Naha's culture is Ryukyuan first and Japanese second: court music played on snakeskin sanshin, indigo-and-saffron bingata cloth, deep-red kutani-unlike pottery. Three days through museums, dye ateliers, theatres and craft villages that survived 1945.
Opened 2007 in Omoromachi, its limestone-block facade echoes Ryukyuan gusuku walls. The art wing shows postwar Okinawan painters — Nampu Higa, Tadashi Kinjo — who painted occupation-era Naha. Tue-Thu/Sun 09:00-18:00, Fri-Sat to 20:00, closed Mon.
A private museum built on land the Sakima family reclaimed from Futenma air base, its roof stairs face the runway. Centrepiece is Maruki Iri and Toshi's vast 'Okinawa Battle Scene' mural. Wed-Mon 09:30-17:00, closed Tue.
Third floor of Tenbusu Naha on Kokusai-dori, this is a working craft centre rather than a shop: five Ryukyuan disciplines under one roof — bingata dyeing, Ryukyu glass, lacquerware, kasuri weaving and Tsuboya ware, with artisans at benches.
All that remains of the 16th-century royal mortuary temple destroyed in 1945: a triple-arched Ryukyuan limestone gate where every visiting official had to dismount. National Historic Site, unstaffed, viewable from the street at any hour.
Japan's fifth national theatre, opened 2004 in Urasoe, exists solely to preserve kumi odori — the Ryukyu court dance-drama that is UNESCO Intangible Heritage. Its facade is woven concrete mimicking a minsah sash pattern.
A short run of instrument makers near Makishi where luthiers still stretch python skin over kuruchi ebony bodies. Watch tuning pegs being shaved by hand; shops sell student sanshin from around ¥20,000 and let you try one.
Built over an excavated 17th-century kiln site, the museum explains why Naha's yachimun is red-slipped and heavy: Korean potters relocated here in 1682. Two floors, restored climbing kiln in the basement. Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00.
The Nenes' home venue on Kokusai-dori, running two nightly sets of Okinawan min'yo with sanshin, sanba clappers and audience kachaashii dancing at the finale. Sets typically 19:00 and 21:00; reservation by phone.
A working bingata atelier below Shuri Castle where the Chinen family still cuts stencils from persimmon-treated paper. Book the two-hour dyeing course and pigment a tote or scarf yourself. Daily 09:00-18:00, last workshop entry 16:00.
A neighbourhood Okinawa soba shop in a converted house near Shuri Station, serving thick wheat noodles in katsuo-and-pork broth with soki ribs. Opens 11:30 and closes the moment the day's dough runs out, often by 14:00.
A 1992 replica of a Fuzhou-style garden marking Naha's 600-year tribute trade with China — Ryukyu's real diplomatic axis. Waterfalls, a stone pagoda and Fujian-quarried rockwork on 8,500 sqm. Thu-Tue 09:00-18:00, closed Wed.
Founded 1887 on Shuri hill, one of the few awamori makers to survive the war, restarting from black-koji spores rescued from Tokyo. Free tastings across the range, including kusu aged in clay pots. Weekday tours by prior booking.