NAHA INFORMATION

Naha is the capital of the Okinawa Prefecture, and is the main city on the main Okinawa Island, with a population of around 700,000 - more than half the total population of Okinawa.

Arrival in Naha
Most people will arrive in Naha at Naha Airport which is close to central Naha. The airport is connected to the ciy by the Yui-Rail Monorail Line.
There are long distance ferries that come from Kagoshima on the island of Kyushu, but these take over 24 hours and do not offer much of a saving on the airfare.

Getting Around
The Yui-Rail Monorail is quick and easy to use. There are 15 stations on the line that runs between Naha Airport and Shuri Castle. There are departures every 10 minutes or so between 6:00AM and 11:30PM. Fares range between 220yen and 320yen per ride, but there are also one day tickets for 600yen, 2 day tickets for 1,000yen, and 3 day tickets for 1,400yen. Children under 12 are half price.

Things to See
Shuri Castle was the seat of the former Ryukyu Kingdom. It was destroyed by allied bombing during the 2nd world war and rebuilt in 1958. Use the monorail to get here. It is the last stop.
There are several peace museums and parks in naha dedicated to the battle of Okinawa during WW2.
The center of Naha is called Kokusai Dori, which is a great place to shop, eat, and generally hang out. There are usually quite a few US military personnel around, as it is a popular place of servicemen and women to relax off base.

Unless in town on business, Naha is usually a stop off point for those heading to the beach resorts up the coast, or on the offshore islands.