Ryukyu Mura is a cultural theme park in Onna Village where visitors can experience the traditional nature, culture, crafts, and lifestyle of Okinawa. With historic houses, traditional sugar-making facilities, pottery workshops, and cultural performances, the park recreates the atmosphere of old Okinawa and offers a glimpse into life during the Ryukyu era.
Walking through the village feels almost like stepping back in time. Traditional houses, stone walls, and old-fashioned workshops create a nostalgic atmosphere that allows visitors to discover a side of Okinawa quite different from its modern resorts and beaches.
Visitors are welcomed at the entrance by young performers presenting Eisa, one of Okinawa’s best-known traditional performing arts. The powerful rhythms of drums and energetic dancing immediately create a lively Okinawan atmosphere.
Throughout the village, visitors can explore houses and buildings that recreate the traditional landscape of the islands. Among them are houses more than 100 years old, surrounded by traditional stone walls. These historic-style buildings provide an atmospheric setting for discovering Okinawa’s traditional culture.
One of the highlights of Ryukyu Mura is the opportunity to try a variety of traditional crafts. Workshops are held in the old houses, allowing visitors to experience techniques that have been passed down through generations.
Activities include bingata dyeing, a colorful traditional Okinawan textile-dyeing technique used for Ryukyuan dance costumes, as well as indigo dyeing, weaving, and Nanban-style pottery.
Many of these hands-on workshops can be completed in approximately three hours, making it possible to try more than one activity during a longer visit. Finished works can be taken home, providing a unique handmade souvenir and a lasting memory of your time in Okinawa.
Ryukyu Mura also introduces visitors to the traditional production of Okinawan sugar. Sugarcane juice is extracted and then slowly boiled down using traditional methods to produce sugar with a rich, distinctive flavor.
Traditional sugar products are available for purchase, offering visitors another opportunity to experience one of the important agricultural and culinary traditions of Okinawa.
The park also has a Habu Center, dedicated to the habu, Okinawa’s famous venomous snake. Visitors can watch footage depicting the traditional “habu versus mongoose” spectacle and learn more about an animal that has long been associated with Okinawa.
The Habu Center adds an unusual natural-history element to the cultural experiences found throughout the village.
Ryukyu Mura was selected as one of the New 100 Best Tourist Attractions in Okinawa, reflecting its appeal as a destination for discovering the island’s traditional culture.
Rather than simply viewing historical objects behind glass, visitors can walk through traditional buildings, watch performances, make their own crafts, and learn about traditional food production. This hands-on approach makes the history and culture of Okinawa much more accessible and memorable.
Ryukyu Mura offers a colorful journey into the traditional world of Okinawa. The combination of historic houses, stone walls, traditional crafts, Eisa performances, sugar-making, and the Habu Center creates a varied experience for visitors of different ages.
For travelers who want to understand more than just Okinawa’s beaches and tropical scenery, Ryukyu Mura is an excellent place to discover the island’s cultural heritage. Spend time exploring the old village, join a hands-on craft workshop, enjoy the sounds of Eisa drums, and take home something you have made yourself as a special reminder of your Okinawan journey.
10:00-16:00
Adults 1,500 yen (16 years and older)
High school students 1,200 yen
Children (6-15 years old) 600 yen
Admission free for children under 6 years old
Approximately 60 minutes from Naha by Okinawa Bus or Ryukyu Bus Route bound for Nago, getting off at Ryukyumura-mae