowing and even make their own glass pieces starting at ¥1500. Known for its colorful glass mosaics, the factory offers a wide variety of glass products, including discounted pieces with minor imperfections. This destination attracts both tourists and locals, providing a hands-on cultural experience that celebrates the ingenuity and artistry of Okinawan glassmaking.