Okinawa, Japan 24: Okinawa World and Gyokusendo Cave
Written & Directed by James Knott

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Okinawa World is a theme park that celebrates Okinawan culture. It's main attraction is the longest Cave in Okinawa - Gyokusendo Cave. Go spelunking with James Knott in another fun video highlighting Okinawan culture and travel.

OKINAWA, JAPAN

Okinawa is Japan's southernmost prefecture. Over 1.25 million people are scattered across nearly 150 islands.

Okinawa has a unique culture that goes back several hundred years to when it was an independent country known as the Ryukyu Kingdom. This kingdom was known to trade frequently with China and as a result adopted much more from the Chinese than the rest of Japan.

The main island, Okinawa-honto, is surrounded by vivid, bright blue ocean and coral reefs. It is densely populated and urbanized in the south, while the the mountainous northern part of the island consists of just a few fishing villages and dense forests.

The beautiful, sub-tropical setting combined with historical roots that are more intertwined with China than Japan, have created a wonderful culture that is distinctly Okinawan.

TRANSCRIPT
Okinawa, Japan 24: Okinawa World and Gyokusendo Cave

IF YOU ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH OKINAWAN CULTURE, BY SIMPLY BEING IN OKINAWA, THEN HEAD TO OKINAWA WORLD WHERE THEY PACK IN TEN TIMES THE OKINAWA.

THIS TOURIST THEME PARK IS THE CLIFF NOTES VERSION OF OKINAWAN CULTURE AND CRAFTS.

IT IS BUILT IN THE SOUTHERN END OF THE ISLAND AROUND IT’S MAIN ATTRACTION – GYOKUSENDO CAVE.

AT 5KM LONG, THIS CAVE IS THE LONGEST CAVE IN OKINAWA AND THE SECOND LONGEST ONE IN JAPAN. METAL WALKWAYS LET YOU SAFELY EXPLORE ALMOST A KILOMETER OF IT. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF STALACTITES AND STALAGMITES GROWING WITHIN THE CAVE. WATER DRIPS FROM THE CEILING AND FLOWS THROUGH THE CAVERNS. YOU CAN EVEN FIND FISH LIVING IN THE DARKNESS.

AFTER LEAVING THE CAVE VIA THE ESCALATOR, THERE ARE MANY OTHER ATTRACTIONS TO EXPLORE. AN ORCHARD FEATURES HUNDREDS OF TROPICAL PLANTS AND DELICIOUS FRUITS.

THERE IS A HABU MUSEUM, WHERE YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT THE ISLAND’S FAMOUS POISONOUS SNAKE. AND, YOU CAN CONTINUE YOUR LESSONS ABOUT HABU WITH A DEMONSTRATION – IN JAPANESE – WHERE TWO MORTAL ENEMIES – THE HABU AND THE MONGOOSE HAVE A DELIGHTFUL SWIMMING CONTEST. IN THE PAST, THESE TWO ANIMALS WOULD FIGHT TO THE DEATH, BUT THIS PRACTICE WAS STOPPED BECAUSE OF COMPLAINTS FROM ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.

OKINAWA WORLD IS ALSO A GREAT PLACE TO WATCH OKINAWAN POTTERY AND GLASS BEING MADE. CRAFTSMEN HEAT THE GLASS AND BLOW IT IN FRONT OF YOU. IF YOU LIKE THE LOOKS OF WHAT THEY ARE MAKING. THEY WILL LET YOU BUY IT IN A NEARBY SOUVENIOR SHOP – WHICH FEATURES HUNDREDS OF BEAUTIFUL PIECES.

THERE IS ALSO A TRADITIONAL OKINAWAN VILLAGE WITH BUILDINGS BUILT IN THE OLD STYLE OF THE ISLAND. MOST OF THE STRUCTURES ARE HOME TO SMALL SHOPS WHERE PEOPLE MAKE TRADITIONAL OKINAWAN CRAFTS THAT VISITORS CAN PURCHASE AND TAKE WITH THEM.

THE PARK IS LOCATED IN A BEAUTIFUL SETTING WITH MANY TRADITIONAL PLANTS AND AUTHENTIC TOUCHES – MY FAVORITE IS THE GOYA ICECREAM.

FINALLY, IF YOU’D LIKE TO SEE A SHOW, THERE ARE SEVERAL DAILY PERFORMANCES AT AN OUTDOOR COVERED PAVILION. THERE IS A NICE MIX OF EISA DANCING, TRADITIONAL DANCING, SANSHIN MUSIC, SHISA DOGS, MARTIAL ARTS AND CROWD INTERACTION. IT’S A GREAT WAY TO EXPERIENCE MANY OF THE ISLANDS MUSICAL TRADITIONS IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

OVERALL, EVEN THOUGH OKINAWA WORLD IS A VERY TOURISTY DESTINATION, IT IS A DECENT PLACE TO GO IF YOU WANT TO LEARN A LOT ABOUT OKINAWAN CULTURE IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.