These castle ruins are highly recommended for a visit when traveling in Okinawa! Built using the natural cliff terrain, the castle rises in tiers along the hillside, and the lines of the walls are beautiful. From the top, you can also look out over the vast ocean, and the view is truly wonderful. Like Nakijin Castle in the north, this is one of Okinawa’s most iconic historic castles. Compared with Nakijin Castle, the stones used at the Katsuren Castle Ruins are noticeably larger, and the walls are also very well preserved, making it easier to feel the historical atmosphere of the Ryukyu Kingdom era. As you slowly make your way to the top, the scenery becomes more and more expansive. It’s a spot that combines history, nature, and beautiful views, and it’s well worth adding to your itinerary!
Katsuren Castle Ruins | Review by 楊雅雯
Other Reviews by 楊雅雯
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Shimabuta Shichirin-yaki Manmi
Pork is an essential feature of Okinawa cuisine. Okinawans eat the entire pig without any waste; there is even a saying that “you can eat every part of the pig except the footprints.” Shimabuta Shichirin-yaki Manmi is one of the best places to dive into its culture.
If you’re coming to Okinawa and want to feast on Yanbaru Shimabuta pork, I really recommend this place! It was my first time seeing such a wide variety of pork cuts: pork stomach sashimi, neck, breast, tenderloin, Matsusaka pork, cheek, tongue, diaphragm, as well as liver, heart, large intestine, uterus, trachea, and tendon... You can enjoy them all in one meal!
Each cut has a different texture. Slowly grilling them over a shichirin brings out an incredible aroma, and every bite is tender and full of charcoal-grilled flavor. It was so delicious that I was genuinely impressed. If you love meat and want to try Okinawan specialties, this place is definitely worth adding to your list!
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Yanbaru Dining Matsu no Kominka
A five-minute walk from Nago City Hall, this dining room is open only at night. In a good old 70-year-old Okinawan house, you can enjoy shabu-shabu with a rare species of island black Aguu. Shabu-shabu is generally made with beef, but this restaurant offers a rare breed of Okinawan pig, the "Shimakuru", a purebred crossbreed of Aguu and Aguu.
If you’re coming to Okinawa and want to try authentic local food, I really recommend this place! In a setting full of traditional Okinawan house charm, you can enjoy Okinawan black pork shabu-shabu. The ingredients are fresh and delicious, and you can taste the meat’s natural sweetness in every bite. The overall dining experience was excellent. The most interesting part was that you actually order by making pig noises. It was my first time experiencing that, and I thought it was super cute! The restaurant is also filled with pig figurines and pig-shaped decorations, showing how much thought and care the owners put into it.
The food is delicious, the setting is distinctive, and there are some cute little surprises too. It’s well worth planning a meal here when traveling in Okinawa! Highly recommended〜
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NAGO PINEAPPLE PARK
This theme park, established in 1992, specializes in pineapples. Visitors can appreciate pineapple fields, colorful flowers, and jungle-like plants, and learn about the history of pineapples in Okinawa through lectures and materials about pineapples.
Nago Pineapple Park is really fun—the whole park is a world of pineapples! It’s bigger than expected, and about two hours is enough time to stroll around, eat, and take photos at a leisurely pace.
Riding the park vehicle was what the kids looked forward to most. Along the way, you can see pineapples everywhere, as well as interesting sights such as tank bromeliads and giant pineapples. After getting off, there’s also an area with dinosaurs that make sounds, where the kids can play for a while longer.
And finally, of course, the most anticipated part: “eat, eat, eat.” The pineapple cake is good, and the pineapple popsicles are also delicious. There are also plenty of pineapple-related products to choose from. Overall, it’s a relaxing and fun place to explore and a good attraction for families with children.
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