Unlike the rest of Japan that I've visited in the past year, large crowds and city life don't associate with Okinawa. Instead, this is a tropical paradise where visitors come to enjoy nature and have a great time. Naha was the port of entry, but was not the final destination. Soon, we found a rental car and headed out to explore the island, stumbling across a few surprises.
A 13km monorail runs through Naha north-to-south, terminating at the airport.
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Naha's streetscapes are nothing inspiring. As the city was mostly destroyed in World War II, the structures are generally new and are not particularly attractive-looking.
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Naha's harbour is a small inlet that opens to the Pacific Ocean. Both Japanese and American militaries operate vessels here.
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Naminoue-gu Shrine
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The best place to capture a shot of this seaside temple is actually on the elevated highway offshore.
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Behind the temple, Asahigaoka Park offers a serene escape and its sloping topography provides a few views.
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There were people wandering around Naminoue Beach playing sports and enjoying the sandy beach, but none were actually in the water. With a view of the elevated highway just offshore, it's quite a turn-off.
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The shrine and beach were a bit out of the way so now I head back to the monorail station just as a rainstorm approaches.
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My other Japan photo threads :
Osaka - http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1545455
Kyoto - http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1557420
Tokyo - http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1517365
The full set is on my website : http://www.globalphotos.org/okinawa.htm
A 13km monorail runs through Naha north-to-south, terminating at the airport.
Naha's streetscapes are nothing inspiring. As the city was mostly destroyed in World War II, the structures are generally new and are not particularly attractive-looking.
Naha's harbour is a small inlet that opens to the Pacific Ocean. Both Japanese and American militaries operate vessels here.
Naminoue-gu Shrine
The best place to capture a shot of this seaside temple is actually on the elevated highway offshore.
Behind the temple, Asahigaoka Park offers a serene escape and its sloping topography provides a few views.
There were people wandering around Naminoue Beach playing sports and enjoying the sandy beach, but none were actually in the water. With a view of the elevated highway just offshore, it's quite a turn-off.
The shrine and beach were a bit out of the way so now I head back to the monorail station just as a rainstorm approaches.
My other Japan photo threads :
Osaka - http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1545455
Kyoto - http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1557420
Tokyo - http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1517365
The full set is on my website : http://www.globalphotos.org/okinawa.htm