Golden Week in Okinawa: Part Two

Monday, May 12, 2014


After we walked along Kokusai Dori and through Heiwa Dori, we found the Makishi Fish Market. The fish there were huge and there were so many types of fish I had never seen before. This lobster was freaking everyone out because it was kind of crawling out of the tank and the fish guy had to keep pushing it back in.

All of the fish were available for people to buy. You could just decide want you wanted, purchase it at the counter, and take it to the second floor where there were a bunch of restaurants that would cook it for you for a small extra fee. I didn't do this because I wasn't really hungry. Also I don't know how I would have decided which to eat. They all just looked kind of dead. Either that or all too alive. Like that crab.  





Look at those eyes. Creepy...



One more shot of the rainbow lobster. He was my favorite.


That's it for the fish market. When we were leaving Heiwa Dori I spotted a crate of dried snakes for sale, so...here's that.


The next day, we decided to go to Shuri-jo, which is a replica of the castle of the Ryukyu emperors. For some background, Okinawa used to be it's own kingdom (the Ryukyu islands) before it was conquered by Japan. Unfortunately, the real Shuri-jo was destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 and only the foundations are left.

But first, here is a view of Naha from a wall on the way up the hill to the castle.


More pictures from the walk to the castle.





Here is the outside of the castle (reconstructed). Supposedly it is very Chinese-inspired compared to other Japanese castles because the Ryukyus had a closer relationship with China than Japan.


On the way back to the monorail station we passed by this lake that had koi fish streamers strung across. The koi are there to celebrate Children's Day/Boy's Day (子供の日), which takes place during Golden Week. I think you can see Shuri-jo in the background.


Look out for part three of the Okinawa series, which will feature my trip to Zamami Island, where we stayed for the rest of Golden Week.

1 comment:

  1. Fishy Fish Fishy! I like Mr. Lobster though…. xo, mom.

    ReplyDelete