Naha Okinawa

Cruise vessels dock at Naha New Port, around a 20-minute walk from the city centre.

Shuttles into the city centre are generally offered and leave passengers very near the monorail. The monorail is also about a mile away on foot.

Keep a printable map handy while exploring.

Japan's only subtropical area, Okinawa developed a singular culture, rich past and varied natural environment because of its location and its history as the independent Ryukyu Kingdom between the 14th and the 19th centuries. China, Japan and Korea provided the principal influences. Okinawan life consequently differs greatly from mainland Japan, with its own language, music, traditions, arts and crafts, while local people are known for their hospitality.

Once the Ryukyu Dynasty's palace, Shuri Castle is among Naha's finest gusuku, or Okinawan castles, and its most significant historic places. An attack by the US Army and Navy almost entirely destroyed the palace in 1945. The University of the Ryukyus was built on the grounds after the war. Shuri Castle has now been reconstructed, including its main gate, Shurei no Mon, and is registered among UNESCO world heritage sites.

Built at the end of the 17th century as a secondary home for the Ryukyu kings, Shikinaen Garden combines graceful, relatively plain wooden palace structures with red-tiled roofs in the Okinawan style and a generous Japanese-style landscaped garden.

A circular path reveals this appealing garden, passing through woodland and beside ponds, crossing bridges and leading past an attractive hexagonal structure on a small island. Although its design follows a style found elsewhere in Japan, the subtropical plants and buildings give it a clearly Okinawan character.

Reach Shikinaen using bus number 1 or 5 and alight at the “Shikinaen-mae” stop, followed by a brief walk to the park. Bus number 1 also runs directly to Shuri Castle.

Japan's southernmost point, Okinawa, has its first monorail, the “Yui-Rail”. It covers approximately 13km between Naha airport and Shuri castle in about 30 minutes.

When entering a taxi, allow the driver to control the left rear door remotely instead of operating it yourself. There is no need to tip taxi drivers because service is already part of the price.

When you do not speak Japanese, or the destination is not well known, write its exact address on paper for the driver or, better still, show the place on a map. Even local taxi drivers can find the Japanese address system confusing.

Popular traditional Okinawan crafts and arts include Ryukyuan glass, Ryukyuan lacquerware, Shuri-ori textiles, Tsuboya-yaki pottery and Bingata stencil-dyed cloth. See them at “Tenbusu Naha” in the centre of Kokusai Street.

The yen is used in Japan. Banknotes come in ¥10,000, ¥5,000 and ¥1,000 values, with ¥500, ¥100, ¥50, ¥10, ¥5 and ¥1 coins.

ATMs in Japan are increasingly useful, and most allow withdrawals from overseas accounts; post offices also provide them. Large-city shops and restaurants commonly accept major credit cards, but anyone visiting rural areas should have adequate cash. Japan is still predominantly a cash society, and certain stores, restaurants and hotels decline cards wherever they are located.

Do not tip in Japan, where a tip is considered rude.

More cafés around the country now provide customers with free WiFi. Prices vary: some coffee shops make Wi-Fi free, whereas others charge an hourly fee to use cable-enabled PCs.

Japanese shops and department stores generally open every day, including national holidays other than New Year's, between 10:00 or 10:30am and 7:30 or 8:00pm. Some specialist retailers shut on Sundays and national holidays. Department stores occasionally close for one irregular day each week, though different schedules ensure that some stores are always trading.

Consult the calendar of Public Holidays in Japan.