Things to do in  Nanjo

A unique theme park dedicated to all things Okinawa, Okinawa World is a great place to learn more about the island’s history, ecology, and culture. Highlights include Kingdom Village, a replica Ryukyu village offering a variety of workshops in traditional Okinawan crafts; Habu Park, a snake-themed zoological garden and museum named after the deadly Habu snake; and the 3-mile (5-kilometer) Gyokusendo Cave.

Transport yourself back to prehistoric Okinawa on a walk through this subtropical forest with limestone caves. Due to ongoing excavations at the Valley of Gangala, the only way to visit is via an official guided tour. These cover a stop at the valley’s century-old banyan tree, and teach about the traces of Okinawa’s prehistoric Minatogawa people that have been found at the site.